Chapter 4 Gianna
Gianna
FOUR YEARS AGO
‘Monz.’ I hold my sketchbook in my arms, watching as she retrieves our textbook for Renaissance Literature from her bag.
I say ‘ours’ because we share, and by ‘share’, I mean I’m too lazy to carry my own.
Even though our majors are different, we chose the same electives to have at least a few classes together.
I hadn’t bothered checking my timetable this morning, but I guess we have Renaissance Literature first thing. ‘Do you have a costume for Lucifer’s Dream yet?’ I ask.
Monique scrunches her face. ‘Babe, it’s like you don’t know me at all. The carnival only happens once a year.’
She looks up. Her eyes widen and she grips my wrist tight.
‘Girl,’ she excitedly whispers, ‘don’t make it obvious, but Ryker is behind you.’
I look back to where Ryker is leaning against the wall, his eyes on me and an easy smile on his face.
‘Yeah.’ I shrug, looking back to her. ‘He waited for me at the entrance this morning. What’s the big deal?’
She playfully rolls her eyes. ‘Sometimes I forget you’re constantly surrounded by the hottest guys on campus. What does he want?’
‘Nothing, we just walked in together. He’s probably waiting for Jace and the others. Anyway.’ I shake my head, trying to get back on track. ‘Costumes. You have one already?’
‘Of course I do.’ She finishes with a flip of her hair, which is perfectly styled with a giant royal-blue bow that matches her skirt. ‘But I’ve got you covered too, girl.’
My face lights up and a weight is lifted from my shoulders. There’s not a chance I’d find a costume in time, and although we don’t need to dress up for the carnival, it’s been a tradition for us ever since third grade.
‘I can’t wait to see what haunted houses they have this year,’ she says, linking her arm with mine. ‘Wait, Ryker’s still following us. Are you sure you don’t want to walk with him?’
I flick a glance back at him. Students buzz around us, making their way to their classes.
I adjust the bag straps on my shoulders as we round the corner on the second level of the building.
I start to spin around, about to ask Ryker what class he has first, but I’m stopped short when I run into a wall and my sketchbook falls to the floor.
Only it isn’t a wall; it’s Hayley Rourke.
She sneers as I reach down to collect my things.
She’s a senior like Jace and used to be his high school sweetheart.
Now she has a vendetta against me because, according to her version of events, I’m the sister of the guy who broke her heart all those years ago.
Jace and I know the real story: that he broke up with her because she cheated on him while on a cruise in Fiji.
Jace kept it under wraps because he didn’t want his friends to turn against her.
It’s not my business, so I’ve kept it a secret too.
Is this my karma for being nice?
She snatches up my art book, giving me a nasty look while pink gum snaps between her lips. I reach out, but she jerks her hand back and gives a wide smile that doesn’t reach her grey eyes.
Something must be in the water today. First those ECU guys hurting the dog, and now Hayley frickin’ Rourke.
‘Don’t be a jerk, Hayley!’ Monique scowls.
Hayley laughs, running a hand through her hair, snagging at the ends as it gets caught in a tangle. Then she flicks through the pages. ‘This looks like it belongs in the trash. Ever since your dad died, you’ve gotten extra fucked up.’
‘Give it back or I’ll kick your ass.’ Monique points a finger into her chest. ‘Oh, wait. You don’t have one.’
My eyes widen in panic. Monique’s never been in a fight before.
Neither have I. We wouldn’t know the first thing about how to throw a punch.
Not to mention the fact that Hayley’s the best base and tumbler of the Kings cheer squad; they’re so good they go to those big competitions and always bring home a trophy.
She’s tall too, like model tall, and her biceps are on perfect display in her sleeveless crop.
‘What did you say to me? You little bitch—’
A large hand appears from behind and lifts the book out of Hayley’s grasp.
The energy shifts. Ryker’s brows furrow as he flicks through my sketches before locking eyes with me.
My next breath stalls. His piercing turquoise eyes sparkle with their usual hint of mischief, snatching air right from my lungs.
If his gaze isn’t enough to make the space sizzle between us, the rest of him will.
Behind him, the Kingsmen are coming down the hall.
Or two of them, anyway. My brother is nowhere to be seen, but Tyler flanks Ryker’s right with his ice skates flung over his shoulder.
He’s the only one of them not on the basketball team.
Renny takes Ryker’s left, spinning a basketball on his index finger.
‘Oh.’ Hayley bats her eyelashes. ‘Hey, Ryker.’
‘This yours?’ His eyes break away from me to look down at her, my book held in his palm. Ryker’s hands are perfect, with long fingers and veins that snake over the back of them to travel along his forearms and biceps. I look away, feeling the early stages of a flush of heat in my cheeks.
Ryker is still holding my book in said sexy hand, lines appearing between his brows.
‘God no.’ Hayley winces. ‘I’d never create such demented things.’
Demented, huh?
I’ve been experimenting with charcoal lately, drawing portraits that never reveal the full face. Sometimes it’s just lips, an eye or even the nape with detailing of hair. The sketches can come across a little dark, I’ll admit, but I’d call it thought-provoking rather than demented.
Ryker leans an arm on the wall behind Hayley and dips his face toward hers. Charm glides over him like an aura. When he licks his lips like he wants to taste her, my stomach drops.
What the fuck?
‘Hmm.’ Ryker’s eyes travel leisurely down the length of Hayley’s body. His gaze flashes with something that I can’t put my finger on. Anger, I think? But from the way the rest of his body is angled toward her right now, lust would probably be more accurate.
I feel sick. It sucks to see him look at someone else like this, especially someone as nasty as Hayley. I bury my short, sparkly nails into my palms. I know I’m just his best friend’s little sister – it’s always been this way – but it still sucks.
‘What’s that carnival you wanted me to take you to?’ Ryker says in a voice that’s smooth like honey.
‘L-Lucifer’s Dream.’ Hayley’s chest rises and falls a little quicker, matching the fluttering of her lashes. ‘You know the one, it happens in Coachman’s Park every year. It’s always really fun.’
This scene is like a horror movie. I want to look away but must enjoy tormenting myself, because I don’t. I watch as Hayley’s cheeks bloom a deep shade of crimson.
‘Yeah … Lucifer’s Dream,’ Ryker repeats, as if savouring how the words feel on his tongue. He stares at her for a moment longer, letting the energy grow tense.
I bite my lip and shuffle my feet, wanting to curl up into a ball. Monique tugs at my elbow. Maybe it’s better to forget about my sketchbook and just go.
Then Ryker’s liquid gaze shoots my way, his eyes returning to the usual playful ones I know well.
‘Well, you’ve sold me. What do you say, Gianna? I’ll get us tickets for tomorrow?’ A full-blown grin crosses his face as he pushes off the wall, leaving Hayley gaping. The tint in her cheeks is now a deep red, the anger and embarrassment radiating off her.
Tyler and Renny bow over in laughter. ‘He had you going for a sec, didn’t he, Hayles?’ Renny flings an arm around her. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take you.’
Hayley perks up with hope, puffing her chest out proudly. ‘Really?’
‘Psych!’ He drops his arm and laughs even harder. ‘Don’t fuck with Little G.’
Hayley’s bottom lip quivers but she sucks it in. ‘Well, I wouldn’t want to hang out with you guys anyway. All you do is fuck around at The Tropics.’
Renny arm-rolls the basketball across his chest, flicks it behind him and catches it in a movement so fluid it’s like watching water take shape. ‘Well, that is how you find out.’
Hayley attempts to slam the ball from Renny’s hands, but he dodges her, which only makes her face redder. ‘This is exactly why Jace and I didn’t work out. You’re all gonna end up in jail if you keep street racing.’
A crack echoes as Tyler snaps off a piece of carrot he’s chewing on, before he points the bitten end toward Hayley. ‘Y’know what you are, Hayley?’
‘What?’ She squares her shoulders.
‘A plunger.’ Tyler flashes a smirk. ‘You like bringing up old shit. You and Jace didn’t work out because you don’t have a loyal bone in your body. Imagine if you did something good for the town instead of sticking your nose in places it doesn’t belong.’
Hayley’s mouth drops as her eyes widen with anger. There’s a moment where it seems like she’s actually considering Tyler’s words, but then she shakes her head, scowls and storms away.
Renny and Tyler continue down the hall, bouncing the basketball between them, and Ryker gently hands me back my book. He folds a warm palm at the back of my head before pressing my forehead to his lips. He lingers for a moment, enveloping me in him. My skin burns from his touch and I lose focus.
Ryker lets go and the three guys move down the hall. I feel like I’m floating, not even realising that Monique is pulling me to class.
‘Oh my god,’ she squeals. ‘That did not just happen! Did you see Hayley’s face?
It was like she was questioning her entire existence, but even better …
You have a date with Ryker Edwards! He’s so hot.
We need to get you a better costume. Wait, will you still wear a costume?
We need to make sure you look extra sexy. ’
Her words leave her mouth at a mile a second, and it takes me a moment to even register what she’s saying. I’m still wondering if this just happened.
‘Wait a second, hold up,’ I breathe, bringing us to a halt. ‘He’s Jace’s best friend. My friend. He was just doing me a solid.’