Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Growing up the way I did, I’ve always known that survival instincts aren’t something you learn, they’re innate, and if they’re lacking you won’t know until it’s too late; you either have them or you die.
I assumed that anyone born within the Mounts Bay district lines had it in spades, like evolution had done its’ thing and weeded out the weak generations ago, but I’m proven wrong. Really, really wrong.
Lance the Mounty, because I can’t remember the little fuck’s last name to save my damn life, is a fucking idiot.
A complete social pariah after Avery’s campaign against him, he keeps his head down amongst the freshman class and his peers but jumps at the opportunity to piss Ash and Blaise off which, frustratingly, only ever happens around me.
He refuses to quit my tutoring sessions, no matter how many times I suggest it.
If anything, he gets more insistent as the weeks go on.
I also get the feeling he’s hoping to have me to himself, and without Blaise joining us I start to get worried he will, but Ash is as stubborn as he is arrogant, which is to say he’d rather die than submit to someone else’s demands.
Lance ups the ante by arriving at the library even earlier than I do, taking advantage of the brief minutes alone with me by yammering on about meaningless crap I have no interest in even after I snap and tell him just that.
When Ash realizes what he’s doing, he starts coming earlier as well, never one to be outdone.
With a headache already brewing, I try to wrestle the upper-hand on them both by arriving ten minutes before my usual early arrival, only to find them both already there, practically circling each other like animals.
The hostility drops away from Lance the second he spots me.
Ignoring the sneer Ash gives him, a dopey smile fixes itself on his face, and I throw a blank look back at him.
When will this idiot learn?
I do my best to ignore it all but, fuck me, Lance will not stop flirting and Ash gets snarky at him the second he starts.
I stay polite but I don’t entertain any of his attempts for conversation outside of classwork because I have enough problems in my life without adding an obsessed little Mounty boy to the list. He doesn’t get the hint. If anything, it makes him work harder.
As we finish the session, I quickly pack up to try and flee before he can ask to walk me back to the dorms. However, my fleeing is put on hold when he starts in on his latest attempt to befriend me.
“I’m the school photographer. I’ve got a good shot of you at a football game a few weeks ago. It’s the only one I’ve seen you at.”
Ash sneers at him. “You sound like a fucking stalker. Lay off a bit or she’ll realize how desperate you really are.”
I clench my teeth. I hate that he’s defending me, but I hate that I actually need him to even more. I honestly don’t know what the fuck I’d say to Lance if Ash weren’t here. He’s too much. I feel fucking smothered, and I’m not discreet about how desperate I am to get out of his presence.
Lance ignores Ash and holds out his iPad for me to see the photo he’s talking about.
It’s great, dammit , but only because I’m not the only one in it.
Harley and I are eating hot dogs and laughing with each other.
Avery is tucked under Ash’s arm, and they’re both smiling at Blaise who is talking about something and gesturing with his hands, his best rockstar grin on his face.
It’s the perfect moment in time for all five of us and I instantly know Avery will adore it.
I mean, I love it too, but I feel weird about it because Ash hates me, Blaise only tolerates me because I help him with his studies, and, well, I guess Harley is my friend.
It’s the perfect gift for Avery, better than anything I could ever find for her.
“I need a copy of this. Can you email me one? The highest definition you have please,” I say, still not smiling at him, but my voice is a fraction less cold and Lance smiles at me like he’s won something.
He hands me the iPad for my email and when he takes it back, his hand brushes mine in a very obvious attempt at flirting. He runs a finger over my hand before I can snatch it away, and not only does Ash see him do it, he shoves himself between the two of us.
“I knew you were nothing but a creepy fuck,” he snaps, but Lance just smirks at him.
“Me? You’re the one watching her like an obsessed boyfriend. Maybe she should be worried about you.”
Ash’s face morphs into his icy mask and I groan. All I want is to get out of here and eat dinner in peace. Now I’m going to be scraping Mounty innards off my bag for the rest of the evening.
Ash gives him a smirk that’s more teeth than humor. “Aren’t you late for your extracurriculars? Run along, Mounty. I’ll see you back at the chapel.”
Finally something in his brain registers he’s in mortal danger and Lance gulps as he leaves.
I quirk an eyebrow at Ash, but he ignores me and I shove the textbooks into my bag.
As I finish packing, I check my phone and spot a text from Avery.
I manage to hold in my groan and say to Ash, “Avery wants us both to meet her for dinner in the dining hall.”
He nods and waits for me, frowning and distracted. He motions to Lance’s empty seat and says, “Did you really have to encourage him? You obviously aren’t interested.”
I sigh as we walk out of the library. “How did I encourage him? It’s not like I’m nice to the guy. I don’t want to be around him and I’ve said as much. He’s the one who won’t quit.”
He grabs my elbow to pull me closer when a group of rowdy seniors pass us, but he doesn’t let go when we’re past them. “You asked for the photo! He’ll take that as an opening and you are nice to him. You don’t snap at him like you do when I speak to you.”
It sounds like he’s whining about sharing me but his tone is aggravated.
I roll my eyes at him. “I’m civil to him, to a point.
I snap at you because you piss me off. You get under my skin, you hurt me, you say stupid shit to me all the fucking time to get a rise out of me.
But you don’t creep me out. I’m never worried about you taking things too far. ”
Ash’s spine snaps straight and he drops his hand away from my elbow. I roll my eyes all over again. “Settle down, Beaumont, I’m just saying you’re a decent human being when you’re not being an asshole to me.”
He clears his throat and I swear there’s color on his cheeks that wasn’t there before.
“Are you blushing right now? What exactly has you swooning? The word asshole?”
He glares at me and rolls his eyes. “Shut up, Mounty, I’m not fucking swooning. No one has ever called me decent before and my reaction is one of shock. It doesn’t happen often so you wouldn’t have seen it and don’t expect to see it again.”
I stop and grab his elbow, the same way he’d taken mine.
“You are decent, Ash. You’re loyal to your friends and you protect Avery fiercely.
You even protect me when you think I’m in danger even though you don’t trust me.
You lost your mind over the thought of your brother hurting me.
Being related to Joey, and your father, doesn’t make you bad. ”
He shrugs and pulls his arm away. I’m glad because, for a second there, I thought I was going to have to offer to hug him and the thought of being pressed against him like that makes me sweat.
The image of his nipples pops into my head and I have to shake it out before I melt into a fucking puddle.
When we get to the dining hall he stares at me for a second and then grabs a tray.
When I move to grab one for myself he snaps, “Don’t be dense, Mounty, what do you want for dinner? ”
Well, okay then.
Blaise texts after classes finish to say he’s skipping our tutoring session to watch Harley swim in the trials that are being held at Hannaford.
I’m actually really glad because I need the space to sort my head out and work on my own assignments.
I get twenty minutes to myself before Avery storms into our room and runs for the bathroom.
“What are you doing, we’re going to be late!
You can’t attend the trials unless you’re in uniform so change back!
” she calls out to me before ducking into the bathroom to change out of her ballet clothes and freshen up.
She leaves the bathroom door open because apparently, she knows I’m going to argue.
“I’m not going. Harley didn’t even tell me they were happening,” I say, but I’m up and getting dressed as I say it. I know Avery won’t accept my answer.
“We’re being supportive, get your butt moving.”
I roll my eyes at her but I speed up anyway. When she’s ready I grab my blazer and head for the door, grumbling, “He’s your cousin, why do I have to be supportive?”
Avery rolls her eyes at me and waves her phone in my face as we start to walk down to the pool.
“He’s been obsessively texting me about who is threatening you.
Face it, you guys are friends now and you have to support him.
Plus, I know you think he’s hot and he’s going to be walking around in a speedo, dripping wet for three hours. You’re welcome.”
I choke on my own tongue. Jesus fucking Christ.
The pool is Olympic-sized with enough seating for the entire school to watch the trials, but with the parents and families that have come we struggle to find a decent spot.
Blaise ends up sweet talking someone’s sister and we get close enough that I can see the droplets of water sliding down Harley’s abs.
Avery laughs hysterically at me, the bitch, but Ash and Blaise just look at her like she’s crazy.
“What are the trials for?” I ask as we watch Harley approach the starting blocks. Fuck me, he does look pretty fucking good. I look away before I publicly shame myself.
“A spot on the state team. Harley wins it every year and then when they offer it to him, he turns them down,” Avery murmurs, sipping her coffee.
“Why?”
She shrugs. “He enjoys winning but doesn’t want to take it further. I told him he should do it for scholarships for college but, until you got here, he assumed he’d be dead by then.”
I cringe and nod. Harsh but true, without me and the protection I’ve bought him, he would be dead.
I let my thoughts spiral as I go through my exit plan for the two of us.
Harley steps onto his starting block and gets into position.
I quietly admire the muscles in his back and the length of his legs.
He’s broader and more defined than the other swimmers.
I’d have guessed he’d be slower because of the extra weight in muscle he’s carrying.
My daydreaming is interrupted when Harlow sits down next to me.
Avery straightens and jabs Ash in the ribs when she sees her, but I ignore the bitch, keeping my attention on Harley as the starting gun fires and he dives into the water in a graceful arc.
“How the fuck do you know Joey’s dealers?” she murmurs, and I turn to look at her.
Her fingers are trembling where she’s holding her phone and her eyes are having trouble tracking. Great. She’s on something, too.
“His dealers or yours?” I ask, and Avery snorts, muttering, “Typical,” under her breath.
Harlow flicks her hair over her shoulder and says, blithely, “Does it matter? They sell the best product and they’re rough guys. Joey’s concerned at having his baby sister rooming with the wrong sort of girl.”
Ash throws his head back and roars with laughter like Blaise usually does, but the rock star just glares at Harlow like she’s a ticking bomb.
“You better not be here at Joey’s request because I’ve already warned him twice about provoking me. If he does it again, I’m not going to play games, I’m going for his throat.”
Avery tucks her arm into mine and holds my hand where Harlow can see it, a clear statement of loyalty.
“Run along, Roqueford. Go snort your lines somewhere else so I can enjoy watching my cousin wipe the floor with your brother. Oh, wait, you did know Andrew Wakes was your bastard brother, didn’t you?
Everyone knows you inherited your slutty nature from your father.
I hope you use condoms a bit more than he does or you’ll have your own horde of bastards in no time. ”
Harlow curses viciously under her breath as she leaves, and I turn back to the race just in time to see Harley touch the wall first, a full body-length in front of his competitors.
“He really should join the state team,” I say, and Avery hums her agreement.
Blaise clears his throat. “Are either of you going to explain what the hell she was talking about?”
I look over at him, startled. “Didn’t Harley tell you?”
Ash gives me an incredulous look. “He doesn’t tell us anything that involves you.”
Huh. I guess he thinks that comes with being ‘mine’, which is probably wise. I sigh. “Joey brought some of his dealers to the school and thought he’d be able to out me as a gang member or dealer or whatever. As I am none of those things, he was pissed when they left at my request.”
They both blink at me then Ash says, “You asked his dealers to leave… and they did?”
I shrug. “I asked nicely.”
Avery giggles and distracts the guys away from the topic.
When Harley wins his last race of the night, Avery ushers me out, telling the guys she’s too tired to watch the medal ceremony before we walk back to our room.
The next morning Avery leaves for spring break, and I roll out of my bed to say goodbye, though I’m clearly not quite human before I’ve had my coffee.
“Be good while I’m gone.” Avery smirks and kisses my cheek.
I wave her off, already eyeing the stack of textbooks waiting for me. “How much trouble can I possibly get into in an empty school?”
She glances back over her shoulder and gives me her most evil, shit-stirring smile. “It’s not completely empty, though, is it? Remember not to mix boys and whiskey, the hangover isn’t worth it.”
I shoot her a look and she cackles as I shut the door behind her, my cheeks heating up like crazy.