Chapter 31 Violet
VIOLET
Okay, so I probably shouldn’t have masturbated to the text of Jagger eating me out, but I couldn’t help it. Guys don’t say things like that. They also don’t corner you in an empty classroom and finger you until you’re a quivering mess, yet here we are.
I tuck my hair behind my ear and smooth out my hoodie. Jagger’s hoodie. I still can’t decide whether or not it was a good idea to wear it like he requested. Am I really this desperate to please the guy? Why, yes. Yes, I am.
Lexie smirks beside me, then shakes her head. “Girl, you are whipped, and you two haven’t even slept together.”
“Lexie!”
“I’m just saying.”
After my little texting session with Jagger, I finally caved and filled the girls in about everything happening between me and Jagger. Okay, not everything, but more than enough for them to piece things together. Lexie’s been teasing me ever since.
“I think it’s sweet,” June defends from the back seat.
“Because you’re a romantic,” Lexie says. “Don’t worry. It'll pass.”
I smack my best friend’s shoulder. “Don’t listen to her, June. Lexie’s used to dealing with the scum of the earth during her job, so she’s a little jaded when it comes to the opposite sex.”
“Yeah, no shit.” Lexie laughs. “And you would be, too, if you saw how many of those guys have rings on their fingers,” she adds, defending herself. “Oh, and don’t forget to leave your phone in the car.”
June frowns. “Why?”
“Because the Harden brothers don’t want any of their shenanigans recorded,” Lexie explains.
June’s eyes bulge, but she doesn’t question Lexie.
Honestly, I’m not sure June is a person to question anyone.
She’s too nice for that. Instead, she simply takes her phone from her purse and hands it to me.
After tucking everyone’s cells into the center console, we head toward the glowing lights on the opposite side of the old airfield.
The flat strip of ground is probably 100 acres in total and was used for small, private planes and few baby airlines before it was shut down about twenty years ago.
Now, it’s simply another patch of pavement and grass on the west side of The Drift.
“Why, hello again, Paulson,” Lexie greets him. “Fancy seeing you here.”
The stoic man almost cracks as he moves forward to pat her down.
“What are they doing?” June whispers beside me, and I swear I can feel her anxiety ratchet up a few more notches.
“Checking to make sure we don’t have our phones,” I reply.
Paulson looks up at me. “Your turn.”
I move forward and lift my arms, letting him search me. Then, he does the same to June. Satisfied, he moves aside, giving us access to the party.
Like a little girl’s first time at Disneyland, June looks around the crowded street. Her lips part, and her eyes glaze with curiosity. “Is it always like this?”
“You mean, crowded and noisy and with an undertone of gritty bad boy energy you could totally get high from?” Lexie threads her arms through mine and June’s, leading us toward a lime green car with its hood raised. “Yup. Always.”
When we reach it, Lexie untangles herself from us and drags her fingertips along the edge of the engine, letting out a low whistle. “Well, isn’t this a pretty color.”
“You got a thing for cars?” a low voice interrupts.
Lexie’s smile falls when she glances over her shoulder to find the culprit. “Well, if it isn’t the infamous Robin.” She clicks her black nails against the car. “Personally, I’m more of a motorcycle girlie, but to each their own. Is this one yours?”
“Nah, this one’s mine,” Ford announces. “Hawke prefers his bike, too. I’m sure he’d love to give you a ride.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Nope. The man looks suspicious. Scratch that. He looks at me like I’m the suspicious one. “I see my brother extended an invitation to you.”
“Seems he did,” I reply cooly.
His head bobs in a single nod as if coming to some kind of conclusion, but I have no idea what it is.
“Good seeing you again, Violet. I like the hoodie.” The suspicious undertone is missing this time, and my muscles ease from the subtle shift.
Ford isn’t a bad guy. None of the Harden brothers are.
I witnessed it firsthand when I showed up on their doorstep unannounced and they let me in, no questions asked.
Okay, that’s a lie. Jagger had a shit-ton of questions, but still.
Ford isn’t a bad guy. I think he’s just a little overprotective of his brother, and if the roles were reversed, I’d be the same way.
“Nice to see you, too,” I tell him. “And…” I look down at the hoodie we both know belongs to his older brother. “It was a little colder than I was expecting it to be when I got out of my car, and it was the only thing in there, so I threw it on.”
“Of course, it was.” Ford glances at June. The man does a double-take, his eyes flaring with interest. “Why, hello, new girl.”
June smooths out the front of her blouse, her cheeks tinging pink. I don’t blame her. Ford’s something else, and it’s clear she’s piqued his curiosity.
“And you are?” Ford prods.
“J-June.”
“My favorite month of the year.” My snort knocks him down a few pegs, or at least it would if he was a normal human being. Instead, the man’s chest puffs out with pride, and he offers his hand. “I’m Ford.”
Nibbling the inside of her bottom lip, June stares at his outstretched hand for a solid three seconds before accepting it with the smallest touch of her fingertips. “J-June,” she repeats.
“Nice to meet you.” He snatches her fingertips and brings her hand to his mouth, kissing the back of it as if he’s a gentleman from Bridgerton, then lets her go. “Do you like street racing?”
“I, uh, I’m not sure,” she answers. “This is my first experience.”
“And what do you think so far?”
“It’s…” She looks around the crowded airfield, then lifts one shoulder. “Kind of crazy.”
“Beautiful and perceptive,” he praises.
Hawke scoffs, but Ford ignores him, giving his big brother the middle finger without taking his eyes off June. “Want to ride along?” he prods. “You can sit in the passenger seat while I show you the ropes.” He leans closer. “I’ll even let you pick the music.”
“What a gentleman.” Lexie rolls her eyes. “Come on, June. Let’s go find Ethan before Jeep starts panting.”
Like a wisp of smoke, Hawke’s amusement vanishes, and he steps in front of my best friend, preventing her escape. “Your brother is here?”
She folds her arms. “Is that a problem?”
His jaw locks, but he doesn’t respond, choosing to share a look with Ford instead.
“Speaking of brothers,” Ford interjects. “Have you seen Jagger yet?”
“Not yet, why?” I ask.
“Just curious—”
“Ford!” Roman calls from across the street. He’s surrounded by people, most of whom are waiving around wads of cash like they’re creeps at a strip club. Seriously, how do people have so much money?
“Looks like there are a few more takers,” Ford announces. “Any of you want to place a bet before I go?” His gaze falls on my new roommate again as he says her name like a caress. “June?”
Nibbling on the edge of her thumb, June looks down at the ground, and asks, “What are the rules?”
“Pick a car and put down some cash on which one you think will cross the finish line first. If you’re right, you split the pot with the driver and the rest of the winners.
If you’re wrong, you lose the money. Pretty straightforward.
” He bends closer as if telling my roommate a secret.
“Hint. You’re going to want to bet on green. ”
She peeks up at him through her thick lashes, the same flush of pink hitting her round cheeks.
Damn. The guy is laying it on thick, and because the girl’s so innocent, she doesn’t know how to handle it.
I fight the urge to come to her defense, and I can tell Lexie’s doing the same.
She looks close to grabbing June and slapping a chastity belt on her to keep her from being sullied by the guy.
“I, uh,” June shies away from him, tucking her chestnut curls behind her ear. “I think I’ll just watch this time. Thank you, though.”
“Sure thing, new girl.” The same boyish grin practically splits his face in two as he steps back, giving June some room to breathe. With a mock salute, he adds, “Ladies,” then turns on his heel and jogs toward the crowd of gamblers.
“Shouldn’t you run along, too?” Lexie asks Hawke.
Hawke’s eyes thin. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Can’t blame a girl for trying,” she quips.
With a bored expression, he surveys the crowd over her head, so I do the same.
What is he looking for? The old airfield is littered with people clumping in their little groups as they wait for the race to begin.
A few of the girls shiver in their mini-skirts and high heels while I slip my hands into the pouch by my stomach, grateful for the comfortable heat.
“You can go now,” Lexie pushes.
Ignoring her, Hawke continues watching the crowd. “Pretend I’m not here.”
“That’s a little easier said than done.”
His gaze snaps to Lexie’s. “Is it?”
Damn.
I always knew the guy was intense, but with the look in those lethal eyes, I want to shy away from him, and he’s not even looking at me. I can only imagine how much Lexie’s crawling out of her own skin right now, no matter how much she tries to fight it.
More riled up than I’ve seen her in a long time, my best friend purses her lips and glares back at him.
I wonder if she realizes how close they’re standing.
And even in her four-inch heels, he’s still a solid six inches taller.
“Oh. Right,” she muses. “I forget. You just like to watch, don’t you?
” With a confidence I’d kill to master, she drags her hand along his chest and lifts her chin a bit more, her siren eyes holding his serial killer ones, while simultaneously making me feel like I’m interrupting something.
And then, my brain catches up, and my brows dip in confusion.
Watch? What the hell is Lexie talking about?