Chapter 14 The Aftermath
The Aftermath
Harper
Fuck, I don’t want to do this.
“Come on, kitten. Better to get this over with today than Monday at school.”
I lean my head back against the headrest and turn my face toward Eli. His dark eyes focus on me. He’s so rough sometimes, but right now he’s being kind. Before I thought he was being kind to get into my pants. But now that he’s been in my pants, maybe he’s just kind sometimes.
I almost laugh out loud at the thought of a horseman being kind.
“It will happen again on Monday morning.” I still can’t believe I did that. I mean, the plan was to spread around that I’m no longer a virgin, but to just come out and announce it at the party? If I hadn’t been drinking, it might not have happened like that.
“And we’ll be with you then too.” Eli gives me an encouraging smile that softens his face and makes my insides twist funny. “Come on. The others are already here.”
Just another minute. I draw in a breath, and my car door opens.
Luke holds his hand out to me. When I take it, sparks sizzle along my veins as he helps me to my feet. He doesn’t step back but stands directly in front of me.
“She’s worried.” Eli joins Luke and me.
“You guys have always been whores. It’s new for me.” I look down at my feet. Shame washes over me. I could have held out longer. Maybe. Or I could have lied and said I had already lost my virginity at band camp. They wouldn’t have checked to see that it was truly gone, right?
Luke threads his hand into my hair and tips my face up to his. “You’re not a whore. You’re ours.”
Lying would have made me miss out on this though. All these sparks of attraction and being with them. And facing a restaurant of judgy teenagers.
I search his pale blue eyes and sigh. “Fine. Let’s go. I’m not going to the bathroom though.”
I can only imagine what the girls would say to me without the horsemen present. Or the snickering while they discussed me in whispers. I’m not ready to confront that yet.
The restaurant is the breakfast place everyone goes to be seen on the weekend. I’ve been here with Kenz that one morning and with the guys in the middle of the night, but today, we’re joining the after-party crowd who needs grease to help combat their hangovers.
We haven’t had a chance to talk about what they plan to do about Zach.
I’m worried the Cheermonsters and Zach will be here having breakfast. Last night, realizing he was the one who tried to attack me made me glad Luke is so fucking possessive.
His grip tightened on me and held me close. I needed him.
Even when Eli got in Zach’s face, Luke didn’t pass me off to someone else but kept me. It put my emotions in a tailspin though. I had to remind myself he’s possessive of my body, not my heart.
Luke leads me into the restaurant. When we’re shown our table, we have to walk past groups of students.
I keep my chin up and my eyes straight ahead and Luke’s hand in a death grip, trying not to pay attention as people bend their heads and whisper behind their hands. I miss the days I was invisible.
“Hey, Jack.” A senior girl with blond hair and a short skirt sidles up next to Jack with a pouty smile and twirls her hair. “We should catch up. It’s been a hot minute.”
Jack smirks. “Why don’t you go see what Brewster is doing? He’s probably needy since Sidney is with Zach.”
Her eyes widen, and there’s a little twist of anger to her lips before she smiles again. She puts her hand on Jack’s arm, and I almost growl.
“Why would I want him when I could have you?” She blinks at him with faux innocence.
“I’m good, Becca.” Jack steps away so her hand drops to her side.
Fortunately, Becca takes the hint and returns to her table. When she catches me watching her, she sneers.
Yeah, this is going to be pleasant. I notice Angela, Nico’s art partner, at the table with Becca. They catch me looking at them and turn to talk to each other. Part of her boldness might have been because Penny and her group joined us last night.
Eli pulls me down next to him in the booth, and Luke sits on my other side. Nico, Jack, and Caden sit across from us in the oversized booth. When I pick up my menu, I look around the restaurant.
It’s still early so not all the tables are full. There’s a smattering of students and a few families. When I don’t see the Cheermonsters or Zach, some of the tension eases from my shoulders. One less thing to worry about.
I don’t see Kenz or the girls either, but it’s not like I need a posse when I have my guys.
“You should expect that to happen more.” I gesture with my head toward Becca and the girls preening for the guys’ attention.
Jack straightens and smirks. “Getting hit on? It never stops.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“Girls want us, sweetheart.” Jack leans his elbows on the table. His blue eyes glitter as they sweep over me. “But we have you to service all our needs now.”
Heat flashes through my face as Luke’s hand lands on my bare thigh like a brand. I don’t know what possessed me to pack a skirt for today. I really wish I’d worn jeans.
My eyes widen, but I just reach down and try to pry his hand off.
“Hands on the table, princess.” Luke’s voice is dark in my ear and sends shivers through me. “Unless you want to be punished.”
I blow out a breath. He’s not saying how he’ll punish me, but I wouldn’t put it past him to punish me in this diner in front of everyone.
Putting my hands on the table, I decide to just ignore him and his hand and pay attention to the menu.
The server stops. “What can I get you all this morning?”
When I lift my gaze, I recognize our server. Rebecca Forester, the girl who the guys tormented sophomore year, so much that she transferred schools. She must be going to the private school. Lucky her. Her gaze skips over Eli as she scans everyone.
Nico starts the ordering. I watch her carefully. Kenz said they tormented her until she gave it up. But she doesn’t even flinch as she takes everyone’s order. But her gaze doesn’t lift to Eli as she writes down his order.
Eli doesn’t appear bothered by her lack of attention.
“What can I get you?” Her smile is plastic as she meets my eyes. Her brown eyes are a little sad. It’s like she knows what I’m going through and feels sorry for me. She probably doesn’t know the half of it.
“Uh, blueberry pancakes.” I hold the menu out for her.
“Anything to drink?”
“Coffee.”
Her eyes hold mine. “Do you need anything else?”
Does she think she can help me? Do I want her help? I kind of want to know her story, but I don’t really at the same time. She was a game to them, just like I was, but am I more now?
“I’m good. Thank you.”
She nods and takes my menu before taking Luke’s order. His hand still rests on my thigh, and I’m sure from where she stands she can see it. He doesn’t move it or even tighten his fingers, just rests it there.
She transferred schools over a year ago because of these guys. I don’t exactly have that option, but do I even want to not be with them now? How would I feel if they just used me and walked away? Is it better if they continue to use me?
“I’ll bring your drinks and get your order in.” She walks away, but none of the guys pay her any attention. It’s like she’s any other waitress and not someone they tormented for a year to give up her virginity. I don’t even know who the primary aggressor was, since my situation is unique.
Maybe it was Eli. Or maybe she liked Eli, and it was one of the others?
Is that how it will be after this year ends? They’ll pretend I don’t exist, and I’ll pretend the same. At least we won’t all be in the same town. My chest burns and I rub at the ache.
I just need my heart to get on board with the program. None of these guys are worthy of my love. We’re just having sex.
“We have football practice for a few hours to review the tapes.” Caden reaches across the table to take my hand. “You going to come over this afternoon. To swim.”
Heat flares in his green eyes, and my panties dampen. He’s not asking me to go swimming with them. Or at least that won’t be the only thing we do.
“Maybe. I have to check in with my mom.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “How is this going to work? With all of us?”
I’m sure there will be more games, but otherwise, I’m not sure how this works.
Luke drags his finger over my inner thigh. “We share you.”
I raise an eyebrow as I shift in my seat. “Will I get more one-on-one time? Are we going to go out on dates? Or are we only sex?”
Caden squeezes my hand. “We definitely want one-on-one time, little nympho.”
My pussy aches at the look in his eyes. The times we’ve been alone, Caden takes me to a whole new level. In his car. In my bed. The fire burns hotter inside me.
It’s hard to remember I should be mad at him. I can’t just forgive him because he saved me from being raped. Right? Fuck, what am I doing?
Luke’s hand slides up my thigh under my skirt. My gaze whips to him.
“We can take turns or have you all to ourselves or all have you together.” Luke’s fingertips graze my pussy through my panties. “However, we want you, princess.”
I suck in a breath.
Rebecca returns with a tray of drinks and sets them in front of us. “If you need anything else.”
She doesn’t finish the sentiment as she walks away. She stops to refill some drinks at a table of football players. One of them lifts his head and catches me looking. His brown hair falls over his blue eyes. He grins and winks.
I turn to look behind me to see if he’s looking at someone else, but he’s definitely looking at me. Does that guy have a death wish? I shake my head and don’t return his look. I definitely don’t have a death wish.
Luke glances toward the table of football players.
Besides, I think I’ve reached my allotment of assholes.
Luke slips his finger beneath my panties, and my startled gaze darts to him as he strokes the tip of his finger over my clit, stirring my aching need. I press back into the booth to avoid his touch.