Chapter 21 The Foxhole
The Foxhole
Harper
We’ve been at the party for a while now. Eli walks away with the girls a few times, and I can see them talking with some football players. Penny flirts with the guys they’re talking to. That knot of worry eases at seeing she wants them and not Eli.
Jack keeps me close as people come over to talk to him. We sit side by side. The guys and girls who come over rarely look at me. If they do, it’s just a curious glance.
When Caden texted to say they found Luke, a different knot eased inside me. Not knowing where he was or what was happening to him made me nervous. He can handle himself but even he can be taken down. Much as I want to believe Death is invincible, Luke is still very much human.
My phone buzzes.
War (Caden):
Go easy on Death, little nympho
Me:
What happened?
War (Caden):
He got hurt. We’ll explain later. Just don’t lean on his left side.
My stomach clenches. He’s hurt. What does that mean? Did Zach do it?
“H.!” Kenz waves and walks toward me and Jack. I’m still looking perplexed at my phone when she and Brandon stop in front of us.
“Where’s the rest of your group?” She smiles a little crookedly. She’s obviously been partaking of the party juice. Being drunk would make all of this easier, but I want to keep my wits around me tonight.
“On their way. Eli is over there.” I point toward the group he’s with. His eyes are on me as he talks to the others. Even though he’s not beside me, he’s had me in his sight the entire time. He gives me a little nod, and a rush of awareness flows through me.
“Can we join you?” Kenz glances at Jack, who nods.
“Of course.” I smile, happy to have someone not glaring at me like the other girls at the party. Those girls don’t come up and talk with Jack, just flash some skin and give him flirtatious grins.
Kenz and Brandon sit on the couch beside us. Brandon touches fists with Jack before leaning back and looking over the party.
“I haven’t seen Sidney and her merry band of bitches at the party.” Kenz leans in so we can talk without yelling over the sounds of music and teenagers. More people are in the pool, still in underwear.
“I don’t think they’re here.” Glancing around again, I’m actually glad they aren’t here. I could use a night off, but if they don’t show up, it might be a while before the guys get the info they need.
“Do you want to go dance?” Kenz smiles and grabs my hands. “We haven’t been able to go out to parties together.”
I glance at Jack. He shrugs and tips my chin his way.
“Stay where we can see you, sweetheart.”
Grinning, Kenz grabs my hand. As we get up, Brandon leans in to talk to Jack. There’s a crowd of people inside dancing where the music blares. She drags me into the crowd. I laugh as she spins around and we dance together, ignoring the people surrounding us.
For the first time in a while, I feel light and carefree. Without the weight of Sidney watching, I might as well be any other teenager at this party.
Except I have five boyfriends, which still weirds me out to think about.
It’s not like I feel wrong about it though. It’s just not normal. Yeah, it’s normal to date around in high school, but no one would call those guys their boyfriends until they made a commitment to one of them. Is the rest of the school year an actual commitment?
If it makes Mom feel better about this and gets the rest of the girls to back the fuck off though, I’m all for it. Kenz grabs my hands and we dance through five songs until I need a drink.
I pull her with me back to the chairs where we left Jack. Caden and Nico are back. Luke’s pale eyes fix on mine. His eyes are slightly glazed. Is he on something?
When I stop, Kenz runs into me. It happens in a flash. I lose my balance right next to the pool. Kenz grabs at my arm, but it slips from her grip. At least I won’t be the only girl to have fallen into the pool, but the girl earlier seemed pushed and wasn’t wearing a dress.
Arms wrap around me and pull me in tight. I open my eyes. Luke’s face is next to mine and pain is etched on it.
“Watch your step, princess.” His words are only for me.
We straighten, and he flinches, but it’s so slight no one else would have caught it. I’ve made it a point to study Death’s face. To learn all the little expressions he makes. My gaze drags over him, looking for anything off, but he appears whole.
Maybe he’s hurt under his clothes, but I’m not supposed to react to it.
“Luke.” I touch his jaw. I try to search his eyes, but he’s closed off to me. He leans into my hand with a smirk.
“The only one that should make you wet is me.”
The pain lingers in his eyes, but he wouldn’t want me to acknowledge it. Not here. Probably never.
He steps back and leads me to our seats, pulling me into his right side between him and Caden. Kenz sits next to Brandon and gives me an oh, my god look. I just shrug. I’m getting used to being manhandled by these guys.
At least, I didn’t end up drenched in the pool, but I’m definitely finding out what happened to Luke later. Probably before he gets any clothes off me.
The party rages on around us. Kenz and I talk a little, but the guys are on edge. The tension keeps me aware of everything, waiting for the incoming attack.
My gaze keeps straying to Luke. What happened to him? Last we heard they found his cell phone at Zach’s and him at home.
Maybe he got in a fight.
Eli strolls back over without Penny and Nat in tow. He sits on the other side of Brandon, but his dark eyes look over both me and Luke. The guys all seem preoccupied, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s going to continue to later.
My mom is okay with me dating them. But Luke wasn’t there. Why didn’t he show up?
Why is it so weird to think of them as my boyfriends?
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I announce to whoever is listening.
Caden stands, and I arch my eyebrow at him.
“I’m going wherever you go, little nympho.” His hand falls on the small of my back.
Shaking my head, I hold my hand out to Kenz. “Come with?”
She nods and takes my hand. With Caden at our side, we get through the crowd easier than if it had just been me and her. There’s a line at the first bathroom, so we go upstairs to that same room we talked in before.
Caden leads us in and points to the door. He sits on the bed and pulls out his phone.
I pull Kenz in with me and turn on the fan and the faucet to drown out the noise.
“How did dinner go?” Kenz sits on the counter while I go to the bathroom.
“We’re apparently boyfriends and girlfriend now.” I shrug. “Labels will keep girls from thinking the guys are available. And tie me even tighter to them.”
“So is this becoming emotional or still just physical?” Kenz jumps down when I wash my hands and uses the bathroom while I sit on the counter.
“I don’t know how to separate the two. I mean, they’re technically mine for the year, so how do I stop from caring what happens to them? How do I not care when they’re hurt? Or need me?”
That’s the problem. These guys have cracked my heart open. I’m afraid they’re getting in whether or not I want them to.
Kenz washes her hands and sighs. “I don’t know, H.
If they were just fucking you, it would be easy to ignore them the other times.
But that’s not what’s happening. They take up all your time.
They want you with them. They keep you beside them.
After what happened at the game last night, I don’t blame them. ”
She puts her hands on my knees, and our eyes lock. “You’re in danger. A guy busted into your bedroom in the middle of the night. Then maybe the same guy trapped you in the laundry room. This shit is serious, H. Maybe having five boyfriends looking out for you is exactly what you need.”
I blow out a breath. “They won’t love me. How can I fall in love with them if there’s no chance of reciprocation?”
“No one’s asking you to fall in love with them.” Kenz leans back against the door. “Yeah, you can care for them, but love is a whole different thing.”
I know Caden is sitting out there, waiting for us. Waiting for me. The way he makes me feel isn’t just caring. The way he talks about a future with all of us... It was crazy at first, but the more I commit to them...maybe I want that future.
“You’re eighteen years old, Harper.” Kenz shrugs. “If you fall in love, so what? We all need our hearts broken a few times before we find someone who can truly make us happy.”
“You’re right.” I shake my head. There’s no way I’ll fall in love with these guys. “Maybe in college, I’ll find the perfect guy and forget all about my crazy senior year.”
“That’s the spirit.” Kenz laughs. “Though I’m thinking these guys will be hard to forget?” She arches her eyebrow and nudges me with her elbow. “I have nothing to compare to your fucking five guys.”
“It’s definitely overwhelming.” My face heats thinking about later tonight. I hop down from the counter. “Okay, back to the upside down, where I’m dating the five most popular guys in school.”
Kenz laughs. “You should at least get a trophy or a superlative at the end of the year.”
“Most fucked?” I giggle. “I don’t think the trophy place would have an appropriate topper.”
“At least not in the front of the store.” Kenz laughs as she pulls open the door.
Caden turns to watch us come out. He holds his hand out to me as he rises. I step forward and take it. There’s no denying he keeps me safe and protected.
We walk back down to the party, and I’m so done. I don’t want to drink. The noise is too loud, and people are having a good time, but I’m worn out. Worrying about the dinner with my mother, running into Luke’s dad, the actual dinner with my mom... it’s been a day.
Caden pulls me down between him and Luke again.
Luke’s hand finds mine, and he links our hands together. It feels so natural. I sigh and rest my head on his shoulder. He’s so warm. Caden rests his hand on my knee.
Eli tips his chin down a little as he studies me. His face becomes determined as he says, “We should go.”
I lift my head with an almost hopeful smile.
“Yeah, the cops will break this up soon.” Jack stands and stretches. “We should head out before that happens. Can’t let Harper get grounded.”
His blue eyes sparkle down at me. Caden stands and then helps me up. Kenz hugs me.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she whispers in my ear. I nod as I draw away. I need some girl time.
Caden puts his hand out to Luke, and they lock wrists to help Luke up. My brow furrows. How much pain is he in?
Luke wraps his hand around my waist and pulls me in tight against him. “Stop worrying, princess.”
Fuck. I need to be aware of my surroundings more. Clearing the worry from my face, I tuck into his side. Where is it safe to hold him? I don’t even know where he’s hurt besides his left side.
We make our way out of the party. My guys stop and say a few things to some guys. When we reach the street, Luke leads me to the back of Caden’s car. When I slide in, it surprises me when Luke joins me in the back.
Caden and Jack take the front seats. Luke leans his head back and closes his eyes. His hand reaches out, and I thread my fingers through his. He pulls our linked hands onto his lap. He needs me, and maybe that will be enough to get me through the school year.