41. June
CHAPTER 41
JUNE
I wake up on the boys’ couch with my head resting on Lachy’s lap. The last thing I remember before falling asleep is watching a Star Wars movie; I can’t remember which one, but it was definitely an oldie with Harrison Ford. Jake is sleeping on the other side of the L-shaped couch, and Ryan is on the floor. He made a bed out of pillows.
After the conversation with Melissa, they got drunk, and we never made it to any bed. She was not a happy camper about our decision to go public so soon after Jake’s arrest. She just got the Titans’ administration to calm down. But with the looming threat of Jake’s father and Maya thinking the worst about Lachy and me, delaying it won’t do us any favors.
I get up and look at the time. It’s not six yet. I wish I didn’t have to work today. Even though I didn’t get hammered like the boys did last night, I might have had one too many drinks, and I’m feeling it. I get up and wince. My head is pounding. It’s going to be a brutal day.
“June? What time is it?” Lachy asks groggily.
“It’s early. Go back to sleep.”
“Come back here.”
“I can’t. Some of us have to be at work early, remember?” I veer for the kitchen. I need to chug water.
“Why didn’t you take a day off, lass?”
“I can’t take a day off any time I want.”
I fill a glass with cold water and drink the whole thing in one go. When I set the glass down, I see Lachy coming my way. His hair is sticking out in all directions, making him look like a veritable scarecrow, but a sexy one.
“What are you doing?” I gulp. He’s not wearing a shirt, and his pants are hanging low and showing that wonderful V that points to the good stuff. My nipples turn hard. Hell and damn. I can’t believe I’m horny.
“Someone needs to walk Winston.” He reaches for the cupboard behind me and grabs a glass. I swallow hard, hoping he doesn’t notice I’m lusting after him. If he sees me like this, he’s going to bend me over the counter and take care of my need.
And why is that so bad, June? Maybe it will cure your headache.
I walk around him and grab my phone from the counter. No new messages from anyone, not even from the WAGs group chat. That’s odd—someone is always posting there. Maybe everyone got wasted and forgot about the chat.
“Why are you frowning at your phone?”
I shake my head. “Nothing. Just surprised there aren’t new messages.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yep. Definitely good. Are you coming with me now?”
“Yeah, yeah. Let me put my shoes on.”
“And shirt.”
He looks at me and smirks. “All right, and shirt.”
I love my job, but I’ve never wished for the lunch break to roll around as much as I do today. I’m tired as hell despite all the caffeine I consumed. Katrina, on the other hand, looks as energized as ever. I bet it’s all the Halloween candy she ate. Mommy tax is high in her household.
The weather is lovely today. The sun is out, and the temperature is in the seventies, so Katrina got us a table outside. There are other faculty members in the small eating area, but they’re all in their own bubbles, either looking at their phones or listening to music.
“Okay, I want to know all the tea about the Wicked Witch’s Halloween party,” she starts.
“Who?” I ask.
“Wendy, duh?”
“Oh... it wasn’t what I thought it would be.”
“So did you have a good time?”
I shake my head. “Yes, and then no, then yes again, and definitely not at the end.”
She frowns. “Okay, girlie. I need more than that.”
“It sucked that I had to pretend I’m only friends with Lachy and Ryan. I got jealous when Maya decided to play matchmaker and set up Lachy with one of her friends.”
“Oh no. What did you do?”
I drop my head in shame. “I acted like a jealous girlfriend.”
“Oh shit.”
“Well, it wasn’t that bad until Lachy decided to take me somewhere quiet and private.” I break my sandwich into small pieces and put one in my mouth.
Katrina’s eyes go rounder. “Tell me more, tell me more.”
“Ryan and Jake followed us, and then... let’s just say Dorothy had her way with her travel companions.” I smile.
Katrina throws her head back and laughs, drawing the attention of people around us. “So that was the yes again part? Maybe you should have said yes, yes, and yes .”
Grinning, I shake my head. “God, you’re so bad.”
She arches a brow. “But am I wrong?”
“No.” I drop my gaze when I feel a blush creep up my cheeks.
“But the party ended on a sour note, right? What happened?”
I tell her about Wendy’s and Fiona’s comments, and then about Maya’s threat, which snuffs the amusement from Katrina’s face. “That little bitch. I can’t believe she thinks you’d go after her husband.”
“I know. I was so disappointed. I liked her, but at the same time, I know the situation made me look bad.”
“What are you going to do now?”
I let my shoulders sag. “There’s nothing to do but come clean.”
Katrina’s brows shoot up. “Really? You’re going to announce you’re dating all three of them?”
“Yes. People are already judging me anyway. They might as well do it for the right reason.”
She reaches over and covers my hand with hers. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I won’t sugarcoat it for you. It will suck in the beginning, but that’s the right decision. You love those boys, and you shouldn’t have to hide that.”
“I know. I’m just terrified. My family will probably disown me.”
“Your parents maybe, but surely not your siblings.”
“I don’t know.” I nibble on my lower lip. “April might be the only one who won’t care. Hell, she might even follow in my footsteps and get herself three boyfriends.” I cringe, imagining the scandal in Baron.
“She already has two love interests.” Katrina smirks.
“Yeah, I can already hear my mother accusing me of being a bad influence on her.”
“I think you’re creating a scenario in your head that’s far worse than what will be.”
“You know my approach—expect the worst.”
“And hope for the best?”
I grimace. “I’m trying. We told Melissa last night about our decision, and she was pissed.”
Katrina tenses. “Why? Do I need to put Melissa on my blacklist too?”
“Calm down. She’s stressed, that’s all. The boys’ arrest is still fresh, and she’s concerned about the repercussions to them, especially Jake.”
“Oh... okay, then. So what’s her plan?”
“I don’t know yet. She has to strategize.”
“Well, she’s a PR badass, right?”
“Yeah, I trust her.” I notice then that the people around us are no longer lost in their worlds. They’re staring at us.
“Why is everyone looking at us? Do you think they overheard our conversation?” I ask.
Katrina looks over her shoulder and asks Gene Harris, one of our PE teachers. “What’s up, Gene?”
He glances at me quickly before averting his gaze. His face is now super red. Weird.
Two teaching assistants speak in hushed tones on the other side of Gene’s table while looking at me. I know gossip when I see it.
My phone vibrates in my pocket before I can point out their behavior to Katrina.
“Who’s that?” she asks.
“It’s a text from April.”
“Wow. Did she know we were talking about her?” She chuckles.
I don’t share Katrina’s enthusiasm because I’m too busy freaking out.
APRIL: Tell me you didn’t make a sex tape with your boyfriend and his roomies.
“June, what’s wrong? Your face has gone ashen.”
My ears are buzzing, and I’m too stunned to answer her. I call April instead.
“June, what the hell!” April starts.
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you have a gang bang with Jake and his friends while you were dressed as Dorothy?”
My stomach plummets through the earth. Oh my God.
“How…” I swallow the lump in my throat. “How do you know that?”
“HOLY FUCKING SHIT! It was you! I thought some creep made an AI video with your likeness, even though it looked pretty real. I can’t believe you fucked three guys at the same time!”
April is so loud that Katrina overhears. Her eyes go round, and her jaw drops.
“Stop screaming in my ear,” I hiss. “Where did you see that video?”
“It’s everywhere! Some jerk from school sent me the link. The video mentioned it was Jake, and his roommates banging Jake’s new girlfriend. I can’t believe you were stupid enough to make a sex tape. Unless you want to become the next Kim Kardashian.”
“I didn’t make one,” I grit out. “Do Mom and Dad know?”
“Not yet. But it’s only a matter of time. Man, you’re lucky you don’t live in Baron anymore.”
I take deep breaths, trying to prevent a panic attack. “I have to go. Keep me posted about them via text.”
“Okay.”
“Did I hear that correctly?” Katrina whispers.
I nod, unable to form words. Tears fill my eyes, and I cover my mouth to suppress a sob. I know Gene and the other teachers are staring at me, but I don’t care.
“Do you want me to call the boys?”
“I... I think they’re at practice now.”
“Melissa, then.”
Melissa is usually on top of these things. She’s always the first to know when there’s a scandal involving one of her players. I can’t believe she didn’t call me yet. Hell. Why didn’t she?