LAILAH
SEVENTEEN
“Lala, we have to strike back!” Cami said, slamming her fist on the cafeteria table.
“How would you suggest we do that? Look, it’s not that big of a deal. So, I got a little wet, but it really was a fun night, even if the others ended up joining us,” I said, smiling at Cami’s protective streak.
“Nope, we can’t let this slide. Those bitches set the sprinklers off on purpose. How much more are you going to take from them?” Cami badgered.
When Cami found me at our normal spot for lunch, she had been fuming about how some of the girls were telling everyone what happened last night.
Apparently, it was another one of their plots to disrupt me hanging out with The Manor boys.
I smirked at the fact that I’d been not only hanging out with one, but the top three most-wanted of the bunch.
“This is how I see it. I’ve already won, they choose to hang out with me and want to be my friend. I didn’t have to do anything to get them to like me, except get lost and suck at Organic Chem. You can’t change someone’s mind when making genuine friendships,” I pointed out.
Cami paused and looked at me for a moment like I had just told her I was going to be president. “Look at this, one group date down, and my little Lala is ready to take over the world. Maybe we need to get you more of those dirty books about having all those boyfriends you like.”
“Shut up. You promised not to say anything after you found it in my room. I know I had it hidden under my pillow, but I’m not going to ask what you were doing snooping,” I grumbled, narrowing my eyes at Cami.
She laughed so hard I was afraid she was going to fall out of her chair. “Oh man, if that’s your pissed off face, we’re going to need to work on that. It’s like a bunny trying to bare its teeth. It just doesn’t work.”
I picked up my crumpled napkin and chucked it at her, hitting her right in the nose.
“Nice shot,” Parker said, sliding in to sit next to me.
Turning to him, I beamed. “Thanks.”
“Knock it off, you two. The last thing I need is for you to gang up on me.” Cami pouted.
“Stop making such a good target, Cami, and we won’t,” Parker pointed out.
“You’re one to talk. I heard you let Micah get under your skin last night,” Cami said with a smirk.
“What happened with Micah?” I asked. I knew that they didn’t like each other one bit.
Parker shot Cami a glare before he turned his attention back to me. “Nothing really, all he needs to do is open his mouth, and we have a problem. He is just an ass, and all he cares about is himself.”
I didn’t have much to say about that, not knowing Micah well. Both he and Jay weren’t seen around school very often, if at all. My phone vibrated on the table, showing I had received a text. I made to grab for it, but Parker swooped in and plucked it out of my hand.
“Still no lock screen, I see,” Parker said as he started reading my text.
“What the hell, Parker. Give that back. God, Cami’s right, you’re like a two-year-old,” I said, trying to grab my phone.
Not even looking at me, Parker held me off with an arm around my waist while he typed something back.
“You can’t answer that. You don’t even know what I would have said. Who was it? Come on, Parker, knock it off,” I said, lunging at him.
Parker’s head had been turned away from me, but just as I made my move, he turned his head back to me.
Surprised at my proximity, he didn’t hold on to me, and I crashed my forehead into his.
His head was harder than concrete, making my eyes water from the impact.
I was now draped over the front of him, and when I tried to move off him, I felt him place a gentle kiss to the side of my neck, below my ear.
I froze, unsure of what to make of it. Maybe it was an accident, there's no reason Parker would make a move like that. We’re just friends, right?
I mean, he saw me on a date with Brayden last night.
Oh God, what if that wasn’t a date? Parker grasped my shoulders and gingerly set me back in my seat, looking me over.
“Damn, looks like you’re going to have a bruise,” Parker said, standing up. “I’m gonna get some ice. I’ll be right back.”
Unable to say anything, I just sat there, staring at his empty seat. Cami decided to come check on me since I still wasn’t moving. She took Parker’s seat and rested her chin in her hands, staring up at me. “So, is this where I ask you how many men you want in your harem?”
“What?” I asked, finally regaining the ability to speak.
Cami gave me a toothy grin. “Oh no, Lala. You can’t play this off. I totally saw that lip action Parker snuck in there.”
“So, it was on purpose?” I asked.
“Hell yeah, it was. That boy just made his move! I have to say, I’m impressed he waited so long. Parker is not one for delayed gratification.”
“Last night, that was a date, right? Not just a friend coffee date, but a real date.”
“Brayden doesn’t do friend dates, look who his best friend is. Why do you ask?”
“If Parker knew I was on a date with Brayden, why would he make a move on me? Oh God, how did this happen?” I said, cradling my head carefully.
“Do you know how many women would kill for one of them to make a move, let alone two of them?”
“Can we talk about this later when my head isn’t having its own drum jam on my brain?” I begged. “Thank God I’m done with classes for the day.”
“When he comes back with the ice, I’ll walk you back to the dorm, and you can sleep it off. You have the whole weekend to work on homework.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Found an ice pack, sorry it took so long. The nurse was removing a splinter from some kid’s ass,” Parker said, shoving said ice pack into my hands.
I tentatively placed the pack on my head, and even though it hurt, it also helped. Parker squatted down in front of me, so I didn’t have to look up at him.
“I’m really sorry, Trouble, I didn’t mean to scramble your brain right before the weekend,” he said, squeezing my knee.
“Oh yeah, the text was from Jay. He asked if you wanted to try a new running trail tomorrow. I told him you would love to, but I can text him back and tell him your asshole friend took you out of commission.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll deal with it. I’m sure it will be gone after some ibuprofen,” I said, trying not to make him feel worse.
“Come on, Lala, let's get you back to your room before someone else tries to knock you out,” Cami said, grabbing my arm.
I kept the ice pack on my head while we walked back to the dorm. Parker was following us like a kicked puppy, and wouldn’t stop apologizing. When we reached the steps to the dorm, I turned and frowned at him.
“Parker, enough, I get it. I’m not mad at you about us crashing skulls. It was an accident, but if you keep this up, I’m going to be pissed at you for a whole other reason,” I snapped.
Parker’s eyes widened at my outburst, and he stood there a little stunned. “Right, okay. I’ll leave you alone, but text me if you need anything.”
I felt a little guilty about snapping at him, but my head hurt, and all I wanted to do was lie down.
The fact that he’d tried to sneak a kiss by me also had me on edge.
I didn’t know how I was going to handle the situation since I wasn’t sure if there was anything really going on with Brayden.
I flopped into my bed with the ice pack wrapped in a damp towel.
“Hey, I’m meeting up with my sisters tonight, so I’ll be off campus. If you need anything, let me know, but I’m sure you could also reach out to any of the guys if you needed someone right away,” Cami teased.
I lifted the towel to glare at her, but she just winked and blew a farewell kiss.
I fell into a light sleep filled with strange dreams that seemed to flow from one to another.
In one dream, I felt like I was being chased down a hallway by a strange monster.
The hall never seemed to end, and the monster kept getting closer and closer.
Just before it was about to get me, I tripped and fell into the next dream.
Now, I was on a dance floor, swaying with the music.
I felt someone come up behind me and place their hands on my hips.
I looked back to find Parker, his typical playful grin was replaced with one that had more heat behind it.
He pulled me against him until there was no space between us from ass up.
As I relaxed into his hold, letting the desire in his eyes draw me in, his hands traveled up from my hips and up my sides.
I shivered at his touch against my skin.
When I looked down, I found I was wearing some crazy tiny top that was more Cami’s style than mine.
In that moment, though, I was glad for it.
I relished the feel of Parker’s touch. I closed my eyes to enjoy every moment.
I felt another presence appear in front of me, and before I could open my eyes, I felt lips place a soft kiss on my neck.
I moaned, letting my eyes flutter open and found myself looking into Brayden’s heated gaze.
He pressed his body along my front while Parker kept up his attention from behind, setting my body on fire.
Brayden drew my attention back to him by trailing a finger along my jawline, down my neck, and gliding over the swell of my breast. I felt my breath hitch as Parker, not to be outdone, started to nibble on the back of my neck.
If I hadn’t had both of them holding me up, I wasn’t sure my legs would have been up for the challenge.