2. Chapter 2
Chapter two
Jinx
I’m pouring myself a drink when the door swings open, and a distressed Spencer stumbles in. His gray eyes scan the room until they land on me. His shoulders relax as he steps further inside once he sees everything is fine.
“Teeny, you had me stressing hardcore. I couldn’t even focus on the chick in front of me in the last class. That’s how much you fucked me up.”
“Spence, she’ll be there tomorrow, like every day. Don’t be a pussy and ask her out already.”
He places a hand over his heart and raises his brow in shock. “No, I can’t do that. I need to fantasize about our life.” He walks over to me and grabs the vodka.
“And how is that goin'?” I sip on my cranberry and vodka while Spence makes his drink.
“I’ve made progress in my fantasy, but I have a feeling she won’t live up to my dreams.” He shrugs. “It is what it is. I’ll be a lone wolf for a while.”
I wait for him to sit and drink. I know the question is on the tip of his tongue, and I’m not going to turn into little Miss Debbie downer and shift this conversation into WWIII. He watches me over his glass, knowing I won’t speak first.
“Jinx, spill it.”
“Spence, it’s been a hard day. One more drink, please.”
He sets his glass on the counter, walks over to me, and takes my drink without saying a word. He’s going to make it a strong one; I know it. He never learned how to pour a decent drink in his life. This drink will make my lips loose, and he’ll get answers quickly.
“Chug it. I’m growing impatient here.” Spence hands me my glass back, and it’s not my cranberry drink.
“What is it?”
“Something stronger, trust me, you’ll like it more.” The ice clashes against the glass, but the dark liquor worries me.
“No offense, Spencer. But the last time you did this to me, I was in the bathroom, hugging the toilet.”
He rolls his eyes. “It’s whiskey. Shut up and drink it. Before I make you.”
I snatch it from his hands with a growl and slam it back. It’s more whiskey than soda. And fuck does it burn going down. Coughing, I hand the glass back to Spence.
“Don’t make me another. I’m done.”
He pats me on the back. “I’m proud of you, champ. I literally only added enough Coke for color.”
“I know.” I looked at him with a straight face.
He puckers his lips in a kiss. “Love you too.”
I make my way over to the couch and plop down, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. How did things end up like this? I guess I'm truly living up to my nickname. I've become a total jinx—everything I touch seems to crumble around me.
“We had the will reading today.”
“Fuck. Serena?” He sits beside me, looking directly at me.
I shift to look at him, grabbing the throw blanket covering myself. “Yeah, it was a nightmare, Spence. She wouldn’t shut up the entire time. If I made it through this without hearing her voice again, I would be the happiest person on the planet.”
“I take it she didn’t believe you that she was walking away with dickshit.”
“If she did, it would’ve been easier on the lawyer and me. She wants to take me to court and fight for the house and the school.” Just thinking about it turns my stomach. I can’t fight her. There isn’t any way to win. What would I do if she did go through with it? I’m fucked.
He pulls my arm and drags me across the couch, getting all up in my face. “That cunt can try to fight, but she won’t win. You have an army behind you. Nothing will happen when you have me in your corner. Now tell me what else happened.”
I drop my head on his chest. “Spencer, I don’t wanna be here anymore.”
“As in here or life, Teeny?”
“Depends on the day, if we are being honest.” His hand runs through my hair, but it does nothing to calm my racing heart. “Spence, there’s something else.”
His hand freezes, pulling me closer. “I swear to God, Jinx. I’m going to have to move you in, aren’t I?”
“You might. A gift was delivered to my doorstep today.” My entire body tenses as I say the words. The thought of the note makes me sick.
“How bad was the gift, Odette?” There was a deep note to his voice.
“I thought it was from one of the guys because it initially seemed sweet. Then, it turned into misery. I think the person responsible for killing my father left it for me.”
My surroundings blur as I’m pushed backward. “What the fuck, Jinx. And you just casually tell me this.” Spencer stares at me with huge eyes. His nails dig into my arms. “Where is the note?”
“In the garbage. I wasn’t keeping anything they gave me.”
“And you are sure one of the guys didn’t do it, and it’s not some kind of sick joke?”
I hall off and punch Spencer in the stomach. “Yes, you asshole. They wouldn’t do that.”
He coughs, rubbing his stomach. “Fine. I just wanted to make sure, or I would have to hurt them.”
“Spencer, I love you and all. But you can’t even hurt a fly.”
“Just because I don’t protect myself doesn’t mean I wouldn’t protect you, Jinx. I would do anything for you.”
His gray gaze is so intense that I need to look away. I’ve never seen Spence look at me like that before. To be honest, it’s freaking me out. He’s my best friend, and I know he would go to the end of the earth for me, but I would never ask him to.
“Spence, I love you. But there won’t be a need for your mad fighting skills.”
He gave a deep sigh, like I had taken away his fun. “Fine. Be that way. Fun sucker.” His bottom lip pops out, and he crosses his arms.
“Don’t pout.” I tug his lip.
He slaps my hand away and gets up. “Are you hungry? We need to move on, or I’m going to do things that I shouldn’t.”
“Are you cooking, or should I?”
He stops at the edge of his kitchen. “Maybe you should. I am a bachelor, after all, and I cook questionable food.”
Oh, that I know. I’ll never eat anything Spencer cooks again. My stomach isn’t made of steel. The last meal was—interesting. Pasta mixed with peanut butter is one meal I never want to eat again. I feel sorry if he ever gets a girlfriend; she’ll be cooking a lot.
“Won’t the guys worry that you aren’t in your dorm?”
“No. I told them I needed some time alone.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “Alone time.”
“Not that kind. They get a little clingy sometimes, and I need some breathing space. They’ll blow my phone up if they can’t find me.” I open a cupboard and find nothing but snack food. “Spence, what the fuck have you been eating?”
“Uh, nothing. I’ve been busy.”
I turn slowly, taking in my bestie, the one who will drop everything for a meal. “Busy? Doing what?”
He glances toward the ceiling, avoiding me.
“Spencer Aaron Coldwell, tell me right now.”
He clasps his hands around his head, releasing another deep sigh. “I might have started seeing someone.” He drops his head, drawing a small smile.
A shit eating grin spreads across my face. “A girl?”
“Yes, a girl, Jesus Jinx.” He pushes past me, grabbing a bag of chips. “You might know her.”
My stomach drops. If it’s Lula, I’ll kick him in the nuts.
“Who, Spencer?” My voice shakes.
“Big titties.” He grins.
Big titties? Why does that ring a bel- “Spencer! You can’t call her that.”
“I don’t, not to her face or anything. But you bet your ass I say it to the titties.” He wiggles his brows.
I shake my head. “Don’t need to know what goes on between you and River.”
“It’s nothing serious, just some fun time. Since I won’t be sticking around this town after school.”
“How do you know she doesn’t want anything serious?” I steal a few of his chips.
He chuckles. “Trust me, if River is sleeping with me, she doesn’t want anything serious.” He pushes his glasses up his nose.
“Spencer. You’re a great guy, don’t say shit like that. If she can’t see who you truly are, she doesn’t deserve to have you in her life, period. You need someone who enjoys the same things you do and wants to celebrate life's joys. Not because you can get her off in bed. Jesus, her fingers can do that. Don’t you ever stoop low, do you understand?”
He squeezes the bag of chips. “Do the guys make you feel that way?” he asked with a touch of disapproval.
Maddox supports me musically. We both love playing together. I know he also wanted to get into the orchestra, even if he didn’t tell me. But he never treated anything like a competition; we’re a team. And we still are.
Ashton is calming. He's there to pull me out even when I’m drowning in myself. That’s one thing about Ashton: he’ll never let you go too far. He knows when you need help; until then, he never steps over that line.
Atticus. He infuriates me like there is no tomorrow. It’s like his life mission to piss me off, but deep down, it’s because he cares. Then again, it also makes me wonder if he only does it because he still hates me. It’s the small details that run through my mind, the switch of the phone. How else would Unknown have known that it was switched? Even after telling me to be safe in public, Atticus has no problem having sex out in the open. Is it possible that he and Roan were involved in this the entire time?
“Jinx? What’s wrong?”
I stumble to the couch, placing my head in my hands. “I’m not feeling so good, Spence. I think I’ve been getting lied to this entire time.”
“What? From who?” He kneels in front of me, taking my chin in his hand.
“Atticus, I think he knows my stalker.”
A vein ticked along his temple as anger discolored his face. “I’m gonna kill that motherfucker. Where the fuck is he.” He storms to the door, grabbing a baseball bat.
I bolt upright. “Spencer, stop. I don’t have proof.”
“I’ll show you proof, his fucking blood on the ground. Change your lock code, don’t let that cunt in your dorm, don’t you be alone with him. He lost my fucking trust, Odette.” His eyes spewed fire.
I cross the room and slowly grab the baseball bat from Spencer’s hand. “Let me get some evidence first, and then I promise you can get your blood. But until then, remain civil.”
His face screwed into a scowl. “You have a week. Start digging.”
A week. That’s not enough time. How the hell can I find anything on him? It’s not like I can go around and ask his brother or Maddox. It looks like it’ll be another stakeout mission, this time with one of my boyfriends.