Chapter 2 #2
“Would you pay fifty dollars for a Jenkins Cheesecake that you could buy at Walmart for four ninety-nine?”
“Maybe not.”
“So, yeah, hopefully, he gets it together. I heard Mom and Dad arguing over the fact that they keep getting phone calls from the mortgage company about the payments being behind, but Dad just keeps saying the universe will provide.” I sit back and just shake my head.
The truth of the matter is, I’m dreadfully scared that we will lose the house and have nowhere to go. Mom’s job at the Whispering Haven Boutique is not going to pay the bills. And I know they have no savings left because I saw the bank balance in their last statement.
They’ve spent every last penny Granny and Granddad sent to them to put away for our college funds. I just hope they get it together for Holly and Ginger. It’s already too late for them to help pay for me. Unless they win the lottery or something.
“I’m sorry.” Brielle makes a face. “If it helps, my dad won’t help with my tuition unless I attend WHCC.
” She offers me a wry smile. “Why would you want to go anywhere other than Whispering Haven Community College, Brielle?” She fakes a deep voice to sound like her dad.
“Your mother and I think it’s the best decision.
And that way, you can stay in your old room as well.
” She rolls her eyes. “Cut the strings already, Mom and Dad. It’s so frustrating. ”
“They just want the best for you.” I try to speak up for her parents because her mom is a housewife, who always cooks wonderful meals for us, and her dad is the sort of dad that you know would always be there for you.
He’s the sort of dad who would kill any guy that did you wrong, hide the body, and continue on with his life without looking back—which is kinda crazy, but I respect it.
“I know, and I love them, but let me fly, you know.” She grabs her phone as it beeps. “Oh, it’s Willow. She’s on her way. She’ll be here in ten minutes.”
“Awesome.” I beam at her. “I’m glad I get to see her before I head home and grab my bags. I have to get to the train station in about two hours. And then I’m on the way to the city.”
“I can’t wait to hear how the weekend goes.” She looks excited. “Please remember not to skip any details.”
“I won’t,” I say, laughing at her eager expression. “I will tell you everything.” Except for if I lose my virginity to Jack. If that happens, I’m keeping it to myself … at least for a couple of weeks.
“It’s so good to see you again, Katherine.” Mrs. Heathcliff offers me a warm smile as she welcomes me to her home. “Zac said you came down from Whispering Haven today?”
She observes me with a pleasant expression, as if she is truly glad I’m here. Which I know she likely doesn’t care about. Brielle and Willow should take some acting classes from her.
“Yes, I came down on the afternoon train. Thanks so much for having me.” I smile at her and look over at Zac, who is drinking a Coke on the other side of the room. “You have a beautiful home.”
“We’re only here on the weekends,” she says casually. “I prefer the Greenwich home in Connecticut. You’ll have to visit us there one day.”
“Yeah, you’ll have to see my room.” Zac winks at me, and I just smile because there is no way that is going to happen.
In fact, tonight is definitely the last night that I will be seeing Zac. He already bombarded me with sexual connotations and showed me a big box of condoms that he’d bought for the weekend. Pig!
“Thank you for the offer,” I say politely.
“What offer?”
A deep voice sounds from behind me, and I freeze.
I know that voice. He’s here. Jack’s here.
I don’t turn around. I don’t want him to think that I care.
And then he walks toward me and stops next to me, and I can’t resist. I look over and see his handsome face staring down at me.
Blue eyes twinkling and teasing. My heartbeat does that dance it did the first time we locked eyes on each other.
“Why, hello there, Agnes,” he teases, and I feel my heart flutter like a butterfly flying into the distance.
“Hello, Mack,” I say, and his eyes laugh at my attempt to pretend I don’t remember. “Sorry, isn’t that your name? I forget. It’s been a while since I met you.”
“It’s Jack.” He grins easily, and he holds out his hand to shake mine. “And that’s okay. I know I’m pretty forgettable.”
“Ah, well, it is what it is.” We shake hands, and I can only hope my face isn’t bright red because I’m feeling hot. “Sorry to hear that.”
“I’m sure you are.” He grins. “How’s it going, Zaco?” He turns to his brother. “What offer did you make to Miss. Agnes here?”
“To see my room in the Greenwich house.” Zac gives his brother a hug. “My bed, to be exact.”
“Zac.” I glare at him, and he just laughs. I watch as Jack frowns and his mother pretends she didn’t hear what he just said. “Really?”
“My bad, Virgin Mary.” He cackles, and this time, I know my face is beet red. “Mom, any of the canapés ready? I’m hungry.”
“Let’s go to the kitchen and see what Martha has cooked up.” Mrs. Heathcliff spins around, and I watch as Zac follows her out of the room.
Now I’m left with just Jack, and I have no idea what to do or say.
“So, how are you, Katherine?” Jack moves closer to me and studies my face. “Been to any more clubs recently?”
“No. You?”
“A few.” He grins. “But mainly, I’ve been busy with work. How’s high school?”
“Fine. I’m about to graduate.”
“Oh?” He looks surprised. “Really?”
“In May.”
“Any big plans for college?”
“I wish. I’ll be in Whispering Haven at the local community college, helping my dad to pay the mortgage so we don’t find ourselves homeless,” I mutter and then remember who I’m talking to. “Or something like that.”
“Oh.” He frowns. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s not your problem.” I shrug and look around. “Nice home you have.”
“It’s my parents’.” He smiles. “I live somewhere far less ostentatious.”
“You mean you don’t have Edward Hopper and Van Gogh paintings on your walls?”
“You know your art?”
“A little.” I shrug. “I’m poor, not an ignoramus.”
“Never said that you were.”
“True, but the looks you’ve given me …” My voice trails off as he comes closer to me.
Why is he so handsome? Why can’t I look away from him?
“What looks?” His eyes are wide and innocent. “I’m just making small talk.”
“I know. So, how have you been? Met any lambs recently?”
“Lambs?”
“Well, you’re the big bad wolf, right?”
“Oh, yes, I am.” He chuckles. “I forgot about our conversation that night. When I thought you were twenty-three and mine for the taking.” He licks his lips. “You get a better fake ID?”
“No, didn’t think it was worth it.” I look up at him and run my fingers through my hair. “My one and only experience didn’t live up to the expectations I’d had. Didn’t really meet anyone cool.”
“Not even my brother?” His eyes twinkle, and he laughs. “Or was that a diss reserved for me?”
“Why would I diss you? I barely know you.”
“And yet you’re dating my brother. You could very well become my sister.” He winks at me. “And if that happens, I’ll have to go to confession for all the dirty thoughts I thought that night we met.”
“Just that night?” I ask him, my heart pounding.
He reaches over, touches the side of my face, and rubs his thumb against my lower lip.
“Maybe. Maybe not. That’s one secret I’ll never tell.”
He grunts when I bite down on his thumb, and he pushes it into my mouth.
I suck on it slowly, my eyes never breaking eye contact with him.
My panties are so wet that I feel like I’ve been standing under a waterfall.
He takes another step closer, grabs me around the waist, and pulls me into him.
I reach up and put my arm around his neck as his thumb falls out from my mouth.
He slides up against me, his hardness pushing into my belly.
I moan and part my lips. He growls as he pushes me back up against the wall, and I feel his lips on my neck.
I run my fingers down his back, and just when I think he’s going to kiss me, I hear Zac.
“Fuck, Katherine, you have to try these Brie pastry bites. They are orgasmic,” he says as he heads back down the corridor.
Jack takes an immediate step back and walks away, leaving me standing there with my mouth parted, dazed and confused.
“You want one?” Zac stops next to me, and I just shake my head. “To be honest, I’d rather have a real orgasm right now,” he says with a chuckle.
“Me too,” I say before I can stop myself.
I realize the mistake I made when his eyes start glowing. Poor fool thinks I mean with him.
“We can make that happen,” he says, grabbing my hand, not even noticing that I’m out of breath and flushed. “Let’s go to my room.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I say but follow him down the corridor.
I see Jack standing in one of the doorways, and his eyes are dark and narrowed as he stares at us. I look away from him because I’m annoyed at him for just walking away.
“I want to make you see the stars, Katherine.” Zac grins, and something inside of me snaps.
What on earth am I doing here? The whole situation is messed up.
“Hey. I’m sorry. I have something to tell you.” I stop dead, and Zac frowns.
I can see that Jack is also listening, but I don’t care. I am over the Heathcliff brothers. Both of them.
“What is it?” Zac says in a lowered tone. “If you’re worried that we won’t have time, we do. Mom says the guests won’t arrive for thirty minutes, so we can easily bang one out.”
“So romantic,” I mumble, and I can hear Jack laughing. Jerk.
“What is it?” Zac sounds frustrated. “Why are you such a tease, Kat? I like you—I do—but this is getting old.”
“I’m sorry, but I just found out I have to go to LA in the morning,” I lie.
“What? Why?” Zac frowns.
“I don’t know if I told you that I’m a part-time model, but I just got a call that I’m going to be in a runway show …
for Victoria’s Secret.” I press my lips together.
I’m not even sure where that came from, but I decide to go with it.
“And we need to do the fittings for my bra, so I actually think that I’m going to leave. ”
“What?” Zac sounds furious. “You’re seriously going to tease me again?
” He looks at my hot red maxi dress and pouts.
“It’s not cool, being a cocktease. After I bought that box of Magnums as well.
” He heads to his bedroom and brings it back to show me.
“I bought this for us … so that we could have …” His voice trails off as I grab the box from his hand.
I stare at it, and my jaw drops. The box is open. I pour the remaining condom wrappers to the ground. There are six wrappers on the ground, but the box says ten.
“What happened to the other four?” I ask softly.
Zac looks flustered and then points to Jack. “Hey, did you borrow some of my condoms?”
“Don’t put me in this, little bro.” Jack shakes his head. “And who borrows condoms?"
“Where are the rest of the condoms?” My voice rises.
I can’t believe this. I don’t really care, but I still can’t believe he cheated on me.
“I, um … I dunno.” Zac shrugs. “Maybe when I was jacking off.”
“You wear a condom to play with yourself?” I ask in surprise.
“I mean, sometimes.” He looks down, and I know he’s lying. “Anyway, it’s not like you were giving it up.”
“I just want to say something,” Jack says, stepping forward. “I just looked on my phone. There is no Victoria’s Secret show coming up, and I don’t see you listed on any modeling sites, Agnes. Was that another lie?”
“What?” I lick my lips nervously. “What do you mean?”
“I think she’s lying to you, Zac.” Jack shakes his head, his eyes laughing at me. “She’s not to be trusted. I think you should dump her.”
“Wait, what?” My jaw drops.
What is going on here? I was about to dump Zac.
“Yeah,” Zac says, looking pleased with himself. “It’s over, Kat. You snooze, you lose.”
“I don’t even …” I can’t even get the words out. I’m so mad. “You’re a piece of work.”
“And you’re a liar.” Zac points at me. “Victoria’s Secret model? Yeah, right. I haven’t even seen your bra, and your tits aren’t even that big. I was just being nice before.”
“You—oh—ugh.” I grab my coat and handbag and head to the door. “You suck, Zac Heathcliff. And you”—I turn to Jack—“are the spawn of Satan.” I glare at him. “To think I was even attracted to you,” I shout, hurrying to the front door. “You’re both awful.”
“And just so you know,” Zac calls after me, “I’ve been fucking Lila from your favorite coffee shop for the last couple of weeks.” He grins. “Just in case you thought I was saving it for you ’cause I was in love or something. I totally wasn’t.”
“You are a pig,” I say as I open the door. “If I never see the two of you again for the rest of my life, I will die a happy woman.”
And with that, I sweep out of their luxury apartment and slam the door behind me. My heart races as I head to the elevator, and all I can think of is the fact that Zac and Jack Heathcliff are the worst men I’ve ever met in my life.