Chapter 36
The Strategic Allies
Harper
When I glance over at Jack in the last period of the day, he’s practically vibrating. His leg bounces and I don’t miss the energy drink in the pocket of his backpack. He hasn’t stopped looking at his computer the whole period.
He slept a few hours last night. I hope. He’s going to crash and burn if he doesn’t get more sleep.
Luke takes his phone out and looks at something on the screen. His gaze darts to Jack and then he types on his phone. Luke looks like he didn’t sleep at all last night either. But he doesn’t seem to have any new injuries, which is good.
For now.
I don’t like him being there under that roof, but I can’t leave Penny there alone. Not with their father. I’m not sure how to feel about Penny, but I don’t trust their dad at all.
My phone buzzes.
Kenz:
Are we still hanging out with the girls after school?
I glance at my phone and then at the teacher, who’s still droning on at the whiteboard. I turn to Kenz, who smirks at me.
Me:
Yeah, that was the plan
Kenz’s reaction last night when I told her Penny is Luke’s secret half-sister was epic. She kept saying no way over and over. And she just couldn’t believe no one knew. Penny favors her mother. But there’s a little resemblance to William Foster, but not enough to be noticeable.
And she doesn’t really look like Luke at all.
Kenz:
Will Penny have to check with daddy?
I roll my eyes.
Me:
Yeah, that’s not going to be a thing
Kenz:
*stick out tongue emoji*
How is this going to change things? Should I trust Penny less because of her father? What if she tells her father everything? He’ll know that Luke and I aren’t just Luke and I. What would he do then?
The bell rings. As I gather my stuff, Luke comes over. I glance at Jack as he continues to type on his laptop.
Luke tips my chin up so our eyes meet. “Don’t tell her anything.”
Yeah, I didn’t expect him to suddenly become a loving brother overnight. And the fact his father kept her a secret from him for eighteen years is a lot to deal with. Especially when they practically grew up together.
“I won’t.” I search his light blue eyes. “How did last night go?”
He shakes his head. “She didn’t try to sneak into my bedroom, so that’s good.”
My mouth opens as I contemplate that. Ew. Then I snap it shut. “She’s your sister.”
Luke shrugs. “I locked my door, because I don’t know what her deal is yet. Sister or not, she gives me the creeps.”
I can’t really blame Luke. The way she watched him makes some sense now, but before it made me uncomfortable. Like she wanted what I had, which given what I went through, I couldn’t understand why.
“Jack’s uncovering some stuff, but we can’t sort it out. After football practice, we’re getting together to go over everything.”
“Do you need Eli and I to push our date to later?” I’d be disappointed but I understand that we need to get to the bottom of this. Eli and I also have to talk. “I could help too.”
Luke shakes his head. “No, princess, you two need this. We’ll get through what we can tonight, and then tomorrow night we can continue.”
He touches his forehead to mine. “You and I need to find time too.”
I breathe him in. Fuck, I’ve gotten used to being in his arms to sleep. At least last night, I had Jack. Luke had no one.
“This weekend?” I really want all of them all the time, but that isn’t reasonable while we’re in high school. Mom wouldn’t go for me moving in my five boyfriends. She’s been cool so far, but that might push her over the edge.
He glances over at Jack as he rises and puts his stuff away. “If I thought we could get away with it, I’d sneak you in tonight.”
I shake my head. Mom would never go for that. I press up on my toes and kiss him. He catches the back of my neck and kisses me deeply. My insides surge with heat. When he pulls away, his pale blue eyes search mine.
“Did you find a way to make sure the webcam is secure?” Luke asks Jack.
“Yeah, I can’t be one hundred percent, but we can do video and audio. We’ll need to do it without discussing anything we don’t want out there or taking off clothes.” Jack steps up to me and kisses me. “Thank you for last night, sweetheart.”
“Sleep tonight, Jack.” I touch his jaw and he leans into my touch. “We’ll figure this out, but you need to take care of yourself too.”
“I need to protect you.” His expression is stubborn.
“I need you. You aren’t alone.” I press up on my toes and kiss him. “We’ll figure this out together.”
The girls, Kenz, and I go to the coffee shop again. Penny hangs back instead of leading the group. I still feel awkward with her. She’s Luke’s sister and she’s known this whole time. It’s just odd to think about.
After we order and sit down, Kenz leans back in her chair and grins at Penny, who has her head down. Her fingers rub on her cup.
“So how was school today, Penny?”
Penny lifts her brown eyes to Kenz. She glances at Nat, Izzy, and Vicky before sighing. “It was okay, but weird.”
“Weird how?” I sip my frozen coffee drink.
She looks around the coffee shop and sighs again. “Guys who have never noticed me came up to talk to me. A few asked me out. Others eyed me like they could get something from me. Even fucking Evan came up to try to get back together.”
Her gaze stays on her cappuccino. She shakes her head and takes a deep breath. She looks defeated, not triumphant.
“I’m surprised you were able to keep it a secret.” Kenz leans forward a little. “Most girls would be telling everyone, shouting it from the fucking roofs that they’re related to a horseman.”
Penny’s wary gaze meets Kenz’s. “Would they? I mean, look at Ava Ross. Her parents sent her away because of how bad it got for her.”
Ava’s relationship with Tanner isn’t well known. It was kept among the guys. They told me not everyone understood why they took Tanner down. It’s what makes him still dangerous. All anyone knows is he’s not someone you want to associate with. Not if you don’t want to get on the horsemen’s bad side.
“Besides, I couldn’t risk my mom. My father could have bankrupted her.” Penny shivers and takes a drink.
I press my lips together. “I’m sure it will get better when something new happens.”
“Yeah.” Izzy takes Penny’s hand on the table and squeezes it. “Homecoming is coming up and that will bury this as everyone worries about the candidates for queen and king. Also, we need to find dates for the dance.”
Vicky sips her tea. “I already have a date.”
While the others go on about their options, my pulse increases. Eli told me that Sidney plans to put me on the court. We haven’t decided whether that’s a good thing or not, since the court will most likely consist of some of my guys.
Voting was today and tomorrow at lunch. The court will be announced on Friday afternoon at the pep rally for that night’s game.
We don’t know what else the Cheermonsters have planned. But next week is busy. There will be events every day and spirit week. I’ve never paid any attention.
I followed the protocol for what to wear each day because it was necessary to blend in and not stand out, but I didn’t pay attention to the court. Especially since it was so fucking predictable.
Luke and Sidney won freshman, sophomore, and junior year for our class. Until Eli revealed the Cheermonsters’ plan, I was confident they would be king and queen. I was also totally fine with it. I don’t really want to be up there or in the parade or anything.
People see me enough as it is. Giving them a show isn’t exactly fun or something I want to do. When Nat’s eyes meet mine, I clue in to the table.
“Are you all going to go together?” Nat asks. She twists the straw wrapper around her fingers.
“Yes.” That’s the plan. We go together and stick together, then leave together. Not sure where we’ll go. Everyone’s parents are in town, which will make our weekends a lot less predictable.
The guys know I want to spend some time at the dance, because it will be my first school sanctioned event outside of football games. I’m excited about it, but also terrified. Maybe we should just sit it out, but we can’t back down or whoever is trying to take down the horsemen will win.
We’re wary based on what Ashley told Eli. It was refreshing to hear the Cheermonsters weren’t actually planning on drenching me in blood, but what else could they do to me? There are endless scenarios that all seem to end with me humiliated.
“I gave her my prom dress from last year.” Kenz pulls out her phone and shows the girls pictures of the dress. The girls make noises of approval.
“That’s going to look amazing on you.” Izzy looks at me. “I’m just hoping to find a date.”
“I thought Ryan was going to ask you?” Nat tosses her wrapper to the side.
“No.” Izzy sighs. “He’s going with Amber.”
“What an asshole.” Penny shakes her head. “He’s been flirting with you in calculus since the beginning of school.”
“I know.” Izzy takes a drink. “That’s okay. I’ve been flirting with Greg Johnson. He’s hinted that he’s going to ask.”
I recognize the name from the football team.
He was one of the horsemen’s go-to guys.
Now they can’t trust anyone. Speaking of not trusting anyone, I know I have to do this, but we can’t be sure these girls aren’t the leak.
If you’d asked me last week, I might have said no, but knowing Penny’s connected to William Foster, anything is possible.
This is something Kenz and I can’t do on our own and these girls are our best bet.
“There is something I need your help with.” I clear my throat and text everyone the compiled list of girls. “I don’t know many girls in the school and neither does Kenz. We can ask around, but the girls will get suspicious.”
“What are we looking at?” Nat tucks her black hair behind her ear. Her eyes scan the list.
I glance at Kenz and she nods. Nothing about this list is confidential.