12. She’s My Girlfriend
SHE’S MY GIRLFRIEND
Axel
Vaughn stepped out of his sleek, silver McLaren across the street as I headed to Betty’s Diner in the center of town to meet the guys.
You couldn’t miss the smug smile permanently plastered on his face ever since Bass crowned him the new Domnus.
Radcliffe’s head had grown three sizes. I was surprised it hadn’t disconnected from his neck and floated away.
But he was a problem I’d forgotten about in the heat of the moment when I agreed to Lorelei’s deal. Vaughn told me to stay away from Battenberg, and even though it wasn’t a direct order as the Domnus, he could still punish me for disobeying.
Or worse, he’d take it out on the guys too.
My steps slowed as I neared the diner, chewing on my bottom lip. Maybe I should just end this fake relationship before it started. Could I really put my friends in danger and on Vaughn’s shit list just to win Cordelia over?
No, I couldn’t.
Instead of telling the guys about my new girlfriend, I’d call Lorelei and break the deal. Simple as that.
But that would leave her at Brock’s mercy.
As the battle raged over my decision, I yanked the door open—a bell jingling overhead—and entered the retro diner.
Scents of delicious fried and grilled food instantly had my stomach growling and mouth watering.
Chatter drifted from the patrons at booths along the walls and small tables littering the black and white tiled floor.
And then the cause for my turmoil appeared next to the large circular booth we always took in the corner.
Why did Cordi have to be here?
She leaned against the booth and listened to Slate tell a joke, her laughter landing a punch to my sternum. Her long legs were on display in her tiny shorts, and memories of having them wrapped around me while I fucked her brains out had blood rushing to my dick.
When her emerald gaze shifted in my direction, her smile faltered, and she looked away.
A fist lodged in my throat at her reaction, and any thoughts of calling off my deal with Lorelei vanished. I had to get Cordi back. I’d just tell the guys another time. And if Vaughn tried to screw with them, I’d make sure to take all the heat for it.
No one would get hurt. I’d protect them.
“Hey, big guy!” Slate patted the empty seat beside him. “I ordered you a Coke.”
“Thanks.” I forced my lips into a broad grin and winked at Cordelia as if she hadn’t stomped on my heart. “Ladies, how’s it going?”
Cordi mumbled a polite hello as I sat down, and Lexi waved from across the table, barely breaking the kiss with Killian.
“Sorry I’m late. Practice ran over.” I didn’t blame the guys for already ordering. I wouldn’t have waited either. “Please tell me you ate more than pie, Slate.”
He flicked dark locks out of his eyes and shrugged, digging his fork into the dessert. “I could tell you that, but I’d be lying.”
I shook my head and perused the menu. “I’ll order you a sandwich.”
“So, Ax, will you tell me who this mystery girl you've been seeing is?”
As soon as the words dropped out of Cordi’s mouth, every muscle in my body tensed, and I wanted to dump my soda over her gorgeous head. Everyone’s attention snapped to me. Even Killian and Lexi stopped sucking face.
Perfect. I’d have to tell them now.
“What girl?” Killian licked his lips stained with his girlfriend’s peach gloss.
My roommate wouldn’t be happy about this. “Just someone I’m kind of dating.”
Cordi circled her finger around as a skeptical expression played over her sweet face. “So you guys don’t know anything about this either? I thought you told each other everything.”
I shrugged. “Killian didn’t tell us about Lexi, not really.” He’d basically forced her into indentured servitude and pretended to hate her guts.
Of course, we suspected it was more.
“Don’t you have a movie to catch, Cordelia?” Gage’s deep voice—bored with a slight edge of annoyance—interrupted the conversation, and he tapped the Rolex on his wrist. “Wouldn’t want to miss the previews.”
Cordi gasped and grabbed her roommate’s arm. “Shit. Let’s go, Lexi. I want to get popcorn and candy too.”
After Killian attacked his girlfriend with another smoldering kiss, he finally released her. “Stay out of trouble, Red.”
She winked. “I’m not promising anything.”
As the two girls hurried out of the diner, Killian turned his attention to me, dragging a French fry through ketchup. “Who’s this girl? Do we know her?”
I nodded and pretended to search the menu even though the words had transformed into gibberish. “I can’t decide what I want. Maybe I’ll get a few things and take the leftovers home.”
Killian reached across the table and slapped his hand on the laminated sheet. “Ax, who is she?”
My pulse thundered in my ears as I looked up from the menu, cleared my throat, and let the confession burst from my mouth. “Lorelei.”
Slate’s fork clattered to his plate. “Battenberg?”
“The one and only.” Heat crawled up my neck and into my face as Killian’s gaze burned into mine. “It just kind of happened.”
“This is a joke, right?” Killian wiped his hands on a napkin and tossed it on the table. “Slate’s usually the one with pranks.”
I raked my fingers through my hair, the strands still damp from the shower. “It’s not a joke, Kill. I actually like her.”
Hopefully, he didn’t notice how I stumbled over the words.
“Perfect timing. There she is now.” Killian jerked his chin toward the door as Lorelei walked into the diner, her golden hair glowing in the shaft of sunlight pouring in through the windows. “If you’re serious, invite her over and prove it.”
I gave a dry laugh even as my palms grew clammy. “Sure.”
As if Lorelei sensed my stare, her head lifted from her phone to find me motioning her over. Her brown eyes widened.
Was she as terrified to make this thing official as I was? There would really be no going back after this.
Lorelei masked the panic, raised her chin, and strutted in our direction with an air of confidence not many could match. Her coral dress had a high neckline, but the lace at the top showed peeks of flesh that called attention to her perky tits.
They’d fit perfectly in my hand.
I shook off the errant thought and scooted closer to Slate when she reached our table. “Have a seat.”
“Hi, babe.” Her glossy lips pulled into a smile as she sat, smoothing her dress. “Guys.”
Killian crossed his arms and leaned against the red vinyl cushion, his deadly glare focused on Lorelei. “Axel tells me you two are fucking.”
Her eyes narrowed. “We’re doing a little more than fucking.”
He snorted. “Yeah, I remember. You’re into all kinds of kinky shit.”
I threw my arm over her shoulders and tucked her into my side, her delicate floral scent momentarily distracting me. “She means we’re more than fuck buddies. She’s my girlfriend.”
Shit, I almost choked on the word.
Gage cocked his head as he studied us, that dark stare unsettling. “And when did this happen? You were just with Cordi. In fact, you flew into a jealous rage the other night over her, but now you’re dating Lorelei Battenberg—of all people.”
“I’ll pretend you didn’t say my name with such disdain, Gage,” Lorelei said. “And perhaps you can’t understand how Axel and I have fallen for each other so quickly because you’ve never met someone who completely understands your soul.”
“Didn’t know you had a soul, Battenberg.” He flashed a terrifying grin. “I thought you might be trying to steal Axel’s.”
I threw my hands in the air to cut off Lorelei’s retort. “We just had one of those serendipitous nights where we connected on a totally crazy level.” I gave a casual shrug. “So we thought we’d give us a shot.”
“Aw, I’m happy for you guys.” Slate stirred his soda with the straw, rattling ice. “Everyone deserves a little love.”
Killian grabbed a fry and motioned it between Lorelei and me. “I don’t buy it. I know you, Lorelei, and this reeks of some scheme you cooked up for whatever reason.” He savagely tore into the fry and chewed. “You probably don’t know shit about Axel.”
Lorelei took a dainty sip of my Coke like we were used to sharing. “I know plenty about him and not just what he likes in bed.”
“What’s his favorite color?” Gage asked, cutting into the grilled chicken on his plate.
Out of all of us, he was definitely the most health-conscious—besides the cigarettes.
“Blue.” Lorelei didn’t hesitate.
Killian tapped his fingers on the Formica table. “Movie?”
“He tells everyone it’s Rudy, but it’s really Speed.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “He’s had a crush on Sandra Bullock since he was a kid.”
The tips of my ears heated as a few laughs circled the table. The guys were the only ones privy to that embarrassing tidbit until Lorelei forced it out of me while filling out all her little questionnaires last night.
“His favorite food?” Killian asked, unwilling to back down.
“Everything. But he loves gourmet chocolate.” She dug into her purse and pulled out a bar wrapped in gold foil. “I got this for you.”
“Oh, fancy.” A genuine smile tugged at my lips as I took the chocolate and immediately tore open the pretty package. “Thanks, blondie. You didn’t have to do that.”
She shrugged. “I was thinking of you this morning.”
No one had ever called Lorelei Battenberg sweet, but I was beginning to realize there was more to the sorority queen than she let on. Thick walls kept most people, maybe even everyone, from seeing beyond the perfect, cold-hearted princess facade.
“Kiss.”
My head snapped in Killian’s direction as I bit into the delectable chocolate. “What?” I mumbled.
His mouth curved into a wicked grin, one that meant the dark demons within my best friend had taken over. “I know when you’re really into a girl or just faking it to get some pussy. So kiss Lorelei right now and prove how much you really care about her.”