20. Checkmate
Checkmate
Harper
“What the fuck is happening?” I stare at the screen as they all take a drink. I can’t see Luke’s face, but Penny obviously suspected something from her look and then swapped glasses. “I don’t like this.”
Caden strokes his hand down my back as we sit on the couch watching this fucked up dinner party. He stopped me from leaving when Luke’s dad pushed him against the wall. Jack sits beside us with his laptop open as he scrolls through pictures.
“I think your girl just saved Luke from being roofied.” Jack glances up for a moment before returning to the pics.
He goes through them so fast that I can’t keep up.
But it’s a lot of leaves with rocks in the background, so if something changes, it’s obvious.
Like the one of a squirrel walking across the branch in front of the camera.
“Why would Sidney roofie Luke? Strike that. I know why, but that means his dad knows about it? Otherwise, why would he take Luke out of the room?”
“It also means Penny saw it happen,” Caden murmurs. “Looks like she’s picking a side.”
Something loosens inside me. I wanted to believe the best of Penny, but I also knew it wasn’t smart. If she really did just take a drug meant for Luke, then maybe she does want family more than popularity.
Thankfully, Eli and Kenz are there to help her. My knee bounces. We have to wait to see what happens. The camera catches Sidney’s catty smile and Penny’s small sip of the wine.
“What’s going to happen to her?” I blow out a breath.
“Depends on the drug.” Caden scratches the back of his head. “We’ll know in fifteen to thirty minutes though.”
I clutch my stomach when it turns. Sidney continues to talk as if nothing happened. They eat their cake, and then their father leaves.
When Luke stands and goes to the door, he holds it open.
Sidney stops and touches his button above where the camera is. “I know your little pet can’t play tonight. So if you need me—”
Luke steps back. “Thanks. I’ll pass.”
Sidney smirks and turns back to Penny. “I need to go freshen up.”
Penny nods. “There’s a bathroom in your room.”
I guess that’s the advantage of having a large house. Even your sleepovers get to sleep in a bedroom of their own. Kind of defeats the purpose though. Although maybe not for this sleepover.
Luke grabs Penny’s arm as Sidney goes off down the hallway.
“What did you do?” he says quietly.
Penny shrugs. “She slipped something into your drink when you were in the hallway. I figured better me than you.”
She sways on her feet.
“Fuck, come on.”
Luke
I drag Penny down the hallway and up the stairs. When we get to my bedroom, I open the door and bring her inside.
“Hey, Kenz.” Penny’s smile is sloppy, like she had more than a sip of wine to drink. She fires finger guns at Eli. “Sup, Eli.”
Kenz hurries forward and leads Penny to the couch as she stumbles.
“What do we think? Molly, GHB?” Eli stands next to me and takes in my half-sister sitting but practically falling over Kenz on the couch.
“Something to loosen me up.” I shake my head. “Fuck, how much did Sidney put in there?”
Penny’s brown eyes meet mine, her pupils already blown.
“Do we need to take her to the hospital?” Kenz asks.
“No.” I run a hand through my hair. “They’ll call my dad and we don’t need to deal with that mess.”
“Caden’s.” Eli glances at me. “We can set her up in one of the guest bedrooms and make sure she’s okay for the night.”
Kenz grabs Penny’s hand as she reaches for her hair.
“You have really pretty hair.” Penny sighs and holds Kenz’s hand. “I bet it feels good too.”
Kenz arches an eyebrow at both of us. “How are we going to get her there? She’s a little handsy at the moment.”
Penny giggles. Eli meets my eyes.
“Your call.” Eli steps forward.
“You two go. Caden.” My phone pings.
Harper:
He’s already on his way.
I show my screen to Eli and he nods, moving toward Penny.
Eli glares at Penny when her eyes widen as he draws closer.
He narrows his eyes. “If you try anything, I’ll make sure you pass out.”
She nods but touches Eli’s shirt. Her eyes go to her hand like she didn’t put it there.
Eli rolls his eyes. “Can you handle her?”
Kenz nods and stands, dragging Penny with her. “I figured I’d wait until college to be experimental, but...”
She shrugs as Penny throws her arms around her. “You’re my new best friend.”
“Great.” Kenz rolls her eyes.
“I kissed a girl, you know.” Penny reaches out and tries to touch Kenz’s lips. Kenz blocks her from touching them.
“Let’s keep that to one.”
Penny frowns.
“Make sure my dad doesn’t see you leave.” I hold open the door and watch down the hall where Sidney is. “Back stairs.”
Eli nods and leads the girls out. When they round the corner, I close my door and lean back against it. Caden will be here eventually, but I don’t know Sidney’s full plan. I guess step one was to drug me, but what’s the motive?
I use my phone to look up the side effects of the possible drugs she tried to poison me with. Maybe she hoped to film us or just take a few pictures to show Harper. Maybe she thinks Harper is so weak that she wouldn’t want an explanation or wouldn’t believe one.
Sidney doesn’t know what Harper means to me, but it’s time she finds out. The important thing is that most of these drugs wear off after a couple hours, so she should be here soon to do whatever it is she’s planning.
I kick off my shoes, go to my bed, and lie back on it with my arms behind my head, propped up so I can see the door and the camera on top of my computer. That’s what Harper will be watching while she waits for Penny to be delivered.
But it helps me feel connected to her and lets her see whatever Sidney has planned. Because I’m not losing Harper because of this bitch.
I blow out a breath and rest my eyes. The snick of the door opening is the only warning I have. I keep my breathing even and eyes closed.
The bed dips beside me, and her cold hand touches my jaw. “Luke?”
I open my eyes to Sidney. She smiles at me and traces her fingers over my chin.
“How do you feel?” she asks softly. She’s still in the dress from dinner.
“How should I feel?” I don’t make any sudden moves.
“I had Zach give me some of it to try so I’d know how you’d feel.” She smiles and shifts to sit with one leg bent on the bed pressing against my hip. “It was nice. And when he fucked me, I’ve never come so hard in my life.”
She laughs softly and brushes her hair out of her face. “Except that one time when you and I were behind the bleachers.”
We almost got caught by a group of teachers.
“What did you give me?” I let her trail her hand down my neck, leaving my hands behind my head.
“X.” She shrugs. “It was one of the better rides. Zach gave me a few other things, but I couldn’t remember what happened in the morning. And I wanted you to remember how hard I’m going to ride you.”
Her fingers stop at the button at the top of my shirt.
“Why aren’t you with Zach?” I grab her hand and push it back toward her.
Glaring, she searches my gaze. “Don’t be stupid, Luke. I only dated him to make you jealous. He’s only with me to be in your face.”
“Why does he want to be in my face?”
She huffs out a breath like I’m being dense.
“Why else? To be popular. To take down the king of the school. Who the fuck knows why? Maybe one of the other girls you fucked was someone he liked. I don’t give a shit.
He wanted to move up the school hierarchy, and I needed someone who would be your equal. ”
I laugh a little. “What, Brewster wasn’t my equal?”
“No.” She squints at me again. “Why don’t you sound drunk?”
“Maybe I can hold my drugs.” I shrug.
She sits back and looks me over. “You drank all of the wine.”
“I did.” I’m curious if she’ll figure it out. If she’ll know who betrayed her.
“I wasn’t sure on the dosing, so I put extra in. You should be rolling by now.” Her brow furrows.
“Maybe the drugs just work different on me. What was the plan, Sid?”
Her eyes soften at the nickname. “I was hoping to get fucked. Not that Zach isn’t great. He just prefers to spike my drink a little too much. I just wake up sore, but I don’t know if I’ve come or not.”
She shrugs like it doesn’t matter. This girl clawed her way to the top of the school.
“Don’t you have more self-esteem than that?” I shake my head and get off the bed on the other side. “This should be beneath you.”
She stands with her hands on her hips, still studying me.
“Why the fuck do you want someone who doesn’t want you?” I narrow my eyes on her. “There’s no reason for you to want me.”
“Because you’re it, Luke.” She gestures to me.
“You’re my end game. Fuck, it’s all my mom talks about.
Even your father has mentioned it over and over again.
How I’m the perfect fit for Luke Foster.
You get to take over the company, and I get to take over the board position at the hospital.
We continue to rule this city. Together. ”
“And if I don’t want that?”
She steps back at my glare. “Why wouldn’t you? They’re offering us everything on a silver platter. Giving us a future. We work well together. We’ve been planned since fucking birth. You don’t get to just walk away and give what I deserve to some no name bitch because she’s a little freak.”
“A freak?” I raise an eyebrow, but don’t let her see my rising anger. No one pushed me in Sidney’s direction, but did she make all this happen?
Sidney’s laugh is callous. “She’s fucking five guys at once. Of course, she’s a little freak. I don’t get why you want her. You never liked to share. Never wanted to take a girl with another horseman.”
“They weren’t Harper.” I wait for her retort.
“Again. She’s not at all like me. I’m smart and popular and fuckable.” Sidney steps in my direction. “Guys beg to sleep with me. Why would anyone want her when they can have me?”
“Is that really the problem, Sid?” I step forward and glare down at her. “You want what you can’t have?”
“I’ve had you so many times, Luke Foster.” She glares right back. “Your father wants us to be together.”
“I fucked you, Sid. You were fucking convenient and yeah, you got good at it. At least technique-wise.” I smirk. “But what you don’t have is a caring bone in your body about me. You don’t really give a shit who I am as long as I’m William Foster’s son. The heir apparent to his kingdom and wealth.”
Her mouth opens and closes into a tight line.
“And you could be a simpering little bitch, and my father would have wanted you for your family’s money. All you are to him is a payday waiting to happen.” I shake my head and give her a smile. “A payday that will never happen.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She crosses her arms. “You’re going to want me back. And when you do, I’ll make you beg for it.”
“I’m never going to want you.” I release my breath. “You want to know the real reason I love Harper Davidson?”
Her eyes widen and she gasps. We’ve never discussed love before. Sure, we fucked and maybe for a hot moment I thought we might be more at some point, but she’s never been it for me.
“I love her because when I close my eyes at night, she’s on my mind.
When I wake in the morning, she’s haunted my dreams and is my first thought.
” I laugh slightly and flick my gaze at the camera, knowing Harper is watching this.
“I love her because when I said she and I should fuck to show you why you aren’t the one, she said no.
Because what’s between her and me is between us and no one else. ”
“Except your four friends who also bang her.” Sidney rolls her eyes.
“You’ve got to open your eyes. We all love her.
We’d do anything for her, because she’d do anything for us.
Harper is everything you’re not. She’s caring, loving, and curious.
There’s a million reasons why I could love her, but the simple reason is because she’s everything to me.
Instead of trying to drive a wedge between us, she loves Nico, Eli, Caden, Jack, and me equally.
And when she looks at me, she sees me. Not the fucked-up dreams of my father.
You’re looking for a pay day, but I just want to spend the rest of my life showing Harper how much I love her.
“I love her because she understands me, and when I look at her I know exactly who she is. She loves me.”
Sidney looks apoplectic, like she can’t think of anything to say to that. What can she say? Love was never part of who we were, and I doubt she knows how to love.
I step back from her. “There’s no room for you here, Sid. I have no place in my world for you. This is the beginning of your end.”
She laughs. “Fuck you, Luke. I’m the most powerful girl in school. Everyone looks up to me. Even your little wannabe.” Her eyes narrow. “I’ve played nice so far with your little slut, but don’t worry, I’ll unleash everything I have on her.”
“And what is it that you have, Sid?” I step in again and lower my voice. “You don’t have me to punish her when you can’t, like all those other girls. You’ve fucked up your relationship with Ashley, Hannah, and Emma. The other girls at school can tell that you aren’t the top anymore.”
“And you think your little pet can replace me.” Her tone raises in pitch. “No one would follow her. She’s weak, and they all know it.”
“They may not follow her, but they’ll like her.
Which is more than you’ll ever have.” I shake my head.
“You’re going to fall, Sid. I’m going to stand over the ashes of your reign and help your successor rise, because you and I are beyond finished.
No more favors. No more protecting you. You don’t exist at our school anymore. ”
“I’d like to see you try.”