It was a stupid rivalry. I couldn’t shake that thought. One prank couldn’t ruin their lives, but it could ruin mine. I turned around. “I’m not doing it. Figure out another way.”
*
Tray had a party that weekend. Mandy had invited me, but a house full of drunk people? It was not tempting. I went for a ride instead. The parents weren’t home, Austin was sleeping at a friend’s for the entire week and weekend, and Mandy had plans to sleep at Devon’s. I didn’t want to spend so much time alone in that massive house. The emptiness was too much at times, so I headed towards Pedlam. Tray mentioned they had new security, and I wanted to check it out. Rawley and Pedlam were two towns in the middle of nowhere. A large river ran between them, but there was no significance to either town. We were surrounded by fields and forest, set smack in the middle of the United States. So it was perplexing why Pedlam would want new security. As I pulled into the parking lot across from it, I wondered why they would post cameras at every corner, including the light posts in the parking lot, and why would they have armed guards? There were two going into the building.
As I watched, nothing stood out. There had been renovations done over the summer, but the new security didn’t make any sense, especially when Pedlam was smaller than and not as wealthy as Rawley. That had been another reason why I hadn’t been so ecstatic when I heard where I’d be living. Rich people were targets for me. I would steal from them, not rub shoulders with them, but it was what it was. On that thought, I headed back. As I pulled out onto the road, a truck was heading my way. It slowed and turned down a gravel road. As I passed it, I saw there were three men in the bed of the truck. They looked rough. No distinct facial features stood out. They were nondescript, but they looked hard. As the car disappeared around a bend in the road, I pulled over and studied where they had gone. The road led out to a field. I’d been down that road before. There was nothing there, a field, trees, and the river. Then I shrugged. They were too far ahead, and I didn’t want to follow them. I drove home. When I got closer to Mandy’s home, I stopped at the diner first. I knew it was the school’s hangout, but since Tray was having his party, I figured it would be empty.
So color me shocked when I saw Tray, Samuel, and Grant in a corner booth. Before I could duck out, not sure if I wanted to stay or go home, Grant waved. “Hey, Mandy’s sister!”
Ignoring the heat from Tray’s scrutiny, I headed their way. “Yes, that’s my name. Mandy’s sister. It’s a bitch to write that out all the time. The teachers are always confused. Mandy or Mandy’s sister. They never know which one is me.”
He laughed and popped a fry into his mouth.
Samuel frowned at him, but said to me, “We thought we’d see you at the party.”
“It’s not my scene,” I lied. Parties were my scene, just not their parties. “Thought you guys would be at the party, since—you know—Tray, you’re hosting it.”
He grinned and leaned back. “Those parties can run themselves.”
“Hmm.” I wasn’t sure what to talk about. These were Mandy’s friends. I was Mandy’s sister and that was extent of our relationship. They didn’t seem interested in explaining why they weren’t at the party, and I wasn’t interested in having a conversation with them, so I headed to the counter and paid for a diet soda. After I filled the cup and headed back, I saw they were gone. I shrugged. Good riddance. But when I went to the parking lot, I wasn’t that lucky.
Tray was leaning against my car. His arms were crossed over his chest, making his upper arms stand out under his shirt. That damn tribal tattoo peeked out of his shirt again, asking for me to lift his sleeve up so I could examine the whole thing. I groaned in my head. Brian had tattoos too, but none of them beckoned to me like his. I didn’t like that. When I stopped in front of him, my eyebrow arched up.
I didn’t say anything. It was on him to talk.
He didn’t say anything.
Fiddling with my straw, I let my mind wander. If this was a game, I was going to win. I’ve spent time on stake-outs, doing surveillance for targets with Brian. For some of those, we had to remain still and silent for hours. This was a win-win for me. If I could piss Tray off as I beat him at his own game, score one for me.
He narrowed his eyes.
I smiled at him and thought back to Pedlam High School. There had been eight cameras. “You’re annoying.”
I pondered those cameras, wondering if there were more, but I focused on him again. “I’ve been told that.”
He laughed briefly and shook his head. “Mandy went back to your house. She said you were gone.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Where’d you go?”
“Why do you care?” I frowned. “I don’t like the idea of my sister keeping tabs on me and reporting to you.”
“Relax.” He grinned. “She told Devon. I was right there so I heard. There’s no tabs and there’s no reporting going on, but I am curious where you went.”
“Why? I’m none of your business.”
“No.” He shook his head. “But you are damned intriguing. Where do you spend your time?” His tone softened, and he grew pensive.
I reacted to his change. Heat started to build inside me, and there was a small flutter in my chest. Then I rolled my eyes. For fuck’s sakes. What was I doing? Developing a schoolgirl crush? I shook my head. This was the last guy I wanted that to happen with.
I fixed him with a chilly stare. “Aren’t you the busy bee with an inquiring mind.”
He laughed. The sound of it rushed over me and I sucked in my breath. Oh boy. I was in trouble. A corner of his mouth curved up, and he murmured, “For some reason, I am becoming a busy bee with you. You’re not like normal girls, you know.”
“I do know.” I flashed him a smile. “I’m smarter.”
Another laugh from him. It slid over me like a spray of water on a hot day. It was refreshing.
I scowled. It was a headache.
He tilted his head to the side. “You may be right.”
My eyes snapped to his. “Was that a compliment?”
He flashed me a grin. “What have I done to earn this horrible reputation with you? I’m being honest.”
The truth from him came loud and clear. He was being genuine, and dammit, I felt myself softening towards him. His eyes were warm and inviting. His tone didn’t reflect anything other than his honesty, and my interest was piqued.
I shrugged and forced myself to look away. “You haven’t done anything except ask me to risk losing everything. Other than that,” I smiled, “nope, you’re right. It’s unwarranted.”
His eyes darkened and dropped to my lips. “I asked the first time because Mandy made it sound like you would want to do it. I asked the second time because I was testing a theory.”
“Really?”
He nodded, his gaze never leaving my lips. “Yeah. A theory.”
My chest tightened. His words were weaving a spell over me, one that I enjoyed and hated at the same time. I found myself asking, “What theory was that?”
“That it’s a rush to you.”
“What’s a rush?”
“Stealing.” His eyes lifted, pinning me in place. “Taking what isn’t yours. You love it. You get off on it, don’t you?”
I shook my head. “It’s not that.”
“It’s not?” He reached for me, and I closed my eyes, feeling his hand take hold of my jeans. One of his fingers slid through a loop on my waistband, but he didn’t do anything. He kept it there, as if anchoring me in place. I couldn’t run. I didn’t want to run, and I frowned as I realized that. He asked, “So what is it? What did I get wrong?”
Tipping my head back, I held his eyes. “It’s not the taking something that isn’t mine.”
He grinned. “Somehow I don’t believe you.”
“It’s the power knowing that I can. I can take it if I want to and no one can stop me.” A shiver wound its way up my spine, but it was the good kind. It was the delicious kind. Remembering that power
was overwhelming, beckoning me to remember what it felt like to yield it again. At the tips of my fingers, I could decide what was mine and what wasn’t. It was intoxicating. “It’s a rush.”
His thumb fell from the loop. It was pressed against my stomach, warm against my skin. The heat inside me was building again. Then he began moving his thumb, rubbing it back and forth, and I closed my eyes. My breathing deepened. One touch and I felt scorched by this guy. Then I stopped thinking. His hand curved in, and he pressed his palm to my stomach now. I was pulled closer to him. His chest was inches from mine. As my pulse quickened, I lifted a hand to push him away. I needed space, but it didn’t happen. Instead, my hand curved into his shirt and his other hand found my hip. He pulled me even closer. Our hips were touching now, a light graze against each other as we both stood there.
I wanted his touch. I wanted it in more ways than I had ever wanted Brian. My eyes opened and I realized what I was doing. I stepped away from him, breathing raggedly, but so was he.
“Shit.” His eyes raked over me.
I turned. I didn’t want him to see the evidence of his power over me. “Go to your party.”
CHAPTER THREE
Mandy came in my room Saturday evening to inform me who hooked up with whom, who broke up with whom, who fought, and who barfed. It was an amazing party. She invited me out with them that night. I declined and continued folding my clothes. When she kept quiet, I knew—the rumors had already circulated—someone must’ve seen Tray and me outside the diner.
She didn’t push it. Thank you for small favors. Instead I had to listen to her theory that Devon was cheating on her for the next thirty minutes.
“Are you serious? Devon? We’re talking about Devon?”
“Yeah.” She swung her legs around and sat up, still on my bed. “He was weird last night. I don’t know. Maybe he really did hook up with Stephanie.”
I paused, frowned, and then finished folding my shirt. “Are you going to talk to him tonight? About your hunch?”
“About Stephanie? No, but I am going to ask him if he’s cheating on me.”
“The sooner you talk to him, the sooner you’ll know what’s really going on and be back to being lovebirds again.” The idea of Mandy and Devon not together was funny to me. It wasn’t real. Those two were so lovey-dovey they made me gag the first time I saw it. The idea of Devon cheating was ridiculous. Then I glanced at her and saw the determined set of her shoulders. “Whoa. You’re serious.”
She stood and started to pace. “He’s really off and it’s getting to me, you know? He’s been like this for a while, but last night it creeped me out.”
“What’d he do?”
“He didn’t do anything, just would put his phone away as soon as I came back.” She hesitated. “Other stuff’s happened too. I don’t like it. I can’t not say anything. No way. He’s been like this for seven months. I can’t ignore it anymore.”
“Yeah.” I knew how she felt. Brian had cheated once. I almost killed him afterwards.
She nodded, her jaw hardening. “Yeah.”
“So where are you guys going tonight? Who’s all going?”
“The gang and some others.” That meant the top circle and the crowd beneath them. Stephanie. Ugh. “We’re going to a party at Rickets’ House.”
Another ugh. Rickets’ House was a big white mansion near Pedlam. Parties were thrown there because the house was abandoned, situated deep in the woods. Kids could scatter easily if the cops showed up, and it was notorious for being a mating ground. Brian wouldn’t be there; he hated that place, but there’d definitely be others there from Pedlam.
“I’m in.” I wasn’t doing the job, but I wanted to know why Pedlam had so much security. It was nagging at me, and I knew I could get some answers there.
*
Devon and Jennica arrived a few minutes ago and planned on riding with us. It had been awkward. She gave my outfit a second glance. I couldn’t dress like the new me. Boring, all covered up, and saint-like. I hadn’t dressed like that at Pedlam, and I needed my old intimidation factor at full force to get the answers I wanted. So I dressed how I used to. I wore a leather miniskirt and a lacy black tank top that hugged my curves with a diamond necklace that was looped twice around my neck, resting above my belly-button. Even Mandy had been taken aback, and she’d seen the old me a few times.
She got over my wardrobe when she grew distracted by Devon’s behavior. He’d been standoffish the entire evening. He arrived, gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek, and that had been it. After we traipsed into the car, he’d been silent, just focused on driving. Jennica sat in the back with me, chatting to Mandy, who was glancing at Devon every few seconds, trying to appear nonchalant. I was staring out the window tuning the conversation out.
Until I heard Jennica say, “…he was with Adrian last night. Seriously. Tray pisses me off some times.”
I looked over and caught the heated look Mandy shot Jennica. She flushed when she saw that I had caught her, and I grinned. “What happened?”
Jennica turned to me. “I was telling Mandy that sometimes I’m embarrassed by Tray, especially when he screws girls like Adrian Casners. She’s white trash.”
“That’s probably why he screwed her.”
Jennica and Mandy were both watching me. Even Devon glanced in the rear-view mirror.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing.” Mandy looked away.
Jennica turned to face me. “We heard an interesting tidbit last night, about you and Tray.” She was almost gloating. “Care to elaborate?”
I frowned. I had missed something, then how she said ‘white trash’ came back to me. There’d been an extra emphasis on those words. “Are you insinuating that I’m white trash? Because if you were, you worked too hard for the joke.” I flashed her a grin and asked, “How long till we get there?”
I turned back to the window and ignored whatever her reaction was. A moment later, Devon turned into a driveway. “We’re meeting up with Tray and the rest of the gang at his place first.”
Tray’s place was gorgeous. It was a mansion, bigger than Mandy’s, and had four massive pillars right before the front door with a large porch extending off to the side. The living room could be seen through three large windows and inside there was a flat screen TV highlighting one entire wall. White leather couches aligned the sides of the room. The pool could be seen through the glass patio doors, shimmering on the other side of the mansion.
Walking inside, I saw a spiral staircase off to the right. There was an open doorway before the steps, leading into an expansive kitchen with an island in the middle, steel appliances, and granite countertops; even the kitchen looked like a masterpiece.
Most of the ‘cool’ crowd was lounging there, drinking, chatting, or in the process of making their drinks for the ride. Grant and Samuel were at a table talking with some girls I didn’t recognize. Amber was sitting on the island, dangling her feet, talking with a guy that I thought was Brent…Garrett? Basketball team…I think. I didn’t care.
Tray was nowhere to be found.
Mandy nudged me. “Tray just got here. He’s getting dressed and then we’re heading out.”
“I don’t get why we’re all meeting here? Why don’t we just go to the party?”
“Because Tray and Grant are the only ones who know where Rickets’ House is and there’s probably Pedlam students there. It’s not like we all want to show up there alone.”
“What? Strength in numbers? Can’t handle a few Pedlamites?”
“You could?”
“I went to Pedlam, a few times.”
“A few times?” a girl asked. I didn’t recognize her, but she was already annoying me. She could’ve been the poster-girl for Hooters.
“Yeah. What about it?”
“She didn’t mean anything, Matthews.” Tray walked up behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. To everyone else, he said, “Let’s head out.” He pulled me with him.
“You can ride with me.”
I glared at him and ignored the sudden attention he brought to us. Then I saw Mandy was watching Devon while Jennica paired off with Grant. It was a perfect time for those two to talk. “Fine.”
Two other guys were behind us as we walked to Tray’s SUV. Ignoring the heat from Tray’s hand as it rested on my stomach, I brushed him off and rounded the SUV to climb into the passenger seat. The other two got in the back.
Tray introduced us inside, “Helms, Mitch, this is Matthews. Matthews, the guys.”
“My name’s Taryn, not Matthews.” I recalled that they were both on the basketball team. They fit the description, tall and lanky in preppy clothes. It wasn’t long before the three were discussing some recent game. All three ignored me, but I was fine with that. I wouldn’t have to worry about talking with Tray the entire time. It wasn’t long until he was pulling into a long driveway that started at the bottom of a hill and wound its way up. The house was at the top and the lights were already blinding through the trees as we