A Piece of Heaven (Allendale Four 1)

He nodded. “I just don’t want people taking advantage of you. Getting the attention of popular, good-looking guys has to feel good.”

I couldn’t get mad at his suspicion. It’d taken me weeks to shake my own. I laced my fingers with his, hoping to assure him. “I have to try to trust them. Don’t we all have to make this decision at one point or another?”

“I guess." He still didn’t sound convinced,, and because I’d carried the knowledge of the Allendale Four all to myself for so long it spilled out.

“I’m dating them.”

“Them?” He frowned. “Who?”

“The Allendale Four.”

“All of them?” The wheels turned in his head. “You’re dating them all…as in, dating around? Seeing different people? Not settling?”

“No,” I confessed. “I’m dating them all. Like at the same time. We’re in a relationship. The photos of me, Oliver, Jackson, Hayden, and Anderson are all legit. Anything else is a manipulation.”

Justin stared at his feet, not speaking. I kept going. “I care about them and they care about me. What we have is really special.” But as I said it out loud I knew I’d made a mistake. A big one. The look on his face shifted from confused to scared to angry. I couldn’t stop. Like I said, I’d defend them to the end of time. “We have fun together. They protect me. They get my anxiety…showing up every. Fucking. Day to take care of me.” Hot tears welled in my eyes and the feelings I had for them are so real. So very, very real. No one would ever get this. No one but them.

“Don’t cry,” he said. “I’m just worried. That’s all.”

I blinked back the tears. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine. For real. This is good for me. They’re good for me.”

We reached the bonfire and I saw all Justin’s friends, most paired off with girls. A voice from the huddle around the fire shouted my name.

“Look who graced us with another visit. Heaven!” Davis shouted. “Justin finally brought back his girlfriend.”

When he stood he had a shadow. One I didn’t expect to see.

Spencer.

“What’s he doing here?”

“He started dating one of the girls down here a few weeks ago. He keeps hanging around—like a bad rash.”

At least that was something we could agree on. Spencer tried to put on a front but it was obvious he wouldn’t meet me in the eye.

Justin noticed. “What’s that about?”

“Oh, one of the guys kicked his ass at a party a while ago.” Justin looked surprised. “Defending me.”

He raised an eyebrow but the smile on his mouth didn’t travel to his eye. “Oh yeah, maybe they are good enough for you.”

“I told you. They’re not bad guys.”

Doubt still shadowed his features. He’d come around. Eventually. And if he didn’t? It wasn’t my problem.

*

“You smell like the beach,” Jackson said, running his lips over my neck. “And taste like a campfire.” More lips, more tasting. “Not that I mind, or anything.”

My mom texted, saying she was going to be late, and Justin gave me a ride home in his ancient, rusty Honda. There was an awkward moment when he pulled into the driveway and Jackson was waiting on my front step.

“Justin,” I nodded. “Jackson...” That was painful.

“Good to meet you,” Justin said and they shook hands and Jackson did some trick where his shoulders became as wide as the car.

“Thanks for bringing Heaven home,” Jackson said. His body language made it clear he’d take over from here.

Justin eyed me warily. “I told your mom I’d stay.”