I found my boys.
Anderson tried not to stare in my direction. He failed miserably. Those candy-apple green eyes raked over every inch of my body. There was no escaping the intensity of the way he took in the way the dress hugged my curves, showing nothing and everything. I felt exposed yet powerful. We could learn a lot from our grandmothers about fashion.
Jackson, in an expertly fit navy blue suit, grabbed Oliver’s arm to pull his attention to where I stood in the doorway. Oliver jabbed Hayden in the ribs. He jerked his head toward Oliver but stopped cold when he saw me. They whispered to one another—I couldn’t hear it over the music and from the distance but my heart pounded anyway. They looked fantastic and even if I was here with another guy, there was no doubt in my heart who my real dates were.
“Did the temperature just rise in here?” Amber asked, watching the scene unfold. She fanned herself with her clutch. “How long until we set this plan in motion?”
I dragged my eyes from the boys, glancing at the clock over the basketball goal.
“Thirty minutes?”
To my surprise, Justin interrupted. “Go, I’ll cover for you.”
“Go where?”
“The locker room? Under the bleachers? Oh maybe on the football field—like a movie.” He squeezed my shoulder. “I was wrong, Heaven. I can tell from here how much they care for you. Go.”
"You think?"
He smiled, softening his features. "I know.”
"Make it the car, okay? The locker room is just disgusting and I’m not getting busted under the bleachers." I’d learned that lesson.
I walked over to Amber and Ben. "I'm going to take my coat to the car. I'll be back," my eyes darted to Justin’s, "in a minute."
Amber rewarded me with an approving grin.
The gym lobby was crowded when I passed through it, filled with stragglers. I wove through the crowd and noticed them noticing me. I pushed my shoulders back and held my chin high—they could stare all they wanted. I didn't care. Tonight was the night I stop playing games.
I slipped through the double doors to get outside, fresh air slapping me in the face. The door opened behind me, closing with a click. I didn’t look back. I expected a shadow, more than one, and the thought made the coil in my chest loosen.
By the time I reached the parking lot, I heard footsteps behind me and smiled to myself. I began walking intentionally, slowing my gait, trailing my hand over the curves of the closest car. The heels of my shoes clicked against the pavement until I reached the trunk and paused. A warm hand wrapped around my waist and I melted into it.
"Seeing you all like that and not being with you? That was painful," I said, leaning against the car, pulling his weight with me.
"Oh, yeah?" asked a voice that was decidedly not one of my secret boyfriends. He smelled smoky, like stale cigarettes. I froze, everything except my heart that pounded in fear. “Seeing you like this just makes me want you that much more.”
Self-preservation brought me to my senses and I wiggled against his weight and in the shadowy light saw exactly who'd followed me out here. It wasn’t my boys. Or Justin or anyone else I called a friend.
Chapter 26
"Spencer!" I yelled, using both hands to push him away. "Get off me!"
"Why?" he asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion, and he approached me again. "Who are you out here meeting? Your date is inside."
Again, I pushed him away and glanced around, hoping someone—anyone was out there to witness it.
"Back. The. Fuck. Off! I'm not meeting anyone out here. And I don’t have to justify myself to you. But I am about to head back to the dance where my friend is waiting for me. I really don't think you want to deal with him if he sees you fucking with me."
Spencer didn't seem deterred by the threat of Justin, which was weird. Justin was a big guy, much bigger than Spencer. But he stood before me, grinning all sly and smirky and not in that cute way Anderson does when he wanted to grope me next to the water fountain. Or the adorable lopsided one Oliver gave me when he picked me up in the morning.
No, his smile was filled with danger and disturbing thoughts. Fear ran down my spine.
He took a step toward me and moved so close I could smell the sour alcohol on his breath. "I'm not really the one who has to worry."
"W—what are you talking about?"
He reached in the inside pocket of his suit and pulled out his phone, sliding his thumb ove