Games We Play (Thistle Cove 2)

Nerves twist in my belly. “Do you think she ever hooked up with anyone here? In town?”

“Rose could have anyone she wanted—even if they were off limits. She had no boundaries.” She licks her lips and darkness flickers in her eyes. “But you know about that—she didn’t give a rat's ass about vandalizing your house or stealing the boy you loved.”

She looks over the railing and waves down at a group of cheerleaders, wide smile tugging at her lips.

I decide to take a shot. “Did she ever cross those boundaries with you?”

The smile fades and she looks at me, hair tumbling over her shoulder. “What are you asking me, Kenley Keene?”

I swallow. “Did Rose ever…you know, hook up with your dad?”

I wait for the meltdown. The defense. Maybe a slap across the face. Instead, her standard, all the time, queen of all bitchfaces falls and she whispers, “I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past her. And I definitely wouldn’t put it past him.”

Her reply hits like a punch in the gut—the answer to a question I’d been dying to ask but ultimately didn’t want to know the truth. I fumble for words but land on, “I’m really sorry.”

A fat tear falls down her cheek, dirty with mascara. “I don’t have proof, but I saw the way they acted together, and how sometimes when she spent the night, I’d wake up and her bed would be empty—for hours. I never went looking for her, and I never asked. When I found out about the SugarBabies account, I was glad. She could move onto someone new and leave my family alone.”

“Have you said anything? Don’t you want to do something about it?”

Juliette takes a deep breath and wipes her face. “What would I do? My dad may just be a coach, but he’s a powerful figure in the community. I have no proof. Rose is gone—her suicide proving her to be an unreliable, troubled person. There’s no way I’d embarrass my mother like that, and I’m certainly not putting myself through the public humiliation. Rose is gone and hopefully he’s learned his lesson.”

She looks down at the party, at the pretty, popular girls, Kayla James included. I have no doubt she’s aware this reaches further than one girl.

She struggles to her feet, taking the bottle with her. “Keep your mouth shut about this, Kenley. My family’s reputation isn’t the only one at stake. Brice Waller would cut a bitch before he lets this type of information out into the world.”

I scramble up. “And you’re okay with that?”

“I told you, all of this is dangerous and dirty. Mired in politics and ego. We’re talking about men, Kenley. Filthy, privileged, horny, controlling men. The last thing you want is for them to think that you may be a threat.”

A flash pops in my head. “Is that what Rose became? A threat?”

Her chin trembles but she clamps her mouth shut. “I’m not talking about Rose anymore, ever. She wouldn’t have wanted me to talk to anyone about her—especially you.”

She stumbles off, swaying on her feet. She catches the railing and slowly clomps down the stairs. I lean over the rail and watch her meet up with her friends below, waving the almost empty bottle in the air, like she has zero fucks to give about anything.

Ezra catches my eye and holds it—like he knows what just happened. He’s also told me about the risk of dangerous men. Maybe I’m like Rose, I can’t stay away from trouble, but I don’t think that’s what it really is; I just want to make sure no other girls get hurt.

25

Finn

It’s eight a.m., and I’m standing outside Kenley’s window like a stalker. To be honest, I thought the sound of me landing on her roof and stumbling would have woken her up, but when I looked in she’s curled up in her bed, fast asleep.

I push at the jamb and the widow rises. A few seconds later I climb in, managing to avoid knocking anything over, and step over to her bedside. I kneel to wake her but stop, needing a second to take her in. I’d assume my heart was racing from the acrobatics it took me to get in here, but that’s not it. It’s what happens every time I’m near her.

I know Kenley doesn’t completely trust me. Why should she? I didn’t man up the way I should have years ago. I hurt her, and I let immaturity, ego, and a bunch of other petty bullshit rule my actions. I could have handled everything differently, including telling everyone Rose and I’d broken up before she went missing, but I sure as hell didn’t know she wasn’t going to be at school that day. I wanted to let her decide how to handle the breakup at school. That never happened, and now, I’ve got a flock of girls following me around, hopeful to be my next girl.

That’s not going to happen.

I have a girl.

And I don’t care if I have to share her with two other guys.

All I want is her in my life.

On my knees, I lean over and bush aside a few pieces of hair sticking to her cheek. She shifts and blinks with her big, blue eyes, first still asleep, then confused.

“Finn?”