I pull up at school ten minutes later, the early hour allowing me to bypass the usual morning traffic, and instead of going in and working on my essay, I just sit and stare up at the big school, unable to stop replaying my morning. That wasn’t right, that wasn’t my mom. Had I said that to her this time last week, she would have fought tooth and nail to protect all innocence, but now, she’s taking on Orlando’s corrupted views and bullshit morals. This isn’t right. Is he forcing this on her? Is he making her say these things? Is there more at play here?
Heaviness weighs down on my shoulders and minutes begin to pass where I just stare out the window, feeling more lost than ever before. A loud rumble of a familiar motorcycle cuts through my thoughts, and I jump, my gaze falling to the small digital clock. I’ve been sitting here for over an hour.
Students fill the parking lot, lingering around Tanner, trying to get his attention, and I use it as my chance to escape through the crowd. My stomach grumbles as I dart toward the school, and having a few spare minutes, I detour past the cafeteria and grab myself a slice of toasted banana bread with a caramel latte.
The hot beverage sails down my throat and somehow manages to warm the chill left behind from my morning. It’s exactly what I need to be able to face the day. Making my way through the crowded senior hall, I find my locker and throw everything inside before quickly glancing at my class schedule again.
As I’m finding what I need, Ilaria appears at my side, a grin on her face while Chanel and Arizona talk shit behind her. “Did you do it?” she asks, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Do what?”
Ilaria rolls her eyes and laughs as I close my locker and start sipping my latte once again. “Break into the lion’s den,” she murmurs, looking around to make sure no one is overhearing.
I laugh, unable to believe I didn’t catch onto that one, but it feels like so much has happened since then. “Oh, yeah,” I tell her. “We scaled a tree outside his bedroom and slipped in through his window.”
“What did you end up doing?”
“I returned the lipstick and casually let him know that particular shade would look better on a bitch like him.”
Her eyes bug out of her head, and I watch as Chanel catches onto what we’re discussing and moves in closer to hear the rest of the story, Arizona grinning proudly. “Bullshit,” Ilaria laughs. “Did he retaliate?”
Panic slams through my chest, not ready to share the fact that he sure as hell did. I’m trying to choose my words carefully when Arizona cuts in first. “Fuck yeah, he did,” she says. “He came over.”
Chanel’s eyes go wide. “What?”
“Yeah,” Arizona continues. “All his friends were there anyway because we were having mimosas and they made themselves welcome when they heard us, but then Tanner let himself in through the front door a few minutes after. It was clear that he’d just seen her message, and he was pissed.”
“What did he say?”
Arizona shakes her head. “I … I don’t know. Bri went over to kick his ass out and then he grabbed her and said something, but we couldn’t hear it. Looked kinda hot though, but knowing Tanner, it was probably some kind of threat.”
All eyes turn to me, gaping and demanding answers, and I roll my eyes, trying not to remember just how hot he’d made me in that moment. I was so close to caving, so close to giving him exactly what he wanted. “Nothing, he was just talking a big game, acting like he could get me on my knees anytime he wanted. Usual ego bullshit from a football god.”
Ilaria laughs. “Not gonna lie, if a guy like Tanner Morgan was asking me, I would have just done it.”
An unladylike snort pulls from the back of my throat, and before I can even respond, a heavy arm drops over my shoulder. “Morning, babe,” Riley says, leaning into me, a cocky grin spreading across his face. “What’s going on?”
“Ugh,” Chanel groans. “You hung out one time. Don’t tell me that this is going to become a thing?”
“Damn right,” Riley says. “What can I say? She’s got a nasty backhand and I fucking love it. No one has ever dropped me to my knees like she did, and for that, I claim her as my own.”
I scoff, slipping out from under his arm. “No chance in hell,” I tell him. “Besides, it’s bad enough that I already have to deal with Tanner on the regular, I don’t have time to brush you off too.”
“Then don’t brush me off,” he says simply, his lips pulling into a cocky, shit-eating grin. “Let me take you out. Just you and me. I’ll show you a good time, then you can return the favor. It’s a win-win all around.”