Boys of Brayshaw High (Brayshaw High 1)

He gives a curt nod.

I sit up straight and Maddoc’s hand slides across my stomach, his chin moving to press against my hair.

And I feel it, the supremacy that is Brayshaw. I shouldn’t use it, shouldn’t take what he’s offering right now with his possessive hold and steady heartbeat.

Yet I do it anyway.

I look to Chloe. “Go.”

A laugh spits out of her but when it’s only her and the girl she came with who thinks it’s funny, her smile slowly fades.

“You can’t be serious?”

I lift my cup and take a drink, dismissing her.

“You heard her. Go.” Captain stands, looking down at the two.

There’s some groaning and unnecessary water slapping, but they do as they’re told and step from the hot tub.

Leo watches from where I left him. His face is blank but his body language says enough. He’s not happy.

Fuck him, too.

I call out, loud enough for him to hear, “The entire team is off-limits to you tonight, Chloe. Find another dick to fall on.”

She storms off, and he meets my stare a moment, unable to hide the way his lip curls just the slightest.

The twitch of Maddoc’s muscles has me thinking he caught it too. But I’m not looking to cause problems between friends. He’ll either get his shit straight or cause his own fall.

I don’t need Leo’s respect ... but I don’t want the Brayshaws at the expense of their boy. He was here before me, and he’ll be here after.

It’s only a matter of time before I’m sent back to my slums, it’s how the story always goes.

Girls from the gutter don’t belong at privileged cabins in the woods with ruling rich boys and pissy princesses.

I’ve got enough problems of my own, the last thing I need is to inherit theirs.

Yet here I sit, comfortable on the lap of the king, confident with his palm spread across my abdomen, and strong with his princes at our sides.

This is their world, and it seems I’m in the middle of it.“We just gonna pretend we didn’t rock her world last night?”

Oh my God.

“Shut the fuck up, Royce.” Captain throws a chip at him and Maddoc shakes his head.

“What?” He shifts in the front seat to look at me.

I lift my hands, peeking at him through my fingers and he grins.

“I’m playing. But I did have to go fluff my ego last night after it took you ten fucking years to—”

“Bro, shut up.” Captain shakes his head.

“Fine, but for real, afraid of the dark, RaeRae?” His dark eyes widen. “Never saw that shit coming.”

“Anywaaaaay...” I playfully frown at him and he winks, turning back in his seat.

“Right. Yeah, we got what we were looking for, so thanks for that,” he says and then ... silence.

He offers no more, none of them do, so I sure as hell don’t ask.

I settle in my seat, trying not to let a sour taste take over. It’s dumb, because I have no right to feel left out. I’d have to be “in” for that to happen and right now I’m just ... hell, I have no clue what I am.

Fresh? Foreign? A toy? A—

Wait.

I swiftly cut my eyes to Maddoc, who lazily meets my gaze.

“What?” His stare bounces between mine and after a few seconds, his lips smash together.

I scoff, tipping my head back as a bitter laugh leaves me.

Ugh, stupid girl. You should have known.

“Raven—”

“Fuck you, big man.”

Royce’s head swivels around. I make sure my glare meets his questioning stare, then Captain’s in the mirror.

“Fuck all of you.”

The distraction.

That’s what this was. That’s why I was here, why they played friendly lately. The rides to school, the light share of information, a tiny glimpse into their world to make me comfortable.

I always knew comfort was for fools, the man who slipped under my covers after slipping out of my mom’s when I was twelve taught me that hard lesson.

They knew I’d roam, it’s who I am and what I do. They bet on my stumbling upon the Graven guys at some point. It’s why they didn’t give me the pre-warning or order or what the fuck ever, to stay away – like they did before.

Because this time, they needed me to be the pawn so they themselves had a reason to survey the setup. Bet they even counted on them moving their party into the designated bullshit Brayshaw zone so they could make their way to the cabin without being seen.

No fucking way could they have gotten in there if they were all partying right outside.

No fucking way would they have gotten in the house if I hadn’t made it happen.

“Raven.” Maddoc’s tone is demanding – a command to look his way.

I close my eyes and tip my head back on the seat.

His light growl and jerky movements have me wanting to scream, but I don’t.