Broken Hill Havoc (Broken Hill High Series 5)

“Well, fuck,” Jesse grunts for only me and Nate to hear. “That’s awkward.”

I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up my throat and turn my face into Nate’s chest to avoid Brooke tearing me apart later. After all, we live together now. If she caught me laughing at that, she would probably kill me in my sleep.

Brooke turns and starts heading for the house. I go to break away from Nate, figuring I need to go find a towel and see if I can somehow manage to salvage Brooke’s day when mom’s BMW pulls up on the curb, halting Brooke in her tracks.

I turn around and study her car for a moment, feeling slightly confused. I could have sworn she was inside helping with my wardrobe and lining my new bed. She climbs out of the car and pulls a box out from the passenger side. “Anyone hungry?” she calls out to the group of seven teenagers in the front yard. “I got Tacos.”

“Fuck yeah,” Jackson cheers as Tyson grins at my mom in that same slutty way that Jesse used to, making me want to sever his manhood. He walks forward and takes the box of Tacos from my mom and puts it down on the grass, making it a free-for-all.

The boys flock towards the box, pulling food out and crashing down into the grass, while Brooke and I hang back, waiting patiently to avoid being mauled by the hungry tigers.

Mom passes by and gives me a funny look when I realize I’m still dripping wet. She shrugs it off and continues on inside with a bag tucked under her arm, probably a healthier option for the adults.

Nate drops down into the grass and I fall down beside him before he hands me one of his many tacos. Kaylah decides it’s safe enough to come outside while Brooke grabs herself a taco and sits on the opposite side of the yard from Maxen, as far as the yard will allow while studiously studying her lunch.

I can’t help but look up at Maxen to see him stealing a glance at Brooke, and once again, that flash of longing returns. “What the hell is going on with him?” I grunt quietly to Nate.

“Fucked if I know,” he shrugs, looking between the two with his own curiosity. “He seems… I don’t know, different. The second I said I was coming here he jumped at the chance to see her.”

“Maybe he just missed her,” I supply, hoping that’s it. After all, I couldn’t trust Maxen as far as I could throw him, especially after the shit he put Brooke through at the beginning of senior year, and if that little turd burger is planning on playing my best friend again, he’s about to get a rude shock.

“Yeah, maybe,” Nate agrees, but from the look in his eye, I can tell he doesn’t really agree. He thinks it’s something more and the fact that he can’t work it out, pisses him off.

I let it go and get back to finishing off my lunch and take a drink of water, pleased to find my bottle didn’t get destroyed earlier. But then, I should really stop complaining about it, it’s freaking hot and the cool water went a long way in making my outdoor lunch a bit more bearable.

In fact, wouldn’t it be great if Nate got the chance to cool down too?

I watch him out of the corner of my eye as I take a sip of my water, trying my best not to raise his suspicions, but his eyes are still on his cousin as he finishes off a second taco.

I leave my bottle of water open and slowly stretch my hand out towards Nate. “Hey, Nate?” I grin.

He flicks his head towards me and I squeeze the bottle of water with everything I’ve got. Water comes spurting out the top of the bottle like a fountain and instantly covers his large frame.

He gaps as the cold water hits him but rights himself before flying at me. My laughter comes in so hard and fast that I can’t even force myself to run.

Nate pins me in the soft grass and as I look up at him, I completely melt. He doesn’t even give me a second to catch my breath before he presses his lips down on mine. “You’re in trouble, babe,” he tells me.

I smile against his lips, absolutely loving it when he’s this playful version of himself. I go to ask if that’s a promise when Jackson’s voice calls out across the yard. “Get a fucking room.”

Nate glances across at him. “If her mom wasn’t in there covering the room in family photos, I probably would.”

“What?” I gasp, looking up at Nate. “Tell me you’re joking?”

He looks back down at me and softly presses his lips back to mine. “I wish I was,” he grins. “It’s going to be un-fucking-comfortable trying to fuck you while your father’s face is staring back at me.”