“I saw her talking to Lacey today.” Law smiles up at me from where he sits on the locker room floor.
“Got a thing for the virgin, huh?” I laugh. “Good luck with that.” Lacey won’t willingly open her legs for any guy at this school. Even Law wouldn’t be able to charm her pants off.
“I’m just saying she’s something we can use.” He winks up at me before Rellik helps him up off the floor.
My cell dings again, and I pick it up to read the reply.
Deal.
CHAPTER NINE
HENLEY
I ENTER MY father’s house and inhale deeply, feeling the stress leave my body for the first time today since I was shoved into a shower.
“Hen?” my father calls out.
“Yeah,” I say, moving my backpack to where it shields part of my chest. I had to go the second half of the day without a bra and underwear, thanks to the motherfuckers. And just like I guessed, my pussy is rubbed raw.
“We need to talk,” he says, coming into view in the foyer dressed in his three-piece suit and tie. I can’t tell if he’s coming or going at this point.
“Okay.” I swallow nervously, wondering if he has been getting phone calls regarding what I’ve been doing. My father never asked or kept up with my activities outside the house. He knew I was a good kid, and I was never in trouble with the law or at school. But now … he’s probably heard things from others who have kids in my school. Kids saw my wet hair and smeared makeup today in classes after lunch. They snickered in my face and behind my back. “What is it?”
“I …” His cell ringing cuts him off. Grinding his teeth, he looks down at it. “What?” he snaps when he answers. “I’m on my way.” He hangs up and walks toward me. “I gotta go. We’ll talk this weekend, okay?”
I nod. “Sure.” Making my way upstairs, I walk into my room, close my door, and go straight to my closet. I look around to see if anything is out of place from how I left it, but nothing sticks out. Honestly, they could have gotten these clothes of mine from anywhere. Scout’s house or the trunk of his car. Or Jamie’s. I used to sneak out wearing one thing and then change.
Junior year
“I’m staying at Jamie’s tonight,” I call out to my dad while standing in the foyer putting on my jacket.
“Okay. Love you!” he shouts from his study down the hall.
“Love you too,” I say and exit the front door. Jamie’s already parked in the driveway with her car still running. I get in, and she stomps on the gas.
“You look like we’re going to church.” She laughs, looking over at my sundress.
“I’m going to worship something.” I lick my lips.
She just laughs. I remove my jacket then reach down, lifting the dress up and over my head and toss it in the backpack that I brought with me.
“That’s better.” She eyes me quickly before returning her focus to the road.
I adjust the black mini dress that I had underneath the other and pull down the mirror. I apply the red lipstick and pop my lips before applying an extra coat of mascara.
Thirty minutes later, we pull into the field at Death Valley. It’s already filled with cars just as my cell rings. Scout lights up my screen. “Hello?”
“How long until you’re here?” he asks in greeting.
“We just pulled in,” I say with a smile. “I’m …”
He hangs up, but as I go to call him back, I see him walking toward our car. He wears a white jacket with his hands in the front pockets, dark jeans, and white Graveyard T-shirt. He’s got a baseball hat on backward. I hop out of the car before Jamie can even come to a stop.
His eyes darken as he looks me up and down before he reaches out and pulls me to him. Wrapping his arms around me, he nuzzles my neck. “Fuck, you look too sexy to be out here, Henley.”
My ringing cell pulls me out of that memory. I see it’s my brother. “Hey?” I answer, exiting my closet and falling down onto my bed.
“How are things going?” he asks.
“Great,” I lie. I’m starting to get good at it.
“Henley.” He sighs. “Would you tell me if they weren’t?”
“Of course.” I roll my eyes.
He chuckles. “You’re such a liar.”
“Hey, have you spoken to Dad lately?” I change the subject.
“No, and that’s the second time you’ve asked me that. Is everything okay?”
I bite my bottom lip. “He seems … distracted.” Well, that’s not a total lie.
“You know how he gets with work. When he’s in the middle of a project—”
“Jeremy, you ready to go?” A female voice interrupts him in the background.
“Yeah, one sec,” he answers her.