“Almost nine.”
She covers up a yawn. “Man, I didn’t realize I was so tired.”
I stand. “I’m gonna take Lilly home.”
“No.” She throws off the covers and gets up, making sure not to wake Lilly. “Let her stay here.”
“Austin …”
“She’s fine, Cole. She’s already asleep. And I’m taking her to school in the morning anyway. All her stuff is already here from when I picked her up earlier. I will just put her in my room. She can sleep with me.”
I go to protest more, but she picks her up and carries her out. I turn off the movie and fold the blanket up before putting it back where I found it.
I shut the door and walk down the hall to her room. I enter and find them both already in her bed, cuddled up and the covers to their neck.
My stomach knots up. Shit is going to hit the fan soon, but it’s not gonna be because I fucked Kaitlin. It’s gonna be because more secrets are gonna catch up with me, and they are gonna blow up in my face.
AUSTIN
Becky and I are walking down the quiet hallway, late to class as usual. The bell rang over fifteen minutes ago. Lilly and I picked her up this morning, and the girls wanted donuts. I tried to tell them we didn’t have time, but Becky turned on me and had Lilly chanting donuts along with her at the top of their lungs.
Becky crams the last part of hers in her mouth. “We’re so dead,” she mumbles.
My phone dings as we stop at our lockers.
Shark: Where are you?
I roll my eyes. “It’s like he thinks I’m incapable of getting Lilly to school.”
Becky laughs and pieces of her donut flies from her mouth. I chuckle. “Well, you do get her there late.”
“But she makes it.”
Me: At school. Was running late.
I open my locker and grab my book for first period.
“Shit!” Becky hisses.
“What?” I ask as my phone dings again. I ignore him this time. He’ll see me second period.
“I think I left my chemistry book in the lab.”
I slam my locker shut. “Let’s get it. It’s on the way.”
She throws her backpack over her shoulder, and we take our time walking to the lab room to retrieve her book.
I open the door, and she walks in. I follow her but come to a stop when I run into her back. “Becky …”
“Oh, God.” A woman squeals.
I look over to the far corner where the teacher’s desk sits, and a girl is getting off it. A man stands, straightening his tie. “Girls.” He clears his throat. “What can I do for you?”
The girl bows her head, allowing her hair to cover up her face, and she turns her back to us.
“I left my book in here yesterday,” Becky says.
He nods at her but makes no move to come out from behind the desk. I look and can see his slacks are undone but pulled up. “There’s one on the back shelf.” He gestures with his chin.
Becky walks over there and grabs the book and then turns, shoving me out the door. “Thank you,” she calls out and then bursts out laughing. The door shuts behind me.
“Who the hell was that?” I ask.
“That was Bryan’s twin sister fooling around with the student teacher.”
“What?” I ask with surprise. “I didn’t know he had a twin sister.”
She nods. “That’s another reason Bryan hates Cole so much.”
“He slept with her?” Why am I not surprised?
“Yep. Cole has fucked the love of his life and his twin sister.”
“Is there anyone in this school Cole hasn’t fucked?” I growl.
She comes to a stop at our first period. “Me.”
I laugh, shaking my head, and open the door. The teacher throws us a glare, but I just give her a smile. I have a hard time getting myself to school on time, and this week, I gotta get a six-year-old too. And my best friend since Deke is also busy with swimming. Who likes to spend too much time deciding what to wear.
We sit down in our seats, and I look over at Becky.
“What?” she whispers when she sees me staring at her.
“Do you really think Cole will sleep with Kaitlin?” I ask the question that I haven’t had the courage to ask. Because I know the answer.
Her eyes look down at my bag by my feet, avoiding eye contact with me.
“That’s what I thought.” I sit back in my seat.
I hate that I fucking care so much. That the thought of him with anyone else makes my stomach knot and my chest hurt.
“Maybe not,” she says, surprising me. “I mean, something’s keeping him from doing it.”
“That’s true …” I trail off.
She leans over her desk toward me. “Deke told me that Cole always completes his dare the very next day.” I frown. “I know he’s not the greatest guy, Austin, but he feels something for you. I didn’t need to watch him put off a dare to know that, though.”