I scanned the room, ignoring the girls who were batting their eyelashes at me, asking for a quick fuck without actually asking.
Then, it hit me.
My fingers flew over my phone quickly, a smirk dancing on my lips.
Me- How’s it going? Mom bring anyone home? Specifically, someone in a red Porsche?
Her mom hadn’t been home much since Madeline’s father had left, but she hadn’t brought anyone home, either.
Madeline texted back quickly.
Madeline- I’m fine. No. She hasn’t come home yet.
Me- Nice. I was just checking in. I gotta go, though. Missy keeps trying to steal my attention.
I chuckled, clicking my phone off. I was playing a hand out of Christian’s handbook. The number of times he used another girl to make Hayley jealous, sometimes even using Madeline, was almost cruel, but it worked in the end.
“Hey, Hayley?” I nudged her with my elbow. She turned around from Christian’s lap and peered down at me.
“Yeah?”
“On a scale of one to ten, how fucking livid were you when Christian would dangle other girls in front of your face to make you jealous? You know, before you two came to your senses?”
Hayley pouted as she thought back to the past. “A solid ten. In fact”—she let out a little growl and hit Christian on the arm—“I think I’m still mad.”
He scowled before grinning. “That’s not fair. I was just trying to get you to see that you had the hots for me even when you said you didn’t.” His lips curved. “Now look at us.”
Hayley rolled her eyes. “Of course I denied having the hots for you. You told me you hated me.” Then, a small smile appeared on her face as she glanced back at me. “Why are you asking?”
I leaned back and held my phone, waiting for the text to come through. “No reason.”
Missy caught my eye from across the room, and I gave her a tip of my chin. She gave me a look, throwing her wavy locks back. “Me?” she mouthed.
I nodded, pulling open my phone.
Madeline- Missy Rhodes?
Me- Yeah.
“Hey, Eric.” Missy’s voice was squeaky like a mouse, and I thought my eardrums had exploded at the sound.
“Hey.” I glanced up at her. “Want to do me a favor?”
She bit her lip in an attempt at being sexy. Sorry, Missy. Been there, done that. Twice. “Like what?”
“Sit on my lap for a few, snap a pic, post it.”
Her dainty shoulders dropped, her crop top hiding the sliver of bare of skin below her belly button. “That's it?”
“Mmhm,” I answered, shoving my phone back in my pocket.
“What’s in it for me?” she asked, crossing her arms defiantly.
I lazily swung my gaze around the room. “Free beer, good weed, popularity points by sitting on my lap for a few.”
“I’m already popular.”
My gaze darkened. “For now.”