My attention is pulled back to the group when a roar of laughter goes up across the fire. I go on high alert when I notice Indi gasp. Her eyes go wide as she looks over my shoulder.
I look behind me and groan when I see what has her so on edge. Lincoln, Maverick, and Finley. I should’ve known that I couldn’t have one fucking night of peace. After a week of shit, of course they have to show up at a party I know they weren’t invited to. Even if it is on the beach.
Fuck my life.
“It seems the party started without us, boys,” Maverick snarks as they approach, the firelight glinting on the bar in his eyebrow. Somehow the lighting makes him seem more menacing than normal. How an eighteen-year-old guy can look so intimidating in a muscle tank and a pair of ripped jeans is beyond me, but he manages it. It also reveals the ink I hadn’t realized he had. All of it is normally hidden by his uniform, but tonight his colorfully painted skin is fully on show.
“I didn’t realize you guys were coming,” Jackson says, pulling Indi closer to him. “You know you’re always welcome.”
Raleigh throws a sharp glance over at him, and Jackson just shrugs. I get it. Those three run the school. Just because Raleigh dislikes them on my behalf doesn’t mean Jackson can afford to as well. I elbow Raleigh softly, bringing his gaze to me, and smile at him before looking over to Jackson to let him know I’m good.
“Of course we’re welcome. This is our beach, just like ECP is our school,” Maverick says before grabbing a beer and heading toward the gaggle of squawking girls by the water, crashing into my shoulder as he does.
Jackass.
“Surprised you showed your face, Royal,” Lincoln says, his tone biting as he grabs two beers from the cooler. He offers one to Finley who refuses it. The refusal doesn’t surprise me. His mom always had substance abuse issues, and he definitely seems like the straight edge type.
“Why wouldn’t I? My friends are throwing a party—of course I’m here.” I raise an eyebrow in challenge but bite back any other response. I couldn’t be anymore fucking annoyed with myself for responding to him, but prodding him probably isn’t going to make my life easier either. I haven’t spoken to him since he saw me in my underwear as I left school the other day, and it isn’t like he’s made any effort to talk to me either. He’s just watched as his loyal sycophants have terrorized me all week.
He stares at me, his expression blank, before walking away to another group as Finley drops onto the sand and gets comfortable.
Of course he fucking does.
I try not to let their appearance fuck with me and turn my attention back to Raleigh and the guys, but it feels like the whole tone of the party has changed. The music is lower, and everyone's mood seems a bit more subdued. It’s almost like a parent just crashed the party. My buzz sure as shit took a hike when they appeared. I let out a sigh and untangle myself from Raleigh. “I think I’m going to call it a night. I have a big day tomorrow.”
“You sure?” He frowns down at me as I take a step back.
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Okay, you want me to make sure Indi gets home okay? I’ve only had one.” I look over at her, and she looks so happy I don’t want to rain on her parade.
“That would be awesome if you don’t mind?”
“Nah, it’s good. I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
“Thank you.” I smile at him before heading over to Indi. “I’m heading home. Are you still cool to go car shopping with me tomorrow?”
“You know I am.” She grins at me, and I can tell from the faraway look in her glassy eyes that she’s quite a bit more buzzed than I am, and I bite my lip.
“You okay staying? Do you want me to get you home?”
“I’m good,” she giggles. “I haven’t drunk that much, and I’m sure Raleigh the Protector will make sure nothing nefarious happens.”
“He did say he’d get you home for me,” I tell her, and she giggles again.
“See, I’ll be fine. I’ll pick you up bright and early in the morning!” She moves from Jackson and wraps her arms around me, holding me tight for a second before letting go.
“Have fun.” I grin and wink at her before turning and heading back up the beach toward the pool house. I definitely have a lot going on this weekend. Between moving, car shopping, and homework, I’m sure I’ll barely have time to breathe. And I’ll bet there’s probably more that I’ve forgotten about, but I mean… I need a car, and I need to get out of the McMansion. Stat.
I rub my hands up and down my arms as I trek down the beach. It’s definitely cooler than I thought it would be. I lose myself to thoughts of the rolling to-do list in my head, but the sound of sand shifting behind puts me on high alert. My heart rate spikes as I look over my shoulder, but it’s so fucking dark out here, there could be someone there and I wouldn’t know it.
I pause for a moment, but I don’t hear anything else, so I pick up my pace. I practically run up the steps to the house, but freeze when I take in the backyard.
The doors to the pool house are all open, and my clothes are in pieces and scattered across the yard. Fuck. Some of them are in the pool too.
I decide to leave them and head into the pool house. There’s no point trying to collect the clothes outside. They’re in shreds. I just hope whoever did this didn’t find my band tees. Dad and I collected those from his shows, as well as some others that we went to together. They’re more than just t-shirts.
I flick on the lights and stop dead in my tracks.