“You really are fucking stupid,” Kai gritted out again and faced forward.
I stared at him in the front, wondering why he was so angry. Damon had pissed me off with his stupid remarks, but why was Kai annoyed with him? What could be worse than the wife of the mayor?
And then my eyes rounded, finally realizing who they were talking about. The only other person that lived in the house besides the servants.
Winter Ashby, the mayor’s daughter.
Shit. That was his prank? Screw the mayor’s daughter?
No wonder Kai was pissed.
But before I could confirm that’s who they were talking about, Damon took out his cigarettes and called up front, “Let’s go eat,” he suggested. “I’m fucking hungry.”
And Michael, who’d been silent the entire time, hesitated only a moment before shifting the SUV into gear and pulling back onto the road.
Cranking up the radio to Jekyll and Hyde by Five Finger Death Punch, Michael took us back into town and parked right in front of Sticks, a favorite hangout, bar, and pool hall frequented by nearly every kid in town up to the age of twenty-one. They served alcohol, but unless you were of age—or a star basketball player—you didn’t get served.
It didn’t matter, though. The music was great, the atmosphere dark, and it was big enough to accommodate plenty of people. It was the place to be if you wanted action on a Friday or Saturday night. Every time I’d tried to join my friends, though, Trevor showed up and hovered, so I rarely came.
We stepped out of the car, and I combed my fingers through my hair as I walked around the back of the SUV to meet everyone on the sidewalk. Damon flicked his cigarette into the street, and I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to keep warm.
“Fuckin’ Anderson,” Kai said under his breath. “I can’t stand him.”
I followed his gaze through the windows, immediately looking away again as soon as I saw who he was talking about.
Miles Anderson.
I stared at the ground, letting my hair fall over the side of my face, covering it. I couldn’t stand him, either.
Uneasiness settled in my muscles until they were so tight and tense that I thought they
would pop.
“Asshole’s been talking shit since we graduated,” Damon added.
I could tell none of them really liked the new captain of Thunder Bay’s basketball team. Miles had taken over after Michael graduated, and he enjoyed no longer living in his shadow. He resented the Horsemen’s power, charisma, and reach, and after they’d left for college, he wasted no time in trying to claim what was once theirs.
The only problem was he sucked as a captain. The team had a horrible year last year, and the more he failed, the more he pushed to prove what a man he was.
I shivered, forcing thoughts of what happened last spring out of my head. He might be the only person worse than Damon.
I eyed Michael, trying to hide my concern. “We’re not going in there, are we?”
“Why not?”
I shrugged, looking away like it wasn’t a big deal. “I just don’t want to.”
“Well, I’m hungry,” Will chimed in. “And there’s tail in there, so let’s go.”
I stared down the sidewalk, blinking long and hard, in part for his crass remark and in part because I refused to budge and didn’t want to explain why.
I had to endure Miles’ presence at school, but I wouldn’t on my free time.
I felt Michael approach. “What’s the matter with you?”
His hard tone sounded impatient. Why wouldn’t it be? He never coddled me.
I looked up at him defiantly, shaking my head. “I just don’t want to go in. I’ll wait for you guys out here.”
Damon shook his head, looking at Michael. “I told you,” he complained. “Fucking complicated.”
I heaved an aggravated breath, staying frozen in my spot. I didn’t care what Damon had to say about me. I cared more about not having to look at Miles Fucking Anderson and him knowing he’d gotten away without a scratch.
He always had that power over me now.
But then I gasped, sucking in a breath as Michael grabbed my upper arm and force-walked me behind the SUV. He threw me off, letting me go, and I backed into the car as he advanced.
“What,” he growled, “is your problem?”
A lump stretched my throat, and I chewed on my lip, not really wanting the rest of the guys to know.
Fat chance.
They followed us over, around the car, and stood next to Michael, staring at me and waiting.
Great.
I let out a sigh, squaring my shoulders and just blurting it out. “Miles Anderson slipped me a spiked drink at a party last spring.”
I stared at the ground as they all just stood there, not saying anything.
Last March, I’d gone to a St. Patrick’s Day party at a senior’s house, and of course, I hadn’t gone alone. Noah and Claudia came with me.
We hung out, we danced, I had one drink, and the next thing I knew I was being slapped awake by Noah in a bathroom as he stuck his finger down my throat.