Entropy (The Countenance Trilogy 3) (16 page)

“Only if you’re worried about bed bugs. Besides, Flynn is missing, and he never once slept in that bed.”

“No, but we had a little f-u-n in this room. Oh my, God! It’s true!” She pulls her knees up and hugs them.

“Stop.” I sit up and lean against the pillow fort I’ve got going on at the head of my bed. “Let’s change the subject.” I pull my sweatshirt over my knees and blow out a breath. “I’m about to have a little
f-u-n
.” I glance down, losing myself in the comforter.

“Oh my, gosh!” She leans over and pushes me so hard I nearly topple off the bed. “Which one, Coop or Wes?”

“
Wes
,” I say, incredulous. I thought Coop and I made it pretty clear we were just friends. Hell, if you judge our relationship by these last few weeks, it seems we’re less than that. “But a part of me wishes it were Coop,” I whisper it so low I’m not sure she heard. “And I wonder if that’s because I know I can never have him.”

“
Aww!
” Carter bounces over and lands her arm around my shoulder. “Oh, sweetie! If you want Coop, just sleep with Coop. He’d totally be down for that.”

I avert my eyes at the thought. “Carter, life doesn’t work like that. I’m committed to Wes. I’m in love with him.”

“If you’re so in love with him, why are you wasting time wishing you could wrap your legs around Coop?”

Leave it to Carter to get to the point. “I’m not. I mean I don’t want that. I mean I might want it a little bit, but that’s because I’m momentarily confused.” I pull back to get a better look at her. “You see, Wes and I used to be strong—then something sort of wedged its way between us, and while there was this rift, Coop stepped up beside me and was there when I needed him.”

“And now?” She nods like she knows. “The rift is gone, and your feelings for Coop didn’t magically disappear like you hoped they would?”

“I’m not sure I ever hoped they would,” I say it low, ashamed of my admission.

“So what’s the rush to have some fun? You hoping Wes will bring it, and you’ll forget all about Flanders?”

I let out a breathy laugh—first one all day. “No. It’s some freaky Count ritual—that Ensign thing we did a few weeks back.”

“There’s no fucking in the firebrand, trust me I’ve tried to get a—” Her eyes round out. Carter brings her hands up and covers her mouth without bothering to finish her sentence. “Are you thinking about becoming Wesley’s Essential?”

“Yeah, I know it’s sort of a big deal.”

“Sort of a big deal?” She kicks me in the leg. “
Laken
, that’s an honor only reserved for the who’s-who in Count-ville—not to mention the fact it bonds you for life.” She pulls back, her brows dipping in confusion.

“Yeah, but we did that when I became his spirit wife, remember?”

“That was a little different. It means your spirits will always have a special connection, but it still leaves room for other loves. You know, it doesn’t condemn anyone to a certain death if they ever try to be with you.”

“What are you talking about? Outside of some freaky altar action, Wes didn’t mention anything about the grim reaper showing up. I’m pretty sure neither Wes or I want to meet some untimely demise.” Carter probably just has her facts mixed up.

“Not you, silly—or Wes, for that matter. We’re talking any extracurricular lovers, you know, like
Coop
.”

“Coop?” I tick my head back. “Okay, rewind because I’m totally confused.”

“Yeah, you didn’t know? Rumor has it, once you become Essentials, you’re stuck with one another always and forever, and if anything happens to one of you, the other one still can’t get laid without having their play station turn into the killing fields.”

“Oh my, God.” I straighten. “You mean they just die right there in the bed?”

“Oh, no. Are you kidding? This is the Counts we’re talking about. It’s a grueling fight to the finish. I believe some serious volcanic rear-end action is involved. I think it takes about three days. But most people just slit their throats because, really? Who wants a steady stream of lava shooting out their ass?”

“Holy crap.”

“Exactly—it’s that scary. I can see what has you so down. If you don’t hop in bed with Coop before Sunday, it’ll never happen. You want to head over, and I’ll cover for you?”

The door closes, and we look up to find Jen has stealthy entered the room.

“Covering for Laken?” Jen shoots me a look. “What mess are you in now?”

“I’m not in a mess.” I shake my head aggressively at Carter.

“Laken’s getting ready to have some f-u-n with Wes Sunday night and was wondering if she could have some—”

I swat her over the face with a pillow in the event she decides to let out all my deep, dark secrets by way of the alphabet. I should have known better than to confide in anyone willing to date my brother. That, alone, is a serious red flag in the morals department.

Jen’s eyes spin like pinwheels. “Carter would you mind leaving my sister and me alone for a moment? I think we’re going to need some serious privacy.”

“Oh, I don’t think Laken and I have any secrets.” Carter shakes her head while looking from me to Jen. “I know all about her feelings for—”

I smack her again with the pillow, and she bounces off the bed and out the door.

“I don’t need this kind of abuse, Anderson.” She mouths the words
good luck
before shutting the door behind her.

“What’s this about?” Jen glides across the floor like an apparition. “Are you and Wes thinking about going all the way?”

“Geez.” I sink into the mattress. Jen has the sexual sensibility of someone from the sixteenth-century. “Actually”—I blow out a breath—“yes, we sort of are.” I fill her in on the Count ritual where Wes and I become
Essential
to one another forever and threaten to kill poor Coop by way of his gastrointestinal system if he ever even thinks of getting near my girl parts.

“Laken.” She scoots in next to me before dropping her head in her hands. “That’s pretty serious stuff. Can I ask what prompted the Essential debate between you and Wes?”

“It’s no debate.” I hold back from telling her all the
fun
details on why we’re so desperate to do the deed. I’m pretty sure other girls don’t screw their boyfriends for their mother’s welfare. It’s a strange predicament, but I’ve sort of been attracting those very things as of late. “Wes and I are…” A part me wants to say
desperate,
but in actuality it’s just me who’s desperate. Wes is just bonding himself to me for life out of the kindness of his heart. It’s sad because if it were last summer and I had this opportunity, I would have jumped on it, or, more accurately, jumped on Wes and gladly given Kres the middle finger in the process. Not that I ever want to see Wes with Kresley again, or anyone else for that matter. “My heart breaks when I think of not having Wes in my life,” I whisper for no good reason.

“Oh, honey.” Jen wraps an arm around me. “Wesley’s a great guy. There’s no rush. He’ll wait for you until you’re good and ready. I have to admit I’m a little jealous that he’s invited you to be his Essential. That’s the apex of romance if you ask me.” She gets that dreamy, faraway look in her eye that one might equate with a bad soap opera. “I was hoping Blaine would ask me one day. I mean”—she shakes herself back to reality—“it’s sort of the only way to ever know he’ll never cheat. He can’t, right? And neither could you.”

“Oh, right, the Counts anal revenge. Ridiculous bastards.”

“
Hey
.” She pushes into me. “You’re one of them, too, you know. You should be proud. Besides, this is an amazing event in your life. I’m going to do something special for you Saturday during the Austen House commemoration just to prove it.”

“Thank you.” I pull her in and lay my head on her shoulder. “I’d like that. But please don’t cause a scene. I think at this point, Wes and I want to keep it kind of private.”

“Private?” Her chest rumbles. “You do realize the two of you will only be separated by a ring of fire. Try not to get vocal on us.”

“You’ll be there?” I look up to find her brilliant blue eyes moistened with tears.

“Of course, I’ll be there. It’s pretty much your wedding day. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get one of those, too. Not everyone in this world knows what an Essential bonding is. That’s the best part of being a Count—we get the best of both worlds.

“I guess.” Not. But I’m keeping that to myself.

“So are you going to tell me, or do I have to drag it out of you?”

“What’s that?” God, if this conversation takes another turn for the carnal, I’m heading to bathroom and staying there for the rest of the night. “Of course, we’ll use protection.”

“Eww, no.” She swats me away as if I had threatened to contaminate her with head lice. “I mean, Coop. Come on, Laken, it doesn’t take a genius to notice the sparks flying every time the two of you are in the same room. I mean, for Pete’s sake, stay away from Sleepy Hollow when he’s around, or the two of you will light the entire state of Connecticut on fire.”

I sink a little in her arms. “You pegged it.” Crap. It’s so obvious even Jen sees it, and Jen is the last person to notice anything even remotely sexual.

“So what are you going to do about it?”

“What do you think I should do?” I bet she’ll tell me to shake his hand politely one last time or, better yet, wave from a distance before my vagina turns into the equivalent of a human habanero pepper.

Jen looks right at me, drilling those smoky blue eyes into mine as if she were looking to start a fight. “I think you should kiss him. Kiss him with your entire soul, Laken. Let it be the longest, most satisfying kiss a girl could ever have, and make sure you remember every single second. Then say goodbye and come right back.” She gives a sad, slow nod as a single tear glides down her cheek. “Go right now, Laken. Don’t waste another minute.”

“Now?” My gut explodes in a ball of heat just thinking of sharing one last kiss with Coop. “Can I borrow your car?”

“You won’t have to. I came up to tell you he’s here to see you. He’s waiting for you in the kitchen.” She gives me a gentle shove off the bed. “Go.”

Cooper

Grayson Evans must have me on her radar. She’s spent the last fifteen minutes demonstrating the fine art of orally copulating a wooden spoon while a batch of cookie dough sits innocent in a bowl.

“I guess I’d better take off.” I was hoping Laken would have come down by now. A part of me wants to believe she’s in the shower or busy talking Carter from leaping off the ledge of the building, but, in truth, she’s probably just steering clear. It looks like she’s not that into whatever it was we had.

Her words come back to me. She said she loved me. People say I love you all the time, and it doesn’t mean anything too serious. Hell, when she said it—it almost sounded like an apology—probably was one.

Grayson swoops in and wraps her arms around my waist. “Are you awake?” Her chest bounces below my chin, full and heaving.

“I am now.” I try to pluck her off, but she comes in hard and lands her mouth over mine. Her tongue spears between my lips before I give a forceful shove, pushing her right into—“Laken?”

Standing tall with a frying pan in hand is a glorious, beautiful, irate as hell, Laken Stewart.

Grayson turns and scowls at her. “Relax, Anderson. I was only giving him a taste of my cookie dough.” She spins into me, her fingers curling the corner of my shirt. “You up for seconds?”

“Maybe some other time.” I gently pluck her off.

“Maybe some other time?” Grayson’s face lights up like a spotlight pointed right at my dick. “So we still have a chance.” She clicks her tongue at Laken. “Looks like you’ve got some serious competition.” Grayson touches her nasty, slobber-covered spoon to my lips. “You owe me a dance Saturday night.”

“What’s Saturday?” I wipe my lips off with the back of my hand.

“Big blowout right here at Austen House—sort of a birthday bash for the dorm. They say every dead resident comes home to celebrate each year.” She turns to glance back at Laken. “I guess that’s great news for you.”

“Why would that be great news for me?” Laken tosses the frying pan down on the counter with a clatter.

“Because”—Grayson sets her legs in a defiant stance—“that means once you die, you’ll be guaranteed to beat the heat one night a year. The way you treat the boys around here, we all know where you’re going.”

Laken closes her eyes a moment. “Very funny. You know what
really
sucks?” Laken steps in until they’re chest to chest. “The fact you’re in a living hell each day right here on earth all because Cooper Flanders wants nothing to do with you. It must suck knowing you’re the last person on the planet he would ever think of fucking.”

Grayson huffs a laugh, and my stomach boils because I can feel it coming.

“Now you’re the one who’s being funny because I happen to be the last person on this planet he
did
fuck.”

Laken flinches as if she forgot that fact.

Grayson pokes a finger into Laken’s chest. “And, if I remember correctly, he liked it a lot. Which must suck for
you
since you will never ever know what it feels like to have Cooper Flanders moan your name out in passion. He’s all about monogamy.” She rolls her eyes as if it were ridiculous on some level. “I should know, I found out the hard way. And, rumor has it, there’s an Essential ceremony this Sunday night, starring you and Wesley. Now, if you’ll excuse me”—she jabs her finger once again into Laken’s chest—“I’ve got a best friend to console because you just so happen to be stealing the love of her life.” She glances back at me briefly. “Thank God you’re not touching mine.” Grayson licks her lips before reverting back to Laken. “And grow some damn boobs, would you?” She takes off leaving the mixing bowl, batter and all.

“There’s nothing wrong with my boobs!” Laken shouts after her.

“I second that.” I tweak a crooked smile. “Not that I know. I’m just standing up for you.”

A sly grin spreads across her face. “Jen told me you were down here. Is everything okay? What happened to getting home to Marky?” Laken is genuinely worried about my little sister, and that endears me to her even more.