Raw Deal (Beauty for Ashes: Book One) (4 page)

“So, who’s here?”

Monica linked my arm as she marched me over to the group. “Lewis,” she said with a huge smile. “Hayden, Craig, Jace, and Sandy. Michelle couldn’t make it.”

“Is Liam here?”

“No, he thinks I’m having a girl’s night with you and Sandy.”

“What if he finds out?”

Monica shrugged. “I’ll tell him we were having a girl’s night, and we bumped into the guys.”

Craig whistled as Monica and I approached. “So we’re just waiting on one more girl now?”

“Sorry, this is the last girl,” Monica said ruffling my hair and patting it down again like she was my mom or my stylist or something. “Michelle isn’t coming.”

“I thought we were getting a girl each.”

“A girl each?”

“Yeah, I thought it was supposed to be four of you and four of us.”

Monica snorted. “You’ll get over it.”

“Or two of ya’ll can share me,” Sandy tinkered.

Lewis came over and placed an arm around my shoulders. “I’m with Lexi.”

Monica looked incredulous. “You guys are pathetic. We’re going out as a group not some kind of triple or quadruple date!”

Hayden started toward Monica. She backed away. “Leave me alone, Hayden.”

He grabbed her. “I’m with Monica, ya’ll.”

Sandy grinned. “I guess I have Craig and Jace all to myself then.”

“Who’s driving?” Craig asked.

“Jace,” Sandy said quickly.

Jace dug his keys out of his pocket and gave Lewis and Hayden a sly smile. “How about I drive the ladies?”

“Good idea.” Monica said, wriggling out of Hayden’s arms. She looked over at me. “You coming with us or going with Lewis?”

“She’s coming with me,” Lewis said.

“You ain’t seen Jace’s car,” Monica sang.

“Really? What car is it?” I asked.

“I dunno, but it’s hot,” Monica sang again.

I gave Lewis a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry…”

Everyone burst out laughing, and Lewis shrugged. “Whatever. See you at the mall.”

He said it with a smile, so I knew he wasn’t annoyed or anything.

“Right,” Jace said. “I parked around the front. Would you ladies like me to go and bring my car or are you okay to walk over?”

Monica put a hand to her heart. “How considerate of you to take our footwear into account.”

Craig snorted. “C’mon boys. Let’s go.”

“Just because you’ve got no gentleman instincts,” Monica called after him.

Jace looked at me. You’re not wearing heels. You can come with me.”

“Okay.” I followed Jace round the building to the front of the school.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes.” I rubbed my arms.

“Cold?”

“Not really.” I let my hands drop.

I spied a shiny black sports car with huge silver rims, the kind you only saw on TV and in movies, sitting on the sidewalk outside the school’s front entrance. That couldn’t be Jace’s car.

Jace pushed a button on his car keys and the indicators flashed.

“That is no way your car.”

Jace didn’t say anything. He went round to the driver’s side and jumped in. I slid into the passenger’s side.

As Jace drove, I was conscious of how much my legs were showing. I was also conscious of the moody fragrance that was wafting over from his direction every time he moved. Nice!

We picked up Monica and Sandy, and then headed for the mall. Monica and Sandy were annoyed that they had to squash into the back seat, but they cheered up when Jace took the top off the car.

Jace drove around most of the parking lots at the mall, but they were all full. After twenty minutes of driving around, trying to find somewhere to park, Jace drove us over to the movies. Lewis, Hayden, and Craig were standing outside with sour faces.

“Where’ve you been?” Craig demanded as soon as we stepped out of Jace’s car.

“We couldn’t find parking,” Monica said. “Let’s get in there quick.”

“Are you leaving?” Lewis asked Jace.

“No, I’m gonna park at school and call a cab.”

Lewis went to accompany Jace, and the rest of us walked into the movie theater. Hayden and Craig paid for our tickets, which embarrassed me a little, although Monica and Sandy seemed to expect it.

I looked at the snacks hungrily. I’d had a whole pizza to myself just a couple hours back. I couldn’t believe how hungry I was again.

“What are you having?” Monica asked me.

I pointed at the largest bag of toffee popcorn. I opened my purse and felt around for my wallet.

“Hayden’s got it,” Monica said. She looked at Hayden. “You got that?”

He nodded. “What about you?”

“Just plain pretzels for me,” she said.

“Drinks?”

Monica eyed the drinks. “Sparkling water.”

“What about you, Lexi?” Hayden asked.

“Coke. Thanks.”

I followed Monica into the movie theater. Hayden, Craig, and Sandy joined us a few minutes later. Hayden passed me and Monica our snacks.

***

Two hours later, we emerged from the darkened theater. I yawned as we walked into the foyer. I felt pretty sleepy, which was weird because I’d slept all afternoon. I was sure I had issues. “I wonder where Jace and Lewis are.”

Monica looked like it had just occurred to her. “Oh yeah.”

“I just got a text off Lewis,” Hayden said. “They’re waiting for us by Jerry’s.”

The five of us made our way downstairs to the lower mall. Jerry’s Burger Paradise was one of my favorite burger joints. They did the most amazing chiliburgers.

“How was the movie?” Jace asked when we caught up with him and Lewis outside Jerry’s. He had a really cute smile.

“Boring,” Monica and Hayden said in unison.

“A waste of time,” Sandy added.

I’d thought the movie was really good, so I didn’t say anything.

“Where’ve you been?” Monica asked.

Lewis smirked. “We just hung around. Some girl asked for Jace’s number.”

“Shut up, Lewis,” Jace said.

Sandy grinned. “What was she like?”

Jace looked bored.

“Tall, about Lexi’s height. Curly black hair,” Lewis supplied.

“Pretty?” Sandy asked.

Lewis nodded. “Very.”

“Did you give her your number?” Sandy asked Jace.

Jace grinned. “I gave her Lewis’ number.”

Craig and Hayden chuckled. Lewis looked surprised, “Really? Thanks, man.”

“You’re welcome.” Jace dug his hands into the pockets of his oversized jeans. “Look, you guys, I haven’t eaten since twelve. Are we doing Jerry’s or not?”

“Okay, mister, don’t get your boxers in a twist,” Monica said. She led the way into the restaurant.

Jace held the door for me. “How do you know I’m wearing boxers? I could be wearing briefs.”

“Eww, you’ve just given me a mental picture,” Monica said slapping his arm.

We went to sit upstairs. Monica and Sandy announced that they weren’t eating anything, and the guys assumed that I wasn’t either. They ordered for themselves. Jace asked for his order to be packed up; he was taking it home.

“Why are you leaving so early?” Monica asked him.

“I’m doing my run tomorrow.”

“Oh, yeah. What time?”

“Eight.”

“What run?” Sandy asked.

“It’s to raise money for cancer research. You sponsored me.”

Monica patted his shoulder. “Okay, we’ll let you leave. Let us know how it goes.”

Jace leaned back in his chair and took out his cell phone. I’d never really seen him up close until this evening. His hair was brown-black, his skin was a lovely shade of mocha that reminded me of my sunburnt bronze compact powder. From the way his shirt fit, you could tell he was super fit, but then, I already knew that anyway because I’d seen him walking around topless after training a couple days ago.

Jace looked up from his cell phone and caught me staring. His eyebrows lifted slightly, and then he kind of grinned. I looked away, sure I was turning beetroot.

“Lexi,” he said. “Tell us about yourself.”

“Yeah, I for one definitely want to get to know you better,” Lewis said. His tone was playful and deliberately suggestive.

Monica’s grin was ear to ear. She winked at me, and I looked away before I collapsed from embarrassment.

I looked at Lewis, because I couldn’t look at Jace. “What do you want to know?”

“Are you back for good, or are you going back to England again?” Sandy asked. It was the first time she’d spoken to me all night.

“I’m back for good.”

“I thought you’d gone to live in England, though. I didn’t know it was just for a couple years.”

“Yeah, my mom wanted to come back.”
Because my dad died
, I added mentally. I wasn’t ready to tell anybody. Monica only knew because she’d pestered me with questions until I spilled my guts to her and ended up crying. Then, she’d felt terrible for making me tell her, and she’d started crying too.

“What do you want in a man?” Lewis asked me.

“That’s a good question,” Monica said. “What
do
you want in a man?”

I shrugged. “I guess someone I can be myself with?” I felt like a total dork. Oh for some of Monica’s wit to help me out here.

“Have you got a man?” Lewis asked.

“No.” I wondered if Lewis considered himself a ‘man.’ Oh please!

“Let me help you out, Lewis,” Craig said leaning forward. “Lewis likes you, Lexi. Do you like him too?”

I looked at Monica, and she burst out laughing. Just then, a waiter arrived with burgers, so I was saved from having to respond.

The guys were all served and started digging in, except for Jace, whose order was brought in a paper bag.

Someone kicked me under the table. It was a pretty vicious kick. I glared at Lewis who was sitting opposite me.

“What?” he asked.

“You kicked me.”

“I didn’t.”

“Sorry, it was me,” Jace said.

The guys laughed. I grabbed my purse and went to the restroom. Monica followed. “Are you okay?”

I grinned. “Yeah.”

“What’s up with you and Lewis?”

“You know that there’s nothing up with me and Lewis.”

Monica frowned at her reflection in the mirror, and removed her hairbrush from her purse in alarm. “My hair is wild. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Your hair is fine. What time is it? I think I’m gonna head home.”

“Really? We’re going to Rehab when the guys are done eating.”

Rehab was some club that everyone at school was always raving about. My mom would kill me if she found out I’d gone. “I don’t have ID?”

Monica ran her hairbrush through her hair a few times then tossed it into her purse. “I’ll hook you up on Monday. Remind me, okay?”

“Yep.”

We made our way back to the table. Jace wasn’t there. I told everyone I was leaving.

“See what you’ve done?” Hayden accused, shaking his head. “You’ve gone and scared the girl away.”

I smiled and waggled my fingers. “See you guys Monday.”

As I made my way out, I saw Jace by the soda machine. “Hey, Lexi, are you leaving?”

Wasn’t that obvious? “Yes.”

“Wait up.” He finished filling his cup with Sprite and placed it in a cup holder. I helped him cover it and stuck a straw through the hole in the lid.

He’d ordered more food. I looked at the huge portion of fries that he was holding. “Do you want me to carry anything?” He was going to drop something if he wasn’t careful.

He passed me the drink. “Thanks.”

“How long do you think it’ll take to walk back to school?” I asked.

“Twenty minutes. We can call a cab if you want, but it’s Friday night, and by the time it comes we could already have walked it.”

“Okay, let’s walk then.”

We crossed the road, and Jace led the way.

“It’s gone cold,” I said, wishing I’d brought my jacket.

“Yeah, I was just wondering how you’re coping in that tiny skirt.”

“I’m barely coping.”

“I’d give you my jacket if I had it, but I left it in the car.”

“Well, it’s the thought that matters. How sweet of you.”

“You think I’m sweet?”

“Are you trying to say you’re not sweet?”

Jace laughed. “No.” He handed me his fries and took the drink off me. “Let’s swap.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ll keep your hands warm.”

“You’re definitely sweet.” I grinned, “How far do you have to run tomorrow?”

“5K.”

“Do you think you’ll make it?”