The Queen B* Strikes Back (21 page)

Brett wedged his body between the door and the car, keeping me from closing it. “Alexis, when you get a chance, I’d really like to talk about this some more.”

“I don’t think there’s much to say.” I started my car and pushed him away. “Have fun with Summer.”

Once I was able to close the door, I drove off.

But when I looked in my rearview mirror, I noticed the defeated slump of his shoulders and wondered how much of what he’d said had been the truth.

Chapter Eighteen

Brett didn’t show up to class the next day. The only other time I’d ever seen him miss a class was the morning he’d overslept because he’d been up the night before helping me catch the culprit behind the locker room videos. Somehow, I doubted that was the reason today.

Richard caught up with me in the hallway after fourth period. “Are we still on for the game tonight?”

“It’s a home game. You shouldn’t need a ride.”

“Even if I walk, the game’s more fun with a friend.”

I wavered on whether or not I should go. I’d basically ended things with Brett, so I didn’t need to show up in his team shirt and cheer him on. Besides, it wasn’t like he needed my support, anyway. I wasn’t his lucky charm or anything. The boy had talent, and even without his star wide receiver playing tonight, he’d still be able to crush the pitiful team that was visiting. He wouldn’t even notice me in the stands.

And yet he had in all the prior games.

“Fine, I’ll come along and sit with you. Maybe I’ll get some more dirt on Sanchez in the process.”

“I take it you won’t be wearing your honey’s shirt tonight?”

“Nope. In fact, I’m seriously thinking about burning it.”

“Aw, that would be a tragedy. But no matter. It will still be fun. And maybe, if we’re lucky, we’ll get another invite to a party. I had so much fun last week.”

So Brett hadn’t been lying when he’d said Richard was the hit of last week’s party. “I’m glad someone had a good time.”

He halted me. “Aw, Alexis, cheer up. Morgan told me about what you did, and I agree with her. It needed to be done. And if he’s too much of an idiot to see that you’re worth ten Summers, then forget him.”

“Already working on it.”

***

The moment I started climbing the bleachers, I felt Brett’s gaze on me. So much for him not noticing me. But then, I’m pretty sure it had something to do with the fact Richard was dressed head to toe in school colors, down to face paint.

Before I sat, I looked at him and froze. No matter how much I tried to deny my attraction to him, I couldn’t deny the way time seemed to stop when he looked at me that way. My mind turned fuzzy and made me forget about everything but the sensation of his lips on mine and his arms around me. It was an odd mix of comforting yet thrilling, of safe yet dangerous.

I did a double take as Taylor ran up to him and whispered something in his ear. A chill rippled down my spine as they both turned and looked at me. Whatever they’d been talking about involved me. Brett nodded, and Taylor scampered back to the rest of her overly tanned and peppy crew.

I had to wait until the end of the game to find out. Of course, Eastline killed their opponents, and even without Sanchez, Brett still managed to rack up another three hundred-some yards. As far as football went, the boy could do no wrong. As the team trotted off the field, Taylor beckoned me to join her at the fence.

I swapped suspicious glances with Richard before heading down. Taylor usually refused to admit we were related, so the fact my sister wanted to speak to me in public had me on edge. “What?”

“Do you think you could give me a ride tonight? There’s a party, and—”

“I thought Mom grounded you.”

“I already spoke to her about it, and she said I could go if you came along, too.”

So that was her endgame. “Sorry, but I’m not playing babysitter.”

“That’s too bad because you see, if you brought me, Richard could come along, too, and you know he’d enjoy the party.”

Ugh! She was now trying to loop one of my best friends into this.

She leaned in and lowered her voice. “And I know for certain that Brett would love for you to come. He even asked me to make sure I convinced you to be there.”

Even though my pulse quickened at the mention of Brett, I couldn’t shake the queasiness that rolled around in the center of my gut. Logic told me she was just trying to manipulate me into giving her what she wanted, but what if there was some bit of truth to what she’d said about Brett?

Richard joined us. “Hey, Taylor.”

She gave him her thousand-watt smile. “Hey, Richard. Maybe you can help me.”

Oh, shit, she was going to turn him into her ally.

“You were such a hit last week that I’ve been asked to invite you to this week’s party. You can even ride with me and Lexi.”

“Really?” Richard’s face lit up, and he grabbed my arm. “Oh, please, Alexis. Can I come along?”

Taylor gave me a simper that summed up everything. She may have been an airhead when it came to academics, but my little sister was at the top of her class when it came to manipulating people.

Of course, she’d learned from the best. After all, she was Summer’s little protégé.

I weighed the pros and cons.

Pro—it would make Richard’s night.

Con—I’d have to endure stupid drunk teenagers.

Pro—I could keep an eye on my sister and protect her from creeps like Sanchez.

Con—why on Earth would I ever be invited to an in-crowd party, especially after I’d gotten Sanchez suspended?

Pro—I could get more stories for my blog.

Con—the in-crowd would know I’d call them out for their antics and would probably be extra wary of me, especially after this week.

Pro—if Brett had been the one behind the invitation, maybe this was his way of making a stand.

I sighed and nodded. “Fine, I’ll take you both to the party.”

“Awesome. Just let me get my stuff, and we can swing by the house so I can change before heading over.” Taylor blew us a kiss and ran to grab her pom-poms and duffel bag.

“I want to go home and change, too.” Richard held out his shirt as though it was a filthy rag. “This is great for the game and all, but I want to dress to impress.”

“Fine. I’ll drop you off first, then pick you up after Taylor’s done primping. Just so you know, it’ll probably take her an hour to get ready.”

“Same here.” He brushed his hair forward, frowning when a segment refused to lay flat.

I was dead-on with my assessment. Taylor showered, ransacked her room for the perfect outfit, and then spent another thirty minutes on her hair and makeup. But I had to admit, she looked stunning when she knocked on my door and said she was ready to go. She’d obviously inherited our mom’s beauty queen genes.

Of course, Murphy’s law would have my mom pulling into the garage as we were getting into the car. “Where are you two going?”

“Party, remember?” Taylor replied. “Don’t worry, Mom, Alexis has agreed to come along and make sure I behave.”

“I live to babysit my fifteen-year-old sister,” I added in a dry tone.

“Just be home by midnight.” Mom pulled out her phone and started texting.

I couldn’t resist warning her, “If you’re inviting Pete over, make sure any naked times are behind closed doors.”

Mom jerked to a stop, her eyes bugging and her cheeks flaming. “I was just going to invite him over for a glass of wine.”

I’d already embarrassed her enough for the week, so I kept the offer to pick up some condoms for them on the way to myself. It still didn’t change the fact that I felt like the only grown-up in our family.

“What was that all about?” Taylor asked as we pulled out of the driveway.

“I walked in on Mom and Pete last week.”

“Ew!”

“My thought exactly.”

Richard was a barely contained ball of energy when I picked him up. He chatted non-stop while Taylor silently typed out text after text, pausing only to give me directions.

We turned onto a familiar street, and for a second time that evening, I felt ill.

“Why didn’t you tell me the party was at Summer’s house?” I asked.

“Because I knew you’d never agree to drive me. Besides, you know how big it is. You can go off and hide in your own little corner like a grumpy troll under a bridge and not have any contact with her.” Taylor hopped out of the car and didn’t wait for us to follow.

“Oh my God!” Richard squealed. “I get to go to a party at Summer Hoyt’s mansion.”

“But you hate her.” Not as much as I did, but still.

“I know, but this is one of her parties. Do you have any idea how many people would kill to be invited?” He got out and went straight for the front door.

I sat alone in my car for what felt like an eternity, even though the clock on my dash showed only two minutes had passed. Maybe I was being a grumpy troll, but there was a reason why I’d been invited, and I needed to find out why. Oh, and of course, make sure Taylor didn’t end up drunk and violated by one of my classmates.

I didn’t bother with ringing the doorbell or knocking. After years of childhood friendship with Summer, I knew my way around. I opened the door and scanned the room. Richard had already infiltrated a group of dancers and was showing off his moves. Taylor sat on a sofa, surrounded by her fellow cheerleaders. So far, nothing seemed out of sorts.

But I didn’t see Brett.

Taylor caught my attention and pointed toward the backyard as though she knew I was searching for him.

Maybe having a popular little sister had a few perks.

I navigated the house by memory. How many hours had I spent there growing up? How many times had I watched movies in the theater in the basement or giggled with Summer during a sleepover up in her bedroom or shared after-school snacks with her at the rustic farm table that dominated one corner of the kitchen?

The table was gone, replaced by a modern stainless steel monstrosity.

And Summer was no longer my best friend.

The Hoyt mansion ran along the shores of Lake Sammamish, and the grounds included a helipad in the back. Even though Taylor had given me a clue, it still took me a while to find Brett in the gazebo.

Only he wasn’t alone.

Sitting next to him, engaged in an intimate
tête-à-tête, was Summer.

I hung in the shadows, debating if I should interrupt them or just leave them alone. Brett’s back was to me, but I recognized his voice. Not to mention, I was well acquainted with those broad shoulders and muscular arms.

Summer laughed about something and said, “I warned you about her.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t realize she’d go to extremes.”

“That’s Alexis for you. Her history speaks for itself.”

“I suppose it does.”

My skin grew warm, but I couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. They were talking about me, and Brett was going along with everything Summer said. One more sign that he was one of them. One more reason why I was better off not trusting my heart to him.

I could’ve sworn her gaze flickered in my direction before she made her move.

My mouth filled with bitter dust as she lowered his head to hers and locked lips with him.

My breath hitched as she shifted her weight and straddled his lap.

My stomach recoiled as their kiss intensified into something similar to the lip-lock I’d caught Taylor in last week.

And within a matter of seconds, my heart shattered.

I stumbled back a step, the center of my chest aching as though I’d been punched by a wrecking ball. I tried to turn away, but I couldn’t. It was more than just watching a bad train wreck. It was confirmation of everything I’d suspected from the beginning.

Brett and Summer were a couple.

And he’d been playing me from the beginning.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to let the string of curses that sat on the tip of my tongue explode into the night. I wanted to rant and rave and call them out for being the complete assholes they were. But I couldn’t. The moment I gave into my rage, they’d know how much they’d gotten to me.

I was hard.

I was cruel.

I was the Queen B*.

And I would have my revenge.

But thoughts of revenge provided little comfort to the stinging in my eyes and the tightness in my chest. I needed to get out of there before I lost my shit. I spun on my heel and ran back to the house. I couldn’t let anyone see me cry. Summer had publicly reduced me to tears once. I refused to let her do it again.

I could’ve sworn that I heard Brett call out after me, but I didn’t stop. That lying jerk didn’t deserve another second of my time. Once inside, I pushed through the crowd and didn’t bother to stop to tell Richard I was leaving. A sob choked my throat and threatened to escape if I dared to open my mouth. I’d text him and Taylor later. Right now, I needed to get as far away from this place as possible.

I got in my car and floored it.