Chapter Four
1226 Words
“What were you thinking, Nettie?” Court demanded, standing over her friend.
Nettie sat on the edge of Logan’s bed with her elbows resting on her knees and her head pressed into her hands. Her black hair was matted and still drying, but she wore one of Logan’s sweatshirts now. It hung on her, giving her a drowned-kitten look. She lifted her head and used the end of the sleeve to wipe her face.
She sniffled. “Court, don’t rail on me. Okay? I’m pissed enough.”
Grace was perched on Logan’s couch at the opposite end of the room. She sat sideways, with one foot on the floor and the other pulled up next to her. Still looking glazed, she blinked over and over again.
“Come on, Courtney,” she said, yawning. “Net met a boy.” A dreamy look settled over her, and Nettie laughed a little. Grace winked at her. “She felt those special tingles only tequila gives us, and the two fell in love . . . with exhibitionism.”
Nettie barked out a louder laugh.
Courtney folded her arms over her chest, frowning. “This isn’t funny.”
Grace rose from the couch. She gestured to Nettie with a wave. “Seriously, Courtney. Logan Freaking Kade—” She turned to Taylor, who stood just inside the door, next to me. “—Who it just clicked is probably your boyfriend. You’re Taylor Bruce?”
Taylor nodded. “Yeah.” Her hand rose in an awkward wave. “Hi.”
Grace returned the nod before continuing. “I mean, seriously, Nettie, you’re wearing Logan Kade’s sweatshirt. You’re in his bedroom. Your partner in public love got booted from the party.”
I cleared my throat. This was my opening. “About that guy . . .” I paused. They all looked at me. “Who was he?”
Nettie grimaced before plopping her head back in her hands. “Just my biggest embarrassment. Ever,” she groaned.
“He’s a guy she’s liked in our poly sci class. They hooked up at another party, and it continued here. I hope you get a bonus for helping us.”
I paused. Blinked. Then it clicked. She still thought I was the help.
Taylor frowned at me.
I shook my head. I was enjoying this anonymity.
Stepping toward them, I crossed my arms over my chest. “But that was consensual, right?”
Nettie stared at me, a blank expression on her face. Then understanding dawned. Her eyes widened. “Oh, of course! I was just being stupid.” She gave me a more pointed look. “Courtney said two guys were filming us? Is that true?”
Taylor spoke before I could. “Yeah, but Mason took care of it. I’m pretty sure I saw him deleting something on their phones.”
Nettie’s eyes widened even more, and a look of astonishment took over. “Mason Kade?”
“I told you. He was at the bar just now.” Courtney’s arms dropped. Her hands went into her pockets.
Grace sighed dreamily. “Now he’s someone I’d let myself be filmed with. Good Lord, the guy is from another planet.”
I fought against smiling.
Taylor bit her lip, her eyes twinkling. “Uh, so yeah. He got the videos, and all of the guys were booted from the party.” She looked over the three friends. “Do you guys need a ride somewhere?”
Grace and Nettie both gestured to Courtney with haphazard waves. Courtney ran a hand through her hair. “Yeah, I drove. I’m the sober cab tonight.”
“How’d Jonathan get home?”
I looked over at Nettie. She’d asked Taylor, but Taylor looked at me.
“That’s the guy you were making out with?” I asked.
She nodded. “He came with us. I don’t think he knew anyone here.”
This girl was concerned about the guy who’d almost put her in a bad porno? For real? I shrugged. “I don’t know how he got home, but I know he was kicked out.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders fell. “Okay.”
She was pissed about that? I didn’t know if she was being stupid or ungrateful, but she could f**k things up royally for Mason. My mouth remained shut.
“Thank you.” She looked around the room. “I mean it. I know this was a hassle.” She sounded sincere as she looked at Taylor. “You think I could thank your boyfriend and Mason?”
“Uh.” Taylor’s eyes darted to mine. I shook my head, the slightest of movement, and she looked back to Nettie. “I’ll be honest, Logan probably won’t know who you are, and Mason . . . I guarantee he’ll be surrounded by all his teammates.”
“Yeah.” Nettie’s head bobbed up and down. “You’re right. Maybe later? I can say something if I see them on campus.”
“Yeah.” Taylor’s smile relaxed at the corners. “It might just be best if you take it easy now. Go home, you know?”
Nettie stood, looking at her friends. Similar to the way Taylor and I were with Mason and Logan, the three of them moved as a unit. Grace led the way this time, and she and Court cast concerned looks at Nettie, who looked at the floor as they left the room and continued out of the house.
They all looked back at us from the sidewalk and offered a short wave before moving on to where they had parked.
Taylor stood next to me in the doorway, and as soon as they were out of eyesight, she punched me in the arm. It was a soft one, no heat to it, but she cursed. “f**k you, Sam. They thought you were hired help. You left me to be the official Kade spokesperson.”
I laughed. “It was kinda awesome. I won’t lie.”
She groaned, and I followed her back outside to the bar.
Mason and Logan were behind it, with Nate and Matteo on the bar stools. A couple other guys were standing nearby, and everyone looked over as we approached.
“Everything okay?” Mason asked.
I nodded, slipping behind the bar and against his side. His hand came to rest on my hip, anchoring me there. “All good,” I added. “She was embarrassed, but it was consensual. They first hooked up at a different party, and he rode with them here.”
“You serious?” Logan leaned back, his hands on Taylor’s hips as she stood in front of him. “They brought that fucker here?”
“Yeah. The girl asked us how he got a ride home.”
“Wait.” Logan stood straighter, moving Taylor to the side. “You mean he didn’t have a ride?”
“According to the girl he was mauling ten feet from here, no.”
Logan looked at the two guys standing behind Nate and Matteo. “Did anyone pick him up or give him a ride somewhere?”
One shook his head. “We pointed down the street and told him to start walking.” He shrugged. “He did.”
Mason frowned at Logan. “What are you thinking?”
“She might not say anything, but he might. If he’s pissed enough, he could really say something. And we live six miles out of town. You do the math.”
I felt Mason’s hand tighten, just a little bit. His jaw clenched. “That’s a long walk to fume.”
“Exactly.” Logan looked at the guys. “We should go find him, give him a ride to his place. Then we’d know where he lives too.”
Everyone looked at Mason.
He nodded, a short clip of the head. “Do it, but don’t say anything.” He turned to Logan. “You go with them.”
Logan, the two guys, and Matteo all left.
Nate remained behind. “This can’t fall back on you,” he assured Mason. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of it.”
Mason nodded, but his hand still gripped my hip.
I lifted my hand to touch the side of his face. “It’ll be fine.”
He didn’t reply. He just rested his forehead against mine.
- Writer
