Kiss and Break Up (Magnolia Cove, #1)(40)

But now, that’d changed.

I couldn’t watch her morph into a woman with someone else. No goddamn way. I didn’t know how I’d never seen it before, or when exactly it changed, but maybe that was why I’d shied away from anything that resembled commitment.

Because it was supposed to be her all along.

Peggy and Dash—more than just best friends.

As everyone filed out after class, I headed to study hall to stew on my feelings until lunch. There, I resolved to ditch my scumbag friends and steal the seat beside Peggy before Byron got there.

We entered the cafeteria at the same time, and as both our eyes saw Peggy take a seat with Willa and Daphne, we charged.

He pushed; I shoved. He cursed, shoving me back. Laughter sounded as I almost stumbled to the floor, and then I chased, my shoe colliding with the back of his knee, sending him to the ground right before he’d reached the girls’ table.

I slipped into the seat, stealing a piece of Peggy’s carrot. “What?”

Peggy blinked, her curled lashes holding me hostage over her gray eyes. “What the hell was that?”

“A little friendly competition never hurt anyone.”

“Competition? Dash.” She scowled, her gaze moving to Byron. “You okay?”

Byron winced, lowering to the seat next to Willa, who scrounged around in her bag for something. “Yeah. Not sure about my pride, though.”

“Guess Coach Gorerro doesn’t work you hard enough, Romeo.” I chomped down on the carrot, displaying as many teeth as I could.

Byron bristled, the look in his eyes a promise of retribution. Let him try. While he was doing that, I moved my mouth to Peggy’s ear. “I want you to suck me again.”

Her eyes went wide with shock, worry, and a hint of excitement. “Dash! Oh, my God. Shut up.”

“What, was I too loud?” Her hand grabbed my thigh under the table, squeezing. And holy hellfire did she have sharp nails. “Ow, shit. Fine. Sheath your talons.”

She slowly released me, and I made a face at Daphne, who was eyeing us with a knowing look. Yeah, she knew, maybe even Willa too. Though how much remained to be seen. I didn’t give a fuck. I’d stand on this table and shout how great her pussy and mouth were to the whole cafeteria if I wasn’t worried that Peggy wouldn’t speak to me again.

“Have a good time on Friday, Willa?” I stole another piece of carrot, having not grabbed anything due to wanting my spot next to Peggy.

Peggy grumbled, slapping at my hand, but she was too late.

Willa’s doe eyes bounced up from her apple slices. “Uh, yeah?”

I nodded, my smile wider than the sun. “Yeah, indeed.”

Her mouth popped open as she realized I knew. I’d known for a while something was up with her and Jackson, but I didn’t have any proof until Friday. Dirty, sneaky tyrants. No wonder the guy was either perpetually stoned or looked like he didn’t know his ass from his face. Fucking your sister, technically stepsister, who’d lived under the same roof as you for almost your entire existence would probably do that to you.

Made me feel a lot better about the filthy things I wanted to inflict on Peggy. Not that I’d ever felt all that bad anyway.

“Don’t you have a blunt to smoke?” Byron asked, his eyes still heavy on me, jaw twitching with barely veiled rage.

“Saving it for later. I like my weed best after food or …” My eyes slid to Peggy. “After sex.”

Byron legitimately growled.

“Problem?” I poked the bear.

His face was growing mottled. “I don’t know, you tell me.”

“I’m fine, thanks for asking.” I gave my attention back to Peggy, who was turning bright pink.

“Fine, huh? Is that why you ratted on Peggy to her mom about Wade’s party?”

My head swung to him, my fists and heart clenching. He didn’t know that. No one knew that other than Peony when I’d expressed my concern to her on the phone the day before the party.

Did I feel bad for being the reason she got grounded for a week? Maybe. Okay, no. Not really.

Peggy gasped. “What?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said to Byron, albeit, a little too late. He had me, and he damn well knew it.

He folded his beefy arms. “I wasn’t sure, but hey, now I am. It was totally you.”

I stood, leaning over the table and baring my teeth. “And I’m totally going to rip your dick off and shove it down your herpes infested throat.”

“Enough. What’s going on here?” Mr. Andrews said, nearing the table.

With every ounce of strength I had, I dragged myself away from Byron’s smug face. “Nothing.”

“You can finish your lunch outside, Mr. Thane.”

I didn’t point out that I didn’t have any lunch, but I stood, glancing down at Peggy. “Pegs.”

She wouldn’t look at me. “Just go.”

Fuck.





Lars bunny-hopped, then did a bar-spin over the ledge, bringing his bike to a stop beside mine at the top of the bowl. “You going to ride that thing or just sit on it all afternoon?”

I’d come here to clear my head, gain some damn clarity, and figure out how to get Peggy to talk to me.

For the first time in forever, she’d locked her window.