The Lies They Tell(31)
“So . . . are you going to hang out this summer?” Akil worked his fingers into the chain link, rocking back on his heels. “Because the invitation’s open. Anytime, anywhere.”
Indigo moved her gaze to Tristan, who’d retrieved the ball and now tossed it, caught it, tossed it again. She finally seemed to notice Pearl standing off to his left. The girls stared at each other, Indigo frowning slightly, revealing nothing. “Yeah. Maybe.” She turned away and continued toward the club, tossing her hair over her shoulder. If the word wasn’t out that Pearl Haskins had been seen with the summer boys, it would be now—how long before Indigo made this kitchen gossip, before she made sure Reese found out all the details?
“Don’t be a stranger.” Akil gave an exaggerated wave, speaking too loudly. “‘Bye!”
Bridges shook his head, smiling ruefully. “That was evil.”
“Hey, somebody’s got to let the girl know she’s wanted.”
Quinn sighed, calling, “You guys are pathetic.”
“How do you know her?” Pearl watched Bridges and Akil exchange a look, hide smiles. Tristan started bouncing the ball off the clay, catching it. “Am I missing something?”
“Nothing. It’s just . . . everybody knows her. She’s”—Bridges carefully avoided her eyes—“one of the townies who comes to the parties. You know.”
Pearl flexed her fingers. “Townies. Right.”
“I don’t mean—not like you.”
“Tell her the nickname.” Akil took a few practice swings. “Go on, Bridge, don’t be such a goddamn southern gentleman just because your girlfriend’s here. Say it.”
“I’m not saying it.”
“Okay, eww. I’m done.” Quinn stood, brushing off her white denim skirt, nudging Hadley with her foot. “Tell your little conquest stories after we’re gone.”
“Whatever.” Akil smiled. “You just wish you were in one.”
“With a walking hard-on like you? I don’t think so.”
A murmur of laughter from the kids nearby. Akil glanced over, laughed along sharply. “I meant Bridges. Pretty sure you guys never even made it to second base—or wasn’t anybody supposed to know that?”
A quick, naked flash across Quinn’s face, a glance at Bridges, who turned away, running his hand back through his hair. “Wait,” Quinn said to Akil, “just so we’re clear—you’re trashing me for not putting out when I was fourteen?” Akil snorted, shrugging her off, but she followed him. “Seriously, what does a girl have to do to earn a vote of approval from you guys? Or is that even possible?”
Akil dug into his bag. “Just forget it, Quinn.”
Hadley touched Quinn’s back. “Let’s go.”
“No. I want to hear what he has to say.” Quinn folded her arms as he gave her a sidelong look. “I mean, it’s obvious you think you can do whatever you want because you’re a guy. It’s okay to act like a heartless horndog slut, because later, all your buddies will buy you beer and tell you what a stud you are, right?” She raised her voice for the benefit of their audience. “I think you should have to explain why it’s not a karmic issue for you to have a random hookup on a boat named after your dead ex, who—let’s face it—only ever got with you as part of her Get Back at Daddy campaign. Any thoughts on that?”
Half a second of shocked silence. Hadley’s face was white. Akil swore, threw his racket to the side, and went for Quinn.
Bridges slammed into Akil’s chest, catching handfuls of his shirt, moving with him. “Dude, no—”
Akil shoved at him, tried to twist around him, still locked on Quinn, who gave a bring it on gesture, stepping lightly back.
“Stop it!” Hadley’s voice broke. “Quinn, let’s go! Please!”
“I’m shaking. Really, Akil. You’re such a badass. You have to beat up a girl to make her be quiet?” Quinn allowed Hadley to tug her toward the gate, calling back at them, “Nobody’s impressed. Just so you know.”
Bridges held on to Akil, kept talking him down until Akil finally ripped free, turning off balance to face Tristan.
Who was leaving. He was already through the gate and onto the walkway, bag over his shoulder, moving at a steady pace toward the parking lot without looking back.
Akil swore a final time, grabbed his things, and left too, shoving by Pearl and heading in the direction of the club.
Bridges watched him go for a moment, then sank onto the ground into a sitting position, hanging his head. Pearl walked over and sat beside him. “That was fun.” She glanced toward the parking lot. “Will Tristan be . . . okay?”
“Tristan doesn’t really need people.” He was quiet a moment. “Akil’s the one who’s freaking.”
“Quinn had a point. About the boat.”
He rubbed his face. “I know. Akil knows it, too. That’s the whole reason he did that with Hadley. To prove something about him and Cassidy.”
“And he had to prove it with your ex-girlfriend?” Bridges didn’t answer. “Was it true, what Quinn said about Cassidy using Akil to get back at her dad?”
“Cassidy wasn’t like that.” He released a pent-up breath. “I dunno, maybe it was a little bit true. But it wasn’t like she planned it. I mean, Akil came on to her hard, right from the beginning. Said stuff most guys wouldn’t say to somebody’s sister. Not that Tristan seemed to care.” He looked at her, his expression pained. “It wasn’t like she had a lot of experience, you know? Last summer was the first year she started hanging out with us. She just kind of showed up at the parties, had a few drinks, whatever. We were always Tristan’s friends before that . . . she stayed away. I don’t know if David made her or what. I don’t think she’d ever had a real boyfriend before Akil.”