Untouched (Bay Falls High, #1)(26)

And to smooth over the story, it was easy. The phone must have fallen out of my pocket when I fell into the pool. And I didn’t realize it.

Being rich meant being able to lie so smoothly.

To the point where I wondered about everything Claire said.

But I at least had a phone.

And I wished to anything I had Barr’s number. So I could text him and tell him nice fucking try.

Even if the message was clear from him.

He took the only thing that mattered to me and destroyed it. He took the memory of where I came from and erased it. It was powerful even if I didn’t understand the meaning.

When I got to BFH, Beth was waiting for me at my locker.

“What happened to your phone?” she asked.

“Dropped it into the pool,” I said.

“You sure about that?”

“You really want to know everything?”

“The Rulz?” she asked.

“One third.” I put my fingers to my lips like I was smoking a cigarette.

“Damn,” Beth said. “Claire knows everyone in this town. Especially when it comes to real estate.”

“Yeah, well, I have a new phone now. And if this one breaks, I’ll get another. And another. And another.”

“I don’t think it’s that easy,” Beth said.

“What’s not easy?” Denny asked as he coolly slipped into our conversation.

He had his sunglasses up on his head, pushing back his messy hair.

He was kind and cute. A combo I could actually stand for once.

“Nothing,” I said.

“Ah, come on,” Denny said. “Spill it. I mean, it can’t be Beth. We know she’s easy.”

“Fuck you,” Beth said, slapping Denny’s arm.

“Been there, done that,” Denny said with a wink at me. “I bet it’s you, Ti. You’re not easy, right? Hard to get. Fun to have.”

“Yeah, that’s me,” I said. “I make you work for it. Make you beg for it. Make you cry for it.”

“Jesus, that’s hot,” Denny said.

“Careful,” Beth said. “He takes everything literally.”

“Oh yeah?” I asked.

“Keep talking, Ti,” Denny said.

It felt good to forget everything. To be light and fun again.

“Maybe there’s nothing to talk about,” I said.

“Meaning what?” Denny asked.

“Maybe I’ve… never…”

I shrugged my shoulders.

Denny touched Beth’s arm as he clutched his chest. “Oh, Lord, it’s happening. My dream come true. She’s a virgin.”

“Oh, get out of here,” Beth said, shoving at Denny.

He laughed and stumbled a few steps.

Beth looked at me.

I shrugged my shoulders again.

Hey, this entire place seemed to function off money, power, drama, and sex… so why couldn’t I have a little fun too?

“You’re my new favorite person here, Ti,” Denny said.

“That’s shallow.”

“As shallow as a pond in a drought,” Denny said. He reached for my hand. “And I’m okay with that. Save all the wetness for you.”

“Wetness?” I asked. “Gross.”

“Would you rather me say moist?”

I laughed. “That’s worse, dude.”

“I love it when you call me dude,” he said.

“Told you,” Beth said. “You fed the squirrel once and now he won’t leave you alone.”

“Maybe he could just go put his own nuts into his mouth and be happy,” I said.

“Oh, I wish,” Denny said.

“You’re really gross,” I said.

“And you’re really on my mind now,” Denny said.

He interlocked his fingers to mine and put my hand against the locker.

“Right here?” I teased.

“Only if you’re damp,” he said.

I snorted.

“Damp?” Beth asked. “Well, that does make sense around you, Denny. You’re not exactly flood type.”

Denny looked at Beth. “Oh, please. When I got done with you, my face looked like I ate twelve glazed doughnuts.”

Beth gasped.

I laughed even harder.

Oh, god, I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time.

“You get soaked, huh?” I asked Beth.

“Screw you both,” she said.

Beth stormed away.

Denny put my hand to his face. “I’d love to stay and dirty talk all day with you but I guess we need to go learn.”

“Yeah, true,” I said. “Plus, you standing there like that… it’s just too much temptation for my v-card.”

“Oh, damn, you’re fucking killing me here,” Denny said.

I shrugged my shoulders again and he broke away from me, winking and laughing.

I wasn’t sure how to explain it but Denny was fun. And a friend. Nothing more. We could goof off and not make things weird.

And it was a little fun pissing Beth off.

I spun around and opened my locker.

As always, there was something waiting for me.

It was a glass of water.