Untouched (Bay Falls High, #1)(71)

And then I was off to the ditch.





twenty-two





I parked the SUV far enough away so they wouldn’t know I was there.

My head spun with too many thoughts to process at once.

I didn’t want to believe what Beth said. But in a way it was the only thing that made sense. Pres, Barr, and Kip had everything in their grasp. Doing what they did to me was probably just for fun. Until they came up with an idea to make it more interesting. That would certainly explain the sudden turn in their attitude toward me. Or their desire to get closer to me. Or their wanting to follow me and make sure I got home safely bullshit routine. Or… kissing me.

I licked my lips.

I felt dirty.

And not the dirty poor girl thing either.

I felt used. Dirty.

Like I had done something private and it was found out and spread around.

Like I was a whore.

I walked through the familiar woods and went right to the ditch.

This was the only way I could verify what Beth had said.

And she was damn right.

The three of them stood there.

Pres dressed in his usual all black, muscle and size pouring from him. That look of rich asshole yet the face of a guy not afraid to take on the world. Barr smoking a cigarette, making it look like a style instead of a disgusting, deadly habit. Running a hand through his hair, not worried that it was usually messy. Because he knew that his version of messy hair was fucking sexy. And finally there was Kip. In a white sleeveless shirt, similar to the one he wore when he had been fighting. Those lean and toned arms of his looking delicious. The blonde hair, blue eyes, whispers of whatever promises were needed to get you into bed…

I gritted my teeth.

Pres reached for something in his back pocket.

That’s when I put another piece of the puzzle together.

When they were cornering me… and they walked away… they gave something to Pres.

Money.

For their bet.

For me.

My jaw dropped as Pres opened the envelope and slid his thumb along the cash.

“It’s all here, brother,” he said in the voice that changed my life. “Anyone care to throw a little more in for fun?”

“Sure,” Barr said. “I’m down.”

“Fuck it,” Kip said. “I’ve got something in mind here that’ll end this.”

“Not too fast though,” Pres said. “I’m liking this one. This cat and mouse thing helps to kill time.”

“No complaints from me,” Barr said. “I just want to watch her smoke a cigarette with me…”

“Or watch her ride that big wave,” Kip said with a laugh.

Something came over me and I walked forward.

Right into the ditch.

Right up to the Rulz.

“Well, look at this,” Kip said as he realized I was there. “You looking for a fight, girl?”

Pres casually slipped the envelope into his back pocket. “What are you doing here, sugar?”

“This is a dangerous place, love,” Barr said.

I walked right to all three and put myself in the middle of them.

“Can’t be dangerous with you around, right?” I asked. “I mean… you wouldn’t let anyone hurt me, right?”

“Of course not,” Kip said. He touched my arm. “Something happen?”

“I didn’t see you last night at the beach party,” I whispered.

“Tell us if something happened,” Barr said.

“Was it those pricks with the guitars?” Pres asked. “Fucking pussies think strumming two chords does the trick…”

“No,” I said. “Nothing happened. It was just boring without you. I missed you.”

Pres grabbed my chin and grinned. “Of course you did, sugar. But we’re right here now.”

“I just wanted to say hey,” I said. “Make sure you didn’t bail on me.”

“Never, love,” Barr said.

“We’re just getting started,” Kip said.

I forced a smile and stepped back. “Good. When’s the next fight?”

“Whenever we say,” Barr said.

“I love a good fight,” I said. “There can only be one winner, right?”

“That’s right, girl,” Kip said.

“I have Gi and Iris at my house,” I said. “Hungover. I better go check on them.”

“We’ll be following you,” Pres said.

“I hope so,” I whispered.

The second I turned, the smile left my face.

My eyes welled up with tears and I ran out of the ditch.

Fuck the rich fuckers.

Fuck the poor fuckers.

Fuck everyone.

I stood outside the ditch and waited until they were gone.

I watched as Barr flicked his cigarette to the ground like he always did. Never putting it out.

The Rulz were gone and I stepped back into the ditch.

Alone.

Pres, Barr, and Kip were going to be looking for me soon. To follow me. To flirt with me. To protect me. I could point to anyone and they would beat the shit out of that person. I could get anything I wanted from them.

All because they wanted one thing from me.

One of them wanted to be the first to sleep with me.