My lips twitch. “Just don’t say that in front of Liam.”
Liam hates being compared to Parker—and always coming second—especially whenever people point it out in a flippant manner. While Parker merely brushes it off, it rankles Liam so much that he’s in a black mood for the rest of the day. My assurances about him being the real winner in my eyes don’t help one bit. He can't understand why everyone seems to like Parker more when he’s the star quarterback and not the other way around.
Quinn draws an audible breath, leaning back on the couch. “I’m so glad Carson decided to throw this party. She’s been so hard on us at practice this week. We so deserve this break.”
As much as Quinn loves to complain about Carson being a tough captain, I know she wouldn’t have it any other way. In fact, Quinn was relieved when Carson got the head cheerleader position instead of Peyton. Peyton never got wind of it, of course.
“We all deserve this break,” Brayden says. “Principal Caufield is on my ass these days, lecturing me about the responsibilities of a student council president. Like I’m not doing my job hard enough.”
I give him a sympathetic look. “Maybe he’s still pissed about the locker room incident.”
It was only three weeks ago when a football player and his girlfriend were recorded having sex in the boys’ locker room. The video had made the rounds in social media, causing quite a scandal and dragging the name of our school. As a result, all the students involved—including the one who secretly recorded it—got suspended for a week.
“Yeah. He won’t shut up about it,” Brayden grumbles, taking a pull of his drink.
I reach for mine and lift it to my nose—rum and coke. I take a few sips. Not bad.
Quinn giggles. “Tell him to wait for the next scandal. I predict it’s going to be a bigger one.”
Yep. She’s already drunk.
I raise an eyebrow at Brayden.
“Don’t worry about her. We’re going to crash here. No driving tonight.”
Well, that’s a relief.
As for me, I'll probably be in the driver's seat by the end of the night. Liam sometimes ends up getting drunk at these parties. I’ve driven his car home a few times before, with him passed out in the passenger seat. I have a feeling this night isn't going to be any different.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I announce, rising up from the couch.
“I’m coming with you.” Quinn tries to get up but ends up falling back, bursting in a fit of giggles.
Brayden laughs, then waves me away when I tried to help. “I got her.”
“I’ll be right back,” I tell him before making my way down inside the house.
Thankfully, despite the place being crowded, I manage to spot an empty bathroom quickly. But when I step out a few minutes later, a commotion a few rooms down gets my attention.
“Parker, man, don’t do it!”
“Damn it, Bennett! Hold him down!”
"Hey, assholes! If you're going to beat each other up, take it outside. Not in my house."
A sense of foreboding rushes through my veins, and I find myself walking toward the direction of the commotion.
Then something happens that magnifies my unease. People take one look at me, then move aside to let me pass. Is that pity in their eyes?
My pulse starts to race. What is going on?
Then I see it.
Them.
My eyes land on Parker first. He looks angry, his face red. Bennett King, Jamie Bradshaw, and Giovanni Russo are all holding him back, as if to stop him from charging at someone.
Then my gaze finds the bed. And then my heart stops. My breath stalls.
Because right there on the bed is none other than my boyfriend Liam—a very naked Liam with an equally naked girl. And not just any girl—Peyton. My best friend, Peyton.
No.
I make a strangled sound, my breath squeezing out of my lungs as my vision blurs at the edges. My knees wobble, threatening to give out under me.
No.
They both turn to me and I watch as their faces pale.
“Babe,” Liam starts, getting up.
I shake my head.
No, no, no.
He scrambles to get up even more, but he doesn't go far.
Parker finally manages to shove the arms holding him back, punching Liam square on the face.
Screams ring out behind me just as a pair of hands grabs my shoulder. “Come on.”
It’s Brayden, and Quinn's with him, looking a lot sober than she'd been in the rooftop. Together, they quietly lead me outside. Away from there. Away from them.
I suppose I should stay there—scream and kick like a madwoman. My boyfriend and my best friend are screwing each other behind my back. If that isn't enough reason to get angry, what is?
But I don’t feel anger. Not even pain. I’m just...numb. I don’t feel anything.
Quinn is saying something, but her voice is muted. Her words don’t register. Nothing does.
“I need to get out of here,” I whisper, taking a step back. Then I take another. And another.
Until I spin around and take off running, ignoring my friends’ calls and everyone’s pitiful glances.
Until I’m outside away from it all. And that’s when the tears start to fall.
CHAPTER 2
Sawyer
Liam and Peyton.
My boyfriend and my best friend.
Naked on that bed.
A small sob escapes me as tears flow down my cheeks. I continue to walk, wiping them harshly.
The night is cold. The road ahead of me is dark. And it will probably take me an hour to reach home, but I don't care about any of it. I couldn't stay another minute at Carson's. I had to get out of there. I need to be as far from them as possible.
Oh, God. I'm going to be sick. How long have they been cheating on me and Parker? How long have we been clueless?
And to think I finally decided to lose my virginity to Liam. I thought it was time to
