Tatum comes bouncing up to me, handing me a drink. “Sorry about before.”
I laugh, shaking my head and patting the spot beside me. “Don’t worry about it.”
She leans on my shoulder. “One more night here.”
“Yup.” I pop the P. One more night, and all I want to do is read my book. I don’t want to pull it out here, because someone might recognize it, and then Miss Winters might land her ass in trouble. So instead, I’ve had to let it burn in the back of my brain. But Bishop has been keeping my brain and body occupied, so it hasn’t been that hard. But alas, I’m still struggling with the urge to read what else is going on. The train of thoughts she was feeling has evoked something deep inside of me that I can’t let go of.
“So you and Bishop? All out in the open?” Tate whispers into my ear.
I bite down on my lower lip and shrug. “I don’t know, but I think so?”
She laughs, shoving me playfully. “Well, just be careful. Don’t show him all your cards.”
“Is this you giving me advice?” I whisper back loudly into her face.
“Yes!” she hisses with a grin. “I’m too pretty for prison, and I will kill him if he hurts you.”
I laugh, shaking my head while taking a sip of my drink. “Thanks, Tate.”
I look toward Bishop to find him staring at me. He swallows the rest of his drink and then tugs on my hand. “Come on.”
Cash is staring at me with a hint of a smug grin on his face.
The music changes to Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’s “Your Guardian Angel,” as we slowly dodge people and make our way deeper into the forest.
“Is this the part where you kill me?” I joke, our fingers lacing together. My heart skips a beat with how right it feels to have him so close.
He looks at me over his shoulder. “You laugh now...,” he teases.
My smile falls. “I swear to God, Bishop, if this is ano—”
“Shut up!” He spins around, pressing his finger to my lips. “Stop talking.” His eyes slice through every single restraint I thought I had. I nod and he drops his hand. “Good.” He keeps walking deeper into the forest, dodging fallen limbs as I follow his lead.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“It’s not far.” We keep walking for another twenty minutes, and then he stops, facing a thick area of shrubs. “What’s this?” I ask, tilting my head.
He pushes through a thick bush and steps ahead.
“Bishop?” The bush flies back into the same position it was in.
“Step through, kitty. Stop bitching out.”
I push my hands through and separate the little sharp branches, and then step one foot in until I’m on the other side. Letting it go, it flings back into place and I wipe my hands on my legs. “Jesus, what—” All thoughts skyrocket out of my head. “Oh my gosh,” I whisper, stepping forward and taking in the surroundings. The bright moonlight is reflecting off the silky still water of the lake, and there’re thousands upon thousands of fireflies that have lit up the dark, murky forest around us. It looks stunning, something out of a storybook. I step forward again, and Bishop’s hand finds mine. Slipping off my shoes, I let my toes sink into what looks like silicon sand. “How’d you know about this place?” I ask, looking back at Bishop.
He shrugs, stepping up to me and taking a seat in the sand. “We sort of had to do a once-over of the perimeter—you know, to scare this chick....”
I shove him. “Dick.”
He laughs, his pearly teeth gleaming against his tan skin, reflecting off the moonlight. He tugs on my hand. “Sit.”
I follow his command, shuffling into his warmth. “This weekend hasn’t been something I expected.”
He nods in agreement. “Yeah, tell me about it.”
“Pretty sure you knew your intentions.” I roll my eyes.
“Maybe—” He grins, looking out over the water. “—but you’re not like most girls.” He looks back at me. “You’ve never made shit easy for me.”
“I don’t know,” I murmur. “I seem to be an easy slut when it comes to you.”
He laughs, leaning back on his elbow. “You’re not a slut, Madison. You’re just a chick who loves to explore her sexuality. In whose eyes does that make you a slut?” he questions. I pause. He continues, “It doesn’t matter. What they think of you isn’t your business. But you’re not a slut. I know sluts, and trust me, if you were one...” He stops, grinning at me again. Smug bastard. “There would be no way in hell you’d be caught bouncing on my dick.”
“Charming.” I roll my eyes. He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into him more. “Why would I need to be charming?” he mocks. “You’re a slut, remember?”
I shove him, trying to contain my laughter. “Can I ask you a question?”
“No.”
“Well I’m asking you anyway,” I mutter, lying flat on my back and gazing up at the twinkling of the stars. “What happened to your ex?” Silence. Maybe I overstepped the line? No, I know I overstepped the line. I knew I was before I even opened my mouth.
“Who told you about her?” he asks, relaxing his grip around my body.
“A few people.”
“Tatum.” He shakes his head, then whispers, “That girl has the biggest mouth in the history of Riverside.”
“Hey!” I shove him again. “That’s my best friend.”
“Well then I take back my earlier statement,” he declares, though I know there’s a hint of humor in his tone. “You definitely have shitty judgment.”
“Well, I slept with you, so....”
He looks at me, his lip twitching at the corner, hinting at a smirk.
“Stop changing the subject.” I look at him, watching for anything. He shakes his head, no emotion pulling over his face.
“She wasn’t what you think, if that’s what you want
