Forever Golden: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 3) by Rachel Jonas (books like beach read txt) 📗

West: Yeah, but I’d rather have my girl instead.

West: Fuck it. I’ll sneak over. Not sure how, but I’ll figure it out.

My heart sinks, hearing his plan. He must’ve forgotten the one we already came up with for tonight.

Blue: I’m with Ricky. Remember?

There’s a long bout of silence while waiting for his response, and when he finally does text back, I sense his mood through the words.

West: Right. It slipped my mind. We’ll talk later.

Blue: We can keep texting. We’re just eating and talking, killing time before he takes me back home.

West: It’s cool. I’ve got shit to do anyway.

Blue: Text or call if you get bored. I’ll be around.

West: For sure. Love you.

I set my phone aside and feel kind of sick, knowing he’s way across town and I’m sitting here with another guy. And not just any guy—my ex, with whom it hasn’t even been a full year since the last time we were intimate. I can only imagine how West must feel at home thinking about it.

It’ll be over and done with soon enough. Just hang tight.

“That the boyfriend?” Ricky asks.

I glance over at him and nod. “Yeah.”

He’s thoughtful for a moment, then drops his trash into the now-empty food bag. “You really are happy with him, aren’t you?”

Surprisingly, I don’t detect any sarcasm. Only genuine curiosity.

“I am.”

He studies me a bit, judging my sincerity in silence. “Then, that’s all I need to know. If you’re happy, I’ll figure out a way to tolerate his arrogant ass.”

I laugh and give him a look. “I don’t know. I can’t shake this feeling that you’ll end up actually liking him.”

Now, I’m the one getting a look, and it isn’t a pleasant one, but I’m laughing even harder.

“Pump the brakes,” he says with a chuckle.

“A girl can dream, can’t she?”

“Well, keep that one to yourself,” he shoots back, standing from the couch. “Come to the kitchen. I’ve got ice cream.”

I don’t hesitate to follow, making sure to grab my phone in case West calls.

“Are you sure we should be eating this? I mean, what if you need it for dinner tomorrow,” I tease.

“Real fucking funny. Just remember that joke when you leave for school in the morning and find your tires flat.”

I laugh, shoving him in the back, but stop dead in my tracks when I get not just any notification, but the notification.

Ricky spots me grinning and goes for his phone, too. The next second, our gazes lock and suddenly I’m feeling like West being lonely tonight wasn’t all for nothing.

Because… it worked.

@QweenPandora: “Just friends.”

Yeah, right.

Anyone else picturing KingMidas at home, sick as he looks at these pics? I almost feel guilty posting them.

Almost.

From day one, I said SeXyBeAsT was one to watch. We all knew he had eyes for NewGirl, but it was impossible to tell whether she was completely over him, or still pining for the past. However, these images that just rolled in suggest these two are far from over.

So, KingMidas, inquiring minds want to know.

What’s your next move?

Later, Peeps.

—P

Chapter 36

WEST

And there it is, the update we’ve all been waiting for.

Pandora’s gossip might be a pain in the ass most days, but she’s helping our plan along without even realizing.

Not gonna lie. Seeing pics of Southside hugged up with anyone would suck, but seeing her with Ricky in particular… it fucking guts me.

His comment the night of the first basketball game festers in my head like a gaping wound. The reminder that it hasn’t even been a year since he fucked her last makes me fantasize about torturing his ass to death, but then I refocus. What gets me through is knowing Southside’s not the kind of girl I have to worry about, and knowing what we’re doing is keeping Scar safe.

Lying in the dark isn’t helping my mood, but it’s late and the only other place I want to be is with her. Knowing that can’t happen right now, I accept that I’ve officially become that guy. You know, the one who can’t even imagine making a move without his girl?

Makes me want to punch my own damn self in the face, but this is what she’s done to me.

So, here I am, taking my lame ass to sleep.

At eleven o’clock.

On a fucking Friday night.

Beautiful.

I force my eyes closed, but they pop open at the sound of the elevator bell dinging. It’s entirely possible Dane and Sterling’s night is ending early, but it’s highly unlikely. Which means the odds of the steps I hear echoing against the marble tile being one of my brothers are slim to none.

There’s a stiff knock at my door before it swings open.

“You up?” Vin asks, already sounding annoyed by something.

I keep my eyes trained on the window and don’t answer.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” he barks out, half a second before flipping the light switch. “Are you seeing this shit Pandora’s posting?”

When he grabs the back of my t-shirt and yanks me to the edge of the bed, I turn quickly, balling both my fists.

“What the hell’s wrong with you?” I roar, leveling a glare his way.

“This girl’s making a fool of you, publicly, and you’re asleep,” he grumbles. “Check your damn phone, West.”

I let out a breath and he’s likely reading my frustration toward him as frustration about the latest update.

“I wasn’t asleep, and I already saw the post,” I say flatly.

“You already saw it.” He says that mostly to himself. “Well, good thing you’re on top of things.”

I don’t miss the sarcasm.

“So, nowhere in that simple head of yours did it ever occur to you that now’s the perfect time to do some serious damage control? People are laughing at you, West. Your classmates, your teammates, everyone. All because you didn’t fucking listen to me. I warned you,” he seethes, coming closer as his whole damn face reddens. “I told you this girl was toxic, but you wouldn’t listen. Now, she’s out running around your town in