Dirty Little Secrets: A Hillcrest Novella (A Prep Series Book 2) Read online

  Although, currently, I’m massively entertained by the conversation playing out in front of me.

  Liam, a hot crew team charmer, who’s hosting the party, walks up to Caroline, reaching out to tickle her side. It’s so weird because the Caroline I’ve heard rumors about would have someone’s hand removed for touching her. Liam seems to have a different set of rules. My shoulder leans into the wall as I watch their stare-off.

  Caroline tosses her long brown hair over her shoulder. “The expression you’re wearing is as ugly as the shirt you have on, Liam. What do you want?”

  It takes everything in my control not to laugh as my eyes jump between them, but Liam just stares down at her under his divinely long lashes.

  “Carebear.” The way he says it makes my lips minutely tip up. “Drink this so you can be more of a funshine than a grumpy.”

  She swats at the cup, but he moves it away before she connects. Oh shit.

  “I hate you,” she spits.

  He winks. “You wish that were true. I’m going to hang out with my real friends now.”

  Damn.

  She doesn’t respond as he walks off to scoop up a girl named Donovan, making her squeal. Caroline scowls—looks like she doesn’t like that.

  These are the days of Hillcrest’s lives.

  Laura questions the group, pulling my attention, “Hey, did anyone meet the new crew guy? I heard he’s from Georgia.” That piques my interest as she continues. “I think Atlanta. God, those accents are hot. I’m going to talk to him tonight.”

  The other girls shake their heads as I look at them. Laura applies more lip gloss, and I take another drink of my water. Looking around the room, I let myself get lost in my thoughts, blocking out the new conversation about Laura’s brand of gloss. Jesus, I should have asked for more to be stuck here with these girls. Maybe if I just slip away, nobody will even notice. It’s beginning to feel like being forced to talk about makeup and whatever runway looks they’re obsessed with was too much of a price to pay.

  I tap my cousin’s shoulder. “Ladies’ room. I’ll be back.”

  She nods, and I push away from the stone fireplace and point in the assumed direction. “This way, right?”

  “Yeah, but there’s a more private one by the front door. Drunk guys pee on seats a lot.”

  “Eww. Okay.” I take a step to slide in between two groups of people when a light touch to my wrist spins me around. Caroline leans forward from where she’s seated and gives me her megawatt smile.

  “Bring me back champagne. And be quick, Laura’s cousin.”

  She might be smiling, but that doesn’t mask her rudeness. This girl just treated me like the help. Is she joking?

  I look at Laura, who glares at me with insistence, as if to urge me to say “Okay,” but I shake my head.

  “Why are you still standing here?” Caroline adds, looking over at her other friend laughing at me.

  I hold up a finger, and not the one I want. “Yeah…no.” Oh God, what am I doing? Despite the internal panic, I huff a laugh. “Carebear, you’ll need to get your own drink. Or send Laura. I’m sure she’s happy to be your little helper.”

  What am I doing? I know—digging my own grave.

  Turning around, I push through the crowd of people. I am so out of here. I’m sure Caroline is throwing daggered looks at me, ones that will probably turn me to stone if I look back. But I refuse to care. I’m not some lackey for her to mistreat. If that’s popularity, I’m all good.

  My feet can’t walk fast enough, and not because I have to pee. This party was such a bad idea. I’m not like my cousin, and this is proof. I can’t suck up to some girl who’s appointed herself a queen. There is absolutely nothing here for me—nerd crew for life, bitches.

  I reach for the bathroom door, but before I can twist the handle, a group of guys busts through the front doors, yelling and chanting. What the hell? They’re half carrying, half dragging what looks like a kidnap victim on CNN.

  They set him to his feet as I try to move around them, but I stay caught up in the mix, trapped against the wall yet included in the circle.

  “Georgia’s in the house!” is bellowed as the kidnappers yank the hood off his head.

  Hello, new crew guy.

  Loud cheering mixed with more thumping bass fills the room, and my eyes grow wide, taking it all in. I’ve heard the crew team does an initiation for new members, but I always thought that it was some archaic form of humiliation, not an all-out rager on their behalf.

  The guy holds up his wrists. “Set me free. I can’t get blackout drunk if you don’t let me try.”

  He’s joking, that much is evident by his broad smile, but it’s his laugh that makes me giggle too. He’s larger than life. His energy is infectious. The deep bass fills my ears, and suddenly, my anger over Caroline is replaced by fascination—over him.

  Whoa, hormones.

  He runs his hand through his unruly tousled black hair, letting out a whoop before accepting pats on the back and jokes from the crowd around us. I feel like a fly on the wall, watching the scene unfold, and my interest is doing a lousy job of staying hidden.

  Shit! I have to pee.

  I try to slip sideways to get out of the way, but I halt again, bumped by a large body as more people gather.

  “Excuse me,” I breathe out, feeling like I need to pee even more. “Sorry, can I get around? I need the ladies’ room. It’s right next to you.”

  The linebacker next to me ignores my request, so I tap his arm to ask again, but he still ignores me.

  “Thanks,” I grumble quietly.

  I look back to the center of the group for another way out, when I lock eyes with one blue eye and one green. The guest of honor is staring right at me. And Georgia’s cute. Like—Really. Damn. Cute.

  “You’re pretty,” he mouths, eyes trained on me, while taking the drink extended to him.

  My brain has stopped working. Say thank you, Ava. Say anything. Jesus. My mouth is on a very shy lag, and although I mean to be polite, all that comes out is, “I have to pee.”

  He reaches out, grabbing my waist, causing my head to dart down to where the warmth of his hand has landed. Before I can object, he pulls me closer, almost flush to his broad, muscular frame.

  “Whoa,” I say, in a hushed tone.

  He spins us, walking me backward a few steps, keeping our eyes locked.

  “Trust me, darlin’.”

  What the fuck is happening? I swallow hard, drawn to his lips and the way they look like they’re just about to smile. This one is t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And here I was about to leave. I don’t even remember why anymore. He stops us and puts the Solo cup between his teeth, dangling it as he leans in, pressing us even closer.

  One hand rests on my lower back, and the other… What’s his other hand doing?

  I blink a few times, snapping out of the moment, before twisting my head over my shoulder to see the bathroom door push open.

  “Ask, and you shall receive,” he says between his teeth.

  I giggle and take a step back inside the bathroom, closing the door, but not before I grin a thank you.

  Holy hell. Oh my God. Okay, Ava. Calm down. I run my hand over my curly blonde hair and stare down at my white Gucci sneakers as I let out a long breath. My stomach tightens, reminding me that I need to pee, so I hurriedly unbutton my pants and do what I came here to do. Once I finish, I stand up, wiggling my tight jeans back over my hips, and zip them before retucking my shirt.

  I look at the closed door as I walk to the sink. Is he waiting out there? Oh my God, this is so awkward and amazing all at the same time. What was all that? My stomach flips as I think about the moment, as if a million butterflies took flight at the same time inside of me.

  The water runs over my hands as I wash them, biting my lip, lost in my head. I glance in the mirror—damn, I should’ve done my hair cuter—and let out another breath. I swear it feels like he took my breath away. And if that wasn’t one of the most dramatic th
oughts I’ve ever had, I might give in to it more. Giggling to myself, I take a towel and dry my hands before tossing it in the basket.

  “Okay. Just be cool. It’s fine,” I whisper a pep talk to myself. “Super-popular hot guys talk to you all the time. This is standard practice for someone so mint.”

  These lies aren’t working. I drop my head with a groan mixed with another laugh because I’m not sure I could be any more embarrassing. It’s stupid, but I almost don’t want to reach for the door handle. But before I can chicken out and effectively move into the bathroom, I twist and open the door, all the noise turning back to full volume. My brows draw together as I step out. After all my bathroom preparation, a dismissive look greets me from some random girl—no Georgia in sight.

  I step out farther, as the girl walks around me, and search the room, landing on him almost immediately, but my nose scrunches up as I see him tip his head back and laugh at something Laura says while he hands Caroline a cup.

  I hope she chokes on it.

  Dammit. It only took a few minutes before my newfound treasure became trash.

  Jackson

  I haven’t heard a word anyone’s been saying in the last five minutes. I just keep laughing when everyone else does, because damn if I’m not getting a neck cramp from looking at that bathroom door.

  Where is she? Man, she’s pretty. All those angelic curls and plump red lips—she nearly buckled my knees. And so tiny—good for picking up and doing what I want.

  “Huh?” I answer to whoever just said my name as my eyes dart to the door again. Two girls walk out, bringing my brows together before I see the front door close. Shit. I look back at the people in front of me. “Sorry, ladies, I’ll be back. Nice meetin’ y’all.”

  I hear the giggles and whispers as I leave. Being a Southern gentleman never loses its effect on girls. But I’m unconcerned with them. I want the doe-eyed angel. I maneuver around people, making my way to the front, and rush outside.

  The gravel crunches under my heavy footsteps as I jog up behind her. She looks over her shoulder, arms crossed, but turns away just as quickly. Where’s the fire? I thought we’d had a moment.

  “Wait up. Come on, girl.”

  She whips around and stares at me, zero humor on her face. Dang, what did I do?

  “Girl? The accent is all that saves you.”

  A smirk peeks out on my face. “Pretty and feisty. I think I’m in love. Tell me your name.”

  “No.”

  I chuckle, shaking my head. “You gonna make me work for it?”

  “Absolutely. I’m disappointed you don’t already know it.”

  She says it with conviction, but her cheeks are already red. Aww man, she’s secretly shy too. She keeps getting better and better.

  “You’re pretty,” I offer and bite my bottom lip.

  “You said that already.”

  She starts playing with a stray curl, chewing the inside of her cheek while batting those long black lashes at me.

  “Doesn’t mean I don’t mean it,” I counter, eyes still locked.

  Goddamn. I don’t ever want to leave this driveway. She blinks at me a few times and waves her hand, playfully rolling her blue eyes.

  “I bet you could charm me right out of my panties.”

  I take a step closer, feeling the heat between us. “I wouldn’t mind if you let me try.”

  She holds her breath as she looks up at me, finally sighing quietly. We stand in more silence, and I watch her tongue wet her lips. I don’t even know her name, but I want to kiss her—badly.

  “I have to go now,” she whispers.

  “Stay,” I rush out, reaching down for her hand.

  Her head shakes as she pulls it away. “Why?”

  “Why not?” I answer, taking her fingers back between mine and tilting my head. “One drink.”

  Waiting for her answer feels like the longest pause of my life.

  “Only one.”

  I bring her hand up and kiss the top before speaking my words into her skin. “That’s half more than I need, sweetheart.”

  She giggles, and I drop her hand to grab the loop on her jeans, tugging her forward as I take steps backward.

  “You’re trouble, Georgia.”

  I lift the side of my top lip, giving a grr before turning around and pulling her behind me back into the party.

  Ava

  The minute we walk back inside, the spell breaks. My cousin and her band of merry assholes are staring at me like they’re going to fillet me. Shit. Georgia still has his finger looped through my jeans, dragging me deeper into the party. And the impact of my action isn’t lost on me—I told them to eat shit and then stole the guy they were talking to. If I didn’t want to cringe, I’d be celebrating.

  He slaps hands with a few guys, before ponying up to a bar next to a pool table. His heavy arm leaves my jeans and drapes over my shoulder.

  “Beer? No, you’re fancy. Champagne?”

  My nose scrunches up. “Not fancy, and water is fine. But feel free to have whatever you’d like.”

  He looks at me, puzzled but intrigued by my answer before saying, “Are you trying to get me drunk so you can take advantage of me?”

  “Maybe.” I shrug only to get half tickled.

  I laugh. “Quit.” But his arm curls around my neck, pulling me in as he lowers down.

  “It’s your lucky day. I’m a ho. You don’t even need to get me drunk.”

  “Oh,” I answer with faux-surprised, amused eyes. “Nice sell. Are you the full STD package, or do you only come with the herp?”

  He laughs loudly, and I look around, embarrassed by the attention it draws.

  “I like you,” he says to my profile, making me blush.

  I don’t look at him as I answer.

  “You say weird stuff. I thought the popular guys were better at this kind of thing.”

  I know he’s still staring at me, but I can’t look at him. God, he makes me so nervous.

  “I thought the pretty girls weren’t as cool as you. So I guess perceptions are deceiving.”

  I guess so because something tells me there’s way more to him than crew team and “hooking up.” He’s putting in a lot of work with a girl he doesn’t know.

  Looking everywhere but at Georgia leads me to confirm I’m still enemy numero uno. Laura leans in and nods as Caroline says something to her. It makes me bring a finger to my mouth to chew on my nail.

  It looks like flying under the radar for the rest of the year isn’t happening anymore.

  A quick burst of cold air blows on the side of my face, jarring me.

  “What the—”

  “You’re ignoring me. And I’m giving grade A charm over here.”

  “Sorry.” I look again to see Laura walking my way, but she gets caught up with one of the crew guys. “I don’t think being here is a good idea.”

  “Why?” His gaze follows mine.

  “I pissed off some people earlier, and I was making a very cool exit when I got caught up in you.”

  Our faces meet as I say it.

  “You’re caught up in me?”

  I squirm out from his arm and hitch a finger over my shoulder. “You know what I mean. This’s been fun. And you are so cute, and I really want to stay, but I’m going to go.”

  I take a step back, but he reaches for my hand. “Wait. If you’re telling me that all I need to do to hang out with you is bounce from this party, then I’m saying lead the way.”

  I’m dumbfounded. Is he serious? He doesn’t even know my name.

  “You’re the guest of honor.”

  He doesn’t say anything, just shrugs.

  “It was thrown for you,” I press, but he smiles.

  “I’m aware of the definition, Pretty, but I want to hang out with you. And don’t tell me we can exchange numbers and see each other later because I’m going back home after the break.”

  I open my mouth to interrupt, but his finger falls on my lips, hushing me.

&nbsp
; “For the next two weeks, I’ll be buried under practices and training. All we have is tonight. And I want it with you. And I don’t mean that in a dirty way. I’m weird, I know, but I like you.”

  His hand, which is now on my waist, kneads. “Take a risk. It could be the time of your life.”

  Take a risk. Hmm. Tonight could actually be the time of my life.

  I let out a groan meant to make it look as if I’m debating, but I’m not.

  “I thought my Friday night was going to be a total waste.”

  His eyebrows wag. “Come on, girl. Let me make it worth your while.”

  He doesn’t wait for me to answer before he’s dragging me back out the way we came. This time we’re hand in hand, a stolen bottle of Fireball under his arm.

  Jackson

  We’re halfway down the driveway when my pretty hostage bumps a shoulder into my bicep. “Hey. Where are we going? And how are we getting there?”

  I stop in my tracks and look down. “Damn, I hadn’t thought that far. I rode with those guys from earlier. Did you come with the girls giving you the evil eye?”

  She looks surprised that I noticed, but they weren’t exactly hiding it.

  “I have a car. And my cousin…” she says with a raised brow. “She can drive back with her shitty friends. I’ve decided I don’t care about their wrath—but not enough to go back inside though.”

  I nod, amused by her honesty.

  “That explains the water. You’re the DD.”

  Her smirk gives away the answer. Now I’m glad I swiped the Fireball. Tonight’s about to get real fun. I pull my phone out of my pocket. “We’ll get an Uber.”

  She giggles, and I love it.

  “It’ll take one forever out here. I’ll drive. Plus, I’m not drinking—not just because I’m the DD. But because stuff like Fireball will take away all my ability to make good decisions around you.”

  “You say that like it’s a terrible thing.”