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My next bite, I grab one of the blueberries piled in the center and eat it with the waffle and Nutella. My lids flutter closed. I keep going until I realize everything around me has stopped. When I glance up, Wyatt, Lucas, and now Stone are staring at me. I lick the fork, grabbing as much of the chocolate as I can, not wanting any of it to go to waste. They watch my every move, and heat creeps up my neck then blossoms on my cheeks.
They look away, Stone clearing his throat. “Um, waffles then?”
“Have at it,” Wyatt says, nodding toward the waffle maker. He takes another look at me and then retreats from the room, lines wrinkling his forehead as he goes.
“Fuck it. I’m going to try it,” Lucas says. Stone, however, opts for cereal, pouring himself a bowl and sitting two seats away from me at the bar.
We eat in silence while Lucas curses over the waffle maker. The batter doesn’t turn out to be the same consistency as when Wyatt made it, and when he shuts the top on the maker, it spills down the sides. Steam rises all the way to the ceiling and reaches out like tendrils. He cleans up as best he can, but when the machine beeps, announcing it’s done, it’s burnt.
“Seriously?” he growls.
Stone chuckles. “And that’s why I didn’t even attempt it.”
Lucas pries the burnt waffle out of the maker onto a paper plate and then throws the whole thing away. He grabs a bagel instead after Stone remarks about the time.
After I’m finished, I take my plate to the sink, rinsing it off. Once it’s clean, I start to head toward the front door when Stone stops me. “I’m sorry about Saturday, by the way.”
I come to a stop, my brain still two seconds behind trying to make sure I heard Stone correctly. I peer over my shoulder at him.
He clears his throat. “I didn’t know my father was going to hold that press conference, or I would’ve warned you.”
I had a lot of time to think about what happened while I stayed in my room over the weekend. I’m definitely not over it, but what’s done is done. It helps to hear Stone apologize. I want to hold a grudge. My mind tells me I need to. Maybe it’s because I’m satiated and calm that I feel like being the better person though. “If we’re going to be working together, I would appreciate updates on everything,” I tell him. “Everything. Especially things that have to do with my family. I wasn’t aware that by agreeing to help you that it would be widespread news. I’m not used to working like that,” I admit.
Stone drops his spoon into his bowl and lifts his head to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry.”
The contrite look in his blue-gray eyes is sincere. I nod, refusing to say that it’s okay because it’s not.
When I start to walk away again, he says, “I’d prefer it if we all rode to school together. It’s safer that way.” My hands ball to fists, but before I can object, he cuts me off. “I know you don’t like being told what to do, but we’re better off. If you don’t trust me, ask one of the others.”
“Like I trust one of the others,” I snap.
“Ouch,” Lucas says.
“And here I thought we were bonding over food, Tits,” Wyatt says as he breezes past me. “Come on, assholes. I’ve got a date with a nice boo-ty this morning.” He pinches the air in a crude gesture.
Stone shoves away from his place at the bar. “Please make it clear with this one up front that you’re not looking for anything more than a quick fuck. Your last girl was horrendous.”
Wyatt shudders then composes himself. “I assure you,” he says, mocking Stone’s professional tone. “They always know. I’m just that good.”
I roll my eyes, and the four of us start for the front door with bags in tow. Instead of using mine or Wyatt’s truck, we head toward the second bay in the garage. Stone presses something on his phone and the door opens, revealing a Silver Audi.
My mouth drops open. It’s the same Silver Audi that threw water at me the first day of school. “You assholes.”
Wyatt smirks. “Oh, come on. My hand slipped.” He winks at me again, and I don’t find it charming at all.
I do have the sudden urge to stab them though. “On second thought,” I say. “I’ll be giving myself a ride to school.” I turn on my heel and walk the other way, thrusting my middle finger into the air as I put distance between us.
“I’ll come with you,” Lucas calls out.
“The fuck you will.” I grab my truck keys from my bag as I approach the truck and then heave myself into the cab. Lucas still strides toward me, but I lock both doors before he can get to the passenger side.
I turn the car over with a saucy smile, but nothing happens. No sound. Anything. I try again. The pretty purr that it had just a couple of days ago is gone. It acts like it’s dead for good. It may as well be a toy. I bang my hands against the steering wheel, cursing the metal beast.
When I look up, Stone has his arms crossed. Just the way he’s looking at me, I know he’s done something. I throw the car door open and lean out, coming to a stand with my arm draped over the door. “What the fuck did you do?”
“Your truck is perfectly fine, but I had a feeling you’d try something like this, so I took a precaution. You’ll get the part back when you can be trusted.”
“Trusted? Are you serious? You want to talk about trust?” I hop out of the truck, slam the door, and step toward him. “How about you guys stop acting like assholes and then I won’t want to be by myself. Would you step into a vehicle with someone who’s treated you the way you’ve treated me? I highly fucking doubt it. You’re Stone Jacobs. No one gets to say a bad word about you.”