Page 333 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4

My throat still felt dry from the crouton choking. It was like reading aloud in Mr. Hill’s class sore. And I felt that same sense of defeat that I did in Mr. Hill’s class too. Probably because all the excitement I felt about Matt seemed like it was being flushed down the toilet. A whole cheerleading squad? At once? I’d never even had sex before. He’d told me he’d wait for me now. I knew that meant he’d already had sex. I knew that from the condoms in his drawer, or lack of condoms left in his drawer. How many were missing? I could get over a few. Hell, I already knew he wasn’t a virgin. But screwing the whole cheerleading squad? I felt like I was going to be sick.

Kennedy’s smile dropped, probably when she saw my reaction. “I don’t think that’s true,” she said. “His older brother is a total man whore. But I think Matt’s kind of sweet.”

“The Caldwells are all the same,” Cupcake said. “One and done. Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am. Ask anyone.”

“No they’re not, Joe,” Kennedy said. “And it’s unbecoming to spread rumors.”

“Babe.” He pulled her back into his side. “What do either of you care about Matthew Caldwell anyway?”

“We don’t,” I said and pushed my salad aside. But I did. I really did. But I couldn’t say that out loud. And I couldn’t defend Matt, because for all I knew, what Cupcake was saying was true.

Kennedy cleared her throat. “Exactly, we don’t.”

“Cupcake?” Cupcake asked and pulled out a box of cupcakes from…I have no idea where. Seriously, where had those been a minute ago?

“Absolutely,” Kennedy said and grabbed one with chocolate frosting.

He held it out to me.

“No thank you,” I said.

“Felix?” Cupcake waved the box in front of Felix’s face.

“Actually, can we talk for a minute?” Felix asked. “I have an idea I want to run by you.”

Cupcake closed the lid. “Sure, what’s up?”

“Let’s talk just the two of us,” Felix said.

“Okay. Later, babe,” Cupcake said and kissed the side of Kennedy’s forehead.

After an awkward hug with Felix, I watched them walk away. “What was that about?” I asked.

“I don’t know.” Kennedy shook her head. “But I don’t like it.”

I watched the two of them leaning against the cafeteria doors talking.Me either.

“Is something going on with you and Felix?” she asked. “It looked like you panicked when he asked you to homecoming.”

“I didn’t panic. I said sure.” I said sure a lot, actually. I pushed some lettuce around with my fork. At least I could be honest with her about one thing. “But we did decide to just be friends.”

“Really?” She sounded a little excited, but I didn’t blame her. She’d made it clear that she hated him. “Does that have something do with Matt? Because Joe’s information about him seemed to really bother you, despite the fact that you always insist that he’s a jerk. I kinda thought you’d agree with him.”

“It has nothing to do with Matt.” I desperately wanted to tell her that Matt came over last night. That he’d given me his varsity jacket. But I’d promised not to. I wished I could just go back to last night when Matt was holding me in his arms. Everything made sense then. Before the cheerleader sexcapades.

“You sure about that? Because he still looks at you like something’s going on.”

I glanced back at the Untouchables table. Matt was staring directly at me. A scowl slicing across his perfect face. His swollen and bruised perfect face. I quickly turned away.

“Nothing’s going on,” I said.

“Good.”

“Good?” I looked up at her. “Why is that good? I thought you wanted me to date Matt?”

“Idid. And you’d make a much cuter couple than you and Felix. But…I think it’s probably a bad idea. At least right now.”

Did she think he was a slut too? I was worried I’d learned more about Matt in the last five minutes than I’d learned during all my time here. All I could think about was that box of opened condoms in his nightstand. I wish I’d counted how many were left. Had he used five? Twelve? Seventy-two? I felt like I was going to throw up my salad.