Page 57 of Jerk

“Daddy left her,” I answer, puffing another cigarette. “He saw a certain photo from a Crimson party.”

“Wait, your dad left you on an island?” Ember asks, sitting up on her stool, her overalls splattered with paint. “Alone?"

"Rye stayed," Hannah says. Then she groans. “I can’t believe a girl from The Valley is judging me.”

“It’s not your fault,” I remind her, eyeing the way she brings her knees to her chest. It's like she’s embarrassed for her father's actions when he should be the one ashamed of how he treats her. “Your father’s a prick.”

“Aren’t they all?” Mac tips his glass towards me as if to celebrate our fucked up existence. Taking a sip, his eyes move between Hannah and me again. “So, howdidyou guys end up passing the time? Alone. Just the two of you?”

“Why are you so intrigued?” I ask, biding time while I try to figure out if I should admit committing the forbidden sin. “You jealous?”

Ember’s head whips to Mac’s, and the shift in his face tells me he’s about to retaliate in the worst way.

“No, I have my girl, Rowen,” Mac says. “We’re solid, so don’t try that shit with me just because you won’t admit you two fucked last night.”

“Should’ve seen that coming.” My drink comes to my lips while Mac gives me an asshole grin.

He recently took over his father’s business. And his office. It’s not what it used to be, a cold place for his father's shady practices. It's now half office, half art studio, Ember'sinfluence taking over. Books line the walls from the floor to the ceiling, easels and canvases littered throughout. SBU hockey memorabilia sits on some of the shelves. Dark wood mixes with brown leather furniture. It’s a perfect combination of Mac and Ember.

“You guys fucked, didn’t you?” Ember confirms, her gaze lingering on Hannah.

Hannah groans again, her cheeks reddening. Her words from this morning sweep through my head.

“Last night was a mistake.”

“Don’t be shy.” My abs tighten. “We’re all friends here. You can tell everyone how much you enjoyed being under the control of my cock."

Hannah winces at Ember as Ember’s gaze turns into a glare, something unsaid between them.

“If it helps, you guys aren’t hiding a thing,” Mac says. “The fucked up sexual energy between you says more than you think." That doesn’t help at all.

“Crowns!” Gray stumbles into the office in a wrinkled outfit that looks like it’s been through a lot. Designer jeans, a red shirt with mismatched buttons rolled up to his elbows. He drops into a tufted leather chair in the corner, settling in. His eyes follow Mac’s to Hannah to mine. “What happened?" He's known us long enough to read the room in seconds, despite clearly being on one from last night.

Mac doesn’t hesitate. "Hannah and Rowen spent the night on a private island."

“Mac!” Hannah yells.

Doing us both a favour, I shift the topic to the other thing stuck in my head. “Any eyes on Krystal?”

“She wasn’t on campus,” Gray responds, that ache in my head returning. “Checked around this morning when I left Kelly’s dorm.” He winks, proud of his conquests, but my fistsclench as I rise to my feet. Gray’s still too fucked up to trust his efforts.

“I’ll find her.” That’s where I should’ve been last night. With her. Instead, I was busy with the She-Devil.

"She needs some time." Hannah’s voice stops me from walking out of the office. “She’s feeling super powerless right now. I wouldn't want to show my scarred face on campus either. Not for everyone to talk about.”

“Why is Hannah speaking as if she knows anything about hardship?” Gray looks around the room, chuckling.

“Why are you speaking as if you know anything besides the names of porn stars?” Hannah bites back.

“I heard you spent the night on a private island.” Gray laughs. “You wouldn’t know hardship if daddy stamped it on his credit card and slapped you across the face.”

“Fuck you, Gray!” Hannah’s knuckles whiten, her grip tight around her mug.

“You can’t fight your villains alone, Alfonso.” Yeah, I’m mad I spent the night with her instead of being with Krystal. But she can’t keep acting like her life is perfect.

Gray’s head whips to me. So does Mac’s. Even Ember peeks out from behind her canvas again.

"Oh." Gray sits up like he's about to watch his favourite team. "So, I really did miss something between you two.”