Page 79 of Soul So Dark

The next set of pictures is more of the same, except she’s wearing a white lace bra instead of a smooth pink one. I listen for Aiden’s footsteps and rake my teeth over my bottom lip. She has the most bored look on her face, but fuck if her eyes aren’t the most vibrant blue I’ve ever seen. I smile to myself, gazing at her wide hips and the tight curve of her tits. She can’t be more than a B. All of it went to her ass, anyway, which is how I like it.

ME (7:39PM): The second one

Dallas must not be too put off if she’s texting me half-naked pictures of herself. In fact, she’s being downright inviting after what happened today. So much so that I’m about to cut my night short and head home with enough time to stop at Dallas’s house. Her evil little plan is working; now I want to see her more than anything.

While I’m contemplating this, another text comes through.

JORDY (7:42PM): Are you going tomorrow?

I don’t even bother responding. Jordy won’t let up about the goddamn prom, even after I tossed her ass onto the floor in front of the entire cafeteria. And now she’s asking if I’ll be at the old railroad bridge with everyone tomorrow night. Instead of the usual pre-prom gathering, we have something else planned, and it doesn’t involve finger foods and 50 photos in front of someone’s grand staircase.

Bryce Decker took it upon herself to organize a different kind of party. There’s a reason she’s the valedictorian, always meticulous, preparing and thinking ahead. Less than one percentage point separated her and Colson from the honor, and it’s up for debate whether she spent her high school career working harder to get into the Ivy League or Colson Lutz’s good graces.

Bryce ended up getting accepted to Princeton. Now, she’s hell-bent on one more type of acceptance before giving her farewell speech and leaving Dire Ridge for New England. And as much as Colson’s been stringing her along since the first day of senior year, I’ll be shocked if she doesn’t get her wish.

I keep my texts open, waiting for a response from Dallas, but the next one’s just another disappointment.

JORDY (7:46PM): I’m not going to bother if you aren’t going to be there

I bet you won’t. It’s been a long year, and I’m just trying to make it to graduation. It doesn’t help that Jordy and I have so many mutual friends. I can’t just ice her out like I’d do with anyone else because she’ll just pop up somewhere like a tick on a dog.

Finally, I get what I’m waiting for.

DALLAS (7:47PM): Sorry wrong number

The fuck it is.

ME (7:47PM): Where you going?

DALLAS (7:48PM): Out

ME (7:48PM): With who?

DALLAS (7:49PM): People

Maybe sheisthat put off, in which case she’s going to make me chase her around town again. While I’m mulling over the logistics, Aiden’s heavy footfalls signal his return. With a flick of his wrist, he knocks over a silver picture frame on the antique sideboard as he passes. The wedding photo of his father and stepmother falls face down with a clink.

“Where’s Alaina?” I ask as he swaggers toward me.

“Why?” he smirks. “You interested?”

“Even if I were, I haven’t seen her around here for—” I pause to think, “at least a couple months.”

“Yeah, neither have I,” Aiden gives a coy smile before it morphs into a loathsome sneer. “Fuck that bitch.”

“Is she…” I arch my brow, “gone?”

I ask knowing it’s highly improbable that a gold-digging trophy wife like her would ever leave Aiden’s father. The man is cutthroat and ruthless, and there’s zero chance that any woman would leave that marriage with a penny from him. But, still, the Rafferty house runs on routine, and I know exactly when I’m likely to see Aiden’s parents and when I’m not.

“Who can say?” Aiden muses. “Karma catches up with everyone eventually.”

Whatever. I’ll find out later, I always do. In the meantime, I have business of my own to attend to.

“I need to go to Col’s—Dallas’s.” I’m not used to referring to the Lutz’s house as anything exceptColson’s.

“Perve,” Aiden snickers.

“You would know.”