Page 13

“ G ood morning, Tate.” Dad’s deep voice filled the kitchen, as he poured the twins each a glass of orange juice.

I glanced over my shoulder and flashed a warm smile. He made it. I told him to come inside once he arrived.

“Good morning, Mr. Culver.”

Tate strolled toward me. His lips pressed against my hair. He greeted the twins.

Tate was back. I bit into a strip of bacon. It was so surreal we were returning to school after the hell we’d gone through toward the end of the year.

“Are you ready to return to school?” Tate grinned.

“Yeah. I’m eager to play basketball if nothing else.” He nabbed a strip of bacon off of my plate.

“We’ll attend a few of your games to show support.” Dad’s heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

“Thanks.”

Dad pointed to the empty chair beside me. “Have a seat. ”

“Unfortunately, I can’t. We need to get to school.”

I bounced out of my seat. “Bye, Dad. I will text mom to tell her happy birthday the second I am in the car.”

He smiled. “Good.”

I kissed the twins. “See you two later.”

“Bye,” they chimed at the same time.

I wrapped several pieces of bacon in paper towel and darted out the door with Tate.

He was brooding more than usual as we walked toward the truck.

I turned to him. “Tate, we’ll get through today together.”

His turbulent blue eyes worried me. Tate opened the passenger door, and I slid inside. He climbed behind the wheel and drove out of the driveway. We chowed down on the bacon. I was convinced we equally loved the special pork goodness.

“Do you have practice after school?”

“Yeah, if you can’t stay take the truck. I’ll catch a ride to your house later with Matt.”

“Ok.”

“Whoa, what about me?”

Tate’s eyes widened and he had a death grip on the steering wheel.

I glared through the rearview mirror. “What the hell?” I shrilled .

The guy sprung up off the seat and whipped his fingers through his brown locks.

“Shit, you were so quiet I forgot you were back there.”

“Sorry, Chelse. This is my cousin, Lake. He’s transferring to Haven Saints.”

His lips tipped up at one end. “How are you doing, sweetheart?” He braced his arms against the front seats staring at me.

“You have got to be kidding.” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Babe, what’s wrong?” Concern loomed Tate’s handsome features.

“He kissed me at the party.”

“What the fuck?” He was darn near foaming at the mouth.

Tate jerked the truck over to the side of the road. “Get the fuck out, Lake,” he growled.

Lake slouched into the plush leather. “I was just having a little fun.”

Tate leaned over the seat, gripping his uniform shirt. “Don’t come here stirring up trouble.”

“Hey, man. Not like you invited me to that ritzy party. So I borrowed one of granddad’s cars and followed you guys.”

“You’re fifteen, Lake. ”

“Dude, in Chicago I bet I partied harder than you.” Tate socked him in the stomach.

“Ah,” he groaned.

“Don’t touch my girl again,” Tate warned.

“Noted. Chelsea’s off limits. Any hot girls that look like her attend Haven Saints?”

Tate reclined back in his chair. “Lake, you are going to give me gray hair at seventeen.”

I chuckled under my breath.

“Oh, you find that funny.”

I squeezed my fingers a hair apart.

“Just a little.” I peeked at Lake.

“You could have just introduced yourself. We would’ve been happy to hang out with you.”

“Of course, you would’ve. I’m Tate’s charity case cousin.”

Tate shook his head. “Don’t mind him. He’s having a rough time. You can hang out with us. Be sure to sign up for Lacrosse. You are damn near a fucking pro after all.”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

“In the meantime. I can ask coach to add you to the basketball team. You might sit on the bench a lot since we’re mid-season, but I can get you some play time on the court. ”

Tate pulled into the flow of traffic.

“Thanks, Tate.”

“What brings you to Atlanta?”

“Mom and dad calling it quits. We arrived a few days after Christmas. Just me and mom. My sister Francesca didn’t want to leave dad. Mom followed some lame dude to Georgia.”

“Part owner of Atlanta professional football team. Dudes not a lame.” Tate grinned, rolling to a stop in his parking space.

“My parents were cheating on each other.”

We climbed out of the truck.

“My father plays pro basketball in Chicago.”

“Sorry to hear about your parents, Lake.” Tate gripped my waist as we strolled into the school.

“Thanks.”

“The office is down the hall to your right. Our lockers are on the second floor on the senior hall. We’ll talk to coach this afternoon.”

Lake walked backwards down the hall. “All right.” He saluted Tate and blew me a kiss.

Tate lunged toward him. I grabbed his arm. “He’s just acting out.”

“That’s all right. I will catch his ass later tonight,” he snickered .

“This weekend I’d like you to have dinner with us at my grandparents. My mom keeps asking me to come home. Not happening.”

“She misses you so much. Melissa cries on my mom’s shoulder every day.”

We halted at my locker. I cupped his face. “She loves both of her sons. You can at least spend time with her.”

He sighed. “She can come to her parents’ house and see me.”

“Tate.” I kissed his lips.

“Chelse, you are trying to break me down with those irresistible blue eyes.” He dropped his head against mine.

“I’ll stop by tonight.”

“That’s my big man.” Tate’s nose nestled in the crook of my neck.

Someone pounded on the locker next to my head. I jolted out of Tate’s grasp.

“What the fuck, Mason?” Tate stepped toe to toe with him.

Marisa grinned, clutching her books against her chest.

“What the fuck are you smiling at? Pregnancy Barbie.” My lips tipped up at one end.

“Fuck you, outcast Barbie. You are still a minute, insignificant twit. ”

“Says the chick who’s knocked up by the evil spawn.”

She rolled her eyes and tossed her perfect blonde hair over her shoulder. “Mason, this was a total waste of time.”

“Marisa, sweetheart, chill.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side.

Loud chatter quickly surrounded us as the students filled the hall. We arrived early so we beat the rush. We had to keep our voices down. Didn’t want to draw attention to ourselves.

“Mom, requested we sit down as a family for dinner Sunday.”

Tate’s jaw ticked. “Not on your fucking life.” He peeked around the hall. “Keeping up this farce of us being tight when you know damn well, we are anything but. You’re a piece of shit, Mason,” he growled in a low whisper.

“You’re my brother by blood and we unfucking fortunately share the same handsome mug. Matt is more my brother than you.”

Tate rubbed my shoulder. “Baby, grab your books, I’ll walk you to class.” He never took his eyes off his brother. “Don’t talk to Chelsea. My woman is off limits.”

Tate leaned down and kissed my lips in front of his brother. I’d say he was trying to piss him off.

Mason’s blue eyes darkened. It worked.

“Chelsea’s my woman, motherfucker.”

Mason’s fist curled at his side.

“Let’s go.” I tugged his blazer.

Tate was drawing unwanted attention to us. We had to come up with a plan and figure out what to do about Mason and Marisa. We had to coexist every day until the end of May.

He threaded our fingers and stalked down the hall.

“Tate, why are we covering for them? And slow down. I can’t walk that fast in these heels.”

“Shit, sorry, babe.” His stride turned into a stroll.

Students walked around us, never forgetting to wave at King Tate. He ignored them.

He slipped his fingers through his dark curly locks. Since he returned, he kept his hair longer. Giving him a distinctive look. I wanted to skip first period and fuck his brains out.

Tate pulled me into his arms and leaned into my ear. “My parents asked us to play nice. Said we needed to keep a united front.”

My hands splayed his chest.

“Dad’s trying to rebuild the company. In London the guests saw Mason and I face off. That’s all. They didn’t witness what happened to my grandfather. No one knows how he took advantage of Mason. So we are pretending to love each other.”

“And what is the story? How is Mason alive?”

“Class, baby. We’ll discuss later. This isn’t the place.”

I stepped back. “You’re right.”

He swept his hands over his navy blazer. “The vultures here will grill you about Mason. I can’t afford to miss class, but I’ll meet you outside third period. Text me your new class schedule.”

“Ok.” He kissed my temple and walked in the opposite direction.

Two starry eyed bimbos smiled and waved as they crossed my boyfriend’s path. “Hi, Tate,” the blondes said in unison.

He continued on his path. They whispered and snickered as they walked past me.

Bitches.

Oh, this would turn out to be one hell of a second semester.

∞

First period, Brittany attempted to gain my attention. I lied to Mr. Barrings. Told him I was having difficulty seeing the board. He allowed me to move to the front of the class.

Second period I wasn’t so lucky.

Clarita Tanner whispered over my shoulder almost the entire period. Grilling me about Mason and Tate. Was Mason really in London all this time? Who knew he was alive? How is Marisa his girlfriend? Had he changed?

I wanted to laugh at the last question. ‘Had he changed?’ Mason became a bigger narcissist. He wanted to control everyone in his life. He yearned for power. I bet he still does. Tate’s been the man at Haven Saints for almost four years. Not sure if Mason attended high school or was home schooled. Either way he’d adjust. Tate immortalized him. In Haven Saints eyes Mason’s already a God. Now that he returned from the dead, he’d become the most popular guy in school. I was sure it was just what Mason wanted.

The bell rang, I stood and smiled. “See you later, Clarita.”

Her mouth dropped open. I turned on my heels and sashayed toward the door.

“Wait.” I heard from behind.

“You said nothing. You have to tell me...”

Tate leaned with one foot braced against the locker across the hall. My tongue slid across my bottom lip. He was the star of the biggest cologne commercial in my mind. Obviously, every girl in passing felt the same. They gawked, pulled their lower lip into their mouths and went bat shit crazy over my man. I was convinced he had no idea the effect he had on the girls at Haven Saints High.

“He’s beautiful,” Clarita moaned.

I faced her and walked backwards until Tate’s hand snaked around my tummy. He sucked on the side of my neck. My core heated to a thousand degrees.

“Clarita, I’ve answered all of your questions.”

“But you didn’t say...”

Tate halted his movements and rested his chin on my shoulder.

“Clarita, what did you ask, Chelse?”

Her knees clamped together, and she spun a finger in her black ponytail. She stared at Tate. Who she obviously had a crush on.

This had to be the first time he’d ever spoken to her.

“Um, never mind.”

Tate stood to his full height. “See you around, Clarita.”

We left her standing there.

“She only asked too many questions about your brother.”

He massaged my neck with one hand. “We need to meet Jack and Jill and create a story that’s acceptable. And stick to it. ”

I laughed. “Your brother and Marisa are more like dark Jack and Jill.”

A deep chuckle released from his throat. “So true.”

“Tate, I love your hair.” A long-legged chick strolled up to him as if I wasn’t in his grasp. Literally.

We halted.

“Not sure what’s your deal. Don’t disrespect my woman,” he growled.

She tapped her cell screen and turned it toward Tate.

“I bet you taste amazing.” His lips caressed her stomach in the video. “Sorry sweetheart, I have to leave. My girlfriend will flip if I don’t see her today.”

He stood. “Rain check?”

“Absolutely.” She tapped the screen again, pausing the video. “So I’m ready to hook up.”

Tears threatened the backs of my eyes. I knew that wasn’t Tate. But it still hurt. Mason’s mission was to destroy me and Tate. I knew he was lurking in the shadows loving every minute of this spectacle.

“That ship has sailed. I don’t want to see your face again.”

Tears rolled down her rosy cheeks.

Tate’s thumb stroked my neck as we continued on. I peeked over my shoulder. She stood in the middle of the hallway broken.

“He’s making it impossible, Tate. I think he bugged your house and I know he placed a camera in my theater room.”

I swallowed hard. “And possibly the lake house. He’s probably watched us have sex.”

We halted outside my class. The bell rang, and the halls became desolate. His eyes darted to my hand on my arm. I didn’t realize I was clawing at my skin.

“Shit.” His eyes softened. He grabbed my arm, pulling it between us. Tate peeled back my sleeve and his lips melted against my cuts. My body tingled all over.

“Baby, I apologize for this shit.”

Tears burst forth, streaming down my cheeks. Mason knew what he’d done. Not sure he realized how strong our bond was. He swept his lips along my cuts, holding my gaze. His soft touch set every nerve ending on fire.

“What do you want to do? Stay or go?” His voice was groggy.

I swiped at the tears. “Stay.”

He nodded and pulled me into his arms. “He’ll pay for this somehow.”

“See you at lunch, Tate.” I didn’t meet his gaze before entering my class. How could I? I was aware it wasn’t Tate’s fault. Yet the image of my boyfriend kissing another girl made my heart ice cold.

“Fuck,” Tate roared, followed by a loud bang against the lockers. I almost jumped out of my skin.

Wide-eyed stares moved with me to my seat.

“I’ll let you off with a warning, Ms. Culver. Next time it's detention.”

“Understood, Ms. Hanson.” I plopped in my seat and retrieved my notebook and fluffy pen from my backpack.

“Is everything all right?” she whispered with a snarky bite.

Just the bitch I didn’t want to hear from right now. Dark Jill. I dug my nails deep into my palms hoping to break the skin. Chelsea you’re stronger now. Don’t let them break you.

“What’s the matter, Chelsea? Your boyfriend’s a bit of a whore.” She dragged out the last word in a snarky tone.

It was a statement not a question. How did I think for one minute they’d be civil upon returning to the states? My boyfriend and I had fought them.

I sat straight up asserting all the confidence I could muster. Tate made Mason look deplorable in their parents’ eyes.

Dinging and buzzing echoed throughout the room.

Ms. Hanson’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare peek at one cell phone screen. ”

“You don’t have to wave your hand so hard, Marisa. I see you. What’s your question?”

“Today will we discuss the statistics of teen pregnancy in America?”

Ms. Hanson smiled. “Someone has read her text book.”

“More like lived it,” I stated under my breath curtly.

Oh’s and Ah’s fell around the room. It was an inside joke for now. I’d out that bitch for sure soon.

Ms. Hanson turned, writing stats on the board.

Students couldn’t wait to gawk at their cell screens. They whispered and pointed at me.

A gentle hand clasped my shoulder as she slid her cell into my line of sight. “You, poor girl,” Marisa’s crony Catherine whined to my right.

There were several videos of Tate making out with girls on social media.

My head snapped to the right. “Fuck you and your fake sympathy. I might not be able to beat dark Jill’s ass.” I glanced at Marisa. “But I can definitely beat yours,” I snarled.

I gripped the wooden chair as I glared into Marisa’s eyes. “It may appear my man is cheating.” I tapped my chin. “But who’s man really was?”

Her porcelain face reddened and with a blink of an eye she had a death grip on my hair .

“I loathe you.” Her sinister eyes glassed over.

A deep dark chuckle released from my throat. I reached over and pinched her nipple. She screeched, releasing my hair at the same time.

“What is going on here?” Ms. Hanson stalked over, yanking me out of my chair by my arm. “To the principal’s office immediately.”

I snatched up my belongings. “Go to hell. All of you,” I shouted, storming out of the class.

Laughter erupted to my left. “This is the perfect first day of school at Haven Saints High.”

I ran at top speed, then pounded my fists into his broad chest.

“This is so cute. Love taps.”

“Mason, you sick son of a bitch.” I staggered back, pointing my finger.

“I hate you,” I roared from the depths of my belly.

My legs gave out, and I was on my knees before I knew it. “All because I chose your brother. The sane twin. The one who would have rotted in a dungeon for doing the right thing for me.”

Tears clouded my view. “You wish I would have given myself to you. Now you’re trying to push me over the edge. I know you watched me and Tate. So you know about my problem with razors. You want me to unravel and slit my wrists again.” I scratched at my arms.

Finding strength deep down I rose. “Guess again.” I trekked toward him.

“I will not allow you to take...my...power,” I growled through gritted teeth.

Arms wrapped around me from behind. “Doll, let’s get you out of here.” I fell back into him, clawing at his chest.

“Matt, I don’t understand. What did I do wrong?”

He scooped me up into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his neck, sobbing into the crease of his neck. His heartbeat pounded against me.

“It will be ok.” His deep vocals vibrated through my body. Matt burst through the school doors. He opened a vehicle door and laid me across the plush leather seat. Mentally I shut down. I didn’t remember the car pulling away from the curb. Lights out.