Chapter Twenty One

Icouldn't tell you what the fuck the teachers were saying in class because my mind was consumed with Shorty and her beautiful big brown eyes rimmed with long black lashes, and how sexy she looked in her little tight uniform. I wanted to take her in the back, lift her skirt up, and—

"What's up, fucker." Wyatt smacks me on the back when he strolls in with Ash and Jag. Ash sits across from me with Wyatt next to me and Jag beside Ash. Wyatt fist bumps me, and Jag tips his chin in greeting.

"So, will there be fresh pussy at the party, D?" Jag asks, taking a bite of his sub.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Ash asks.

"What?" Jag shrugs

"Aren't you seeing Kenz?" Ash takes a drink from his energy drink.

"We're not exclusive." Jag says wiping his mouth with a napkin. "What the hell does that even mean?" Wyatt chimes in.

"It means" —he takes a swig of his drink and swallows— "exactly what it means." Jag takes another bite of his sub. "Just like you and Serena." He points his sub toward Wyatt.

"We haven't fucked in months, you dipshit."

Jag shrugs.

Ash leans forward and quietly says, "Are you still pissed about me inviting Shorty?"

Yes. No.

This morning at breakfast, Ash decided he was going to invite Shorty to our birthday party. Why was I against it? Because I want her.

She's been ignoring my calls and text messages. I thought I made my point clear when I wanted to kiss her so badly. I wanted to apologize for being a dick at the diner. Fucking Addy had to show up and ruin everything. Maybe it's time to break things off with Addy for good because the only girl who owns my heart lives on the other side of town.

"You can do what you want, Ash."

He shakes his head. "I thought you would be happy we get to spend more time with her. The fuck is your problem?"

"Nothing."

Ash finally takes the hint and moves on to talk about last weekend's football game.

"Damn. Who's the hot piece of ass?" Jag whistles, looking over Ash's shoulder at his phone.

"Don't fucking call her that, asshole," Ash bites backs.

"Ok," Jag drawls out. "Who's the hot chick?"

"Her name is Sadie." That catches my attention.

"What did you say?"

"Ash is following some hot Latina girl." He wags his eyebrows.

"You're following her?"

Ash nods. "Yeah, she's on Instagram." Wyatt snatches the phone from Ash.

"Damn. She's definitely a looker." He hands the phone back to Ash, but I grab it before he can get it.

"How do you know her?" Wyatt asks.

"We grew up with her." I stop paying attention as I stare at the girl who stole my heart so many years ago. The first photo is of her and some girls at a party holding red Solo cups. I slide to the next photo of her and some guy with sleeve tattoos, his arms wrapped around her stomach. A little too close to my liking. Ash yanks the phone from me before I can move on to the next picture. I glare at him, ready to punch his face.

"I want to see her page." I grit my teeth, glowering at my brother.

"Then follow her page." Ash tucks his phone into his pocket.

"Fuck," I mutter, grabbing my phone to search for her profile. A photo of a guy's left arm is draped over her shoulders in a possessive way.

"Who's this?" I lift my phone to Ash's face.

"That's her, um…her ex."

Her ex? The fucker who likes to beat the shit out her. He looks like a gang banger. Is that her type? She's wearing a pair of tight skinny jeans and a low-cut V-neck fitted top, and a pair of fuck me black heels.

"When was that photo taken?" Wyatt asks, looking over my shoulder. The date stamp says it was taken one year ago. As if he can hear my thoughts, Wyatt says, "Looks like a year ago. She hasn't posted anything since?"

I scroll through her photos and come across a picture she was tagged in. It's a more recent photo but Shorty's not in the picture.

"Fuck. Why are these Latina chicks hot as fuck?" Wyatt breathes out.

"Did you invite them to your party?" Jag asks. Before I can respond, Addy appears beside me with her cheerleading squad, Serena, and Kenzie on opposite sides of her.

Goddamnit to hell.

"Hi," she says sweetly.

"Hey."

"Are you talking about your party? Who are you inviting?" she asks.

"No one." I tuck my phone in my pocket and offer her a small smile. She slides in beside me, tossing her golden blonde hair over her shoulder. I rub my hands down my face and lean back against my seat. I wrap my right arm around her chair as Serena sits beside Wyatt, and Kenzie on Jag's lap.

Addy rests her dainty hands on the inner part of my thigh. She gives it a squeeze. I look over at her with one brow raised. Addy crosses her legs, her skirt rising above her knee. She glances over her shoulder, giving me a sultry smile, and she winks. A year ago, I would have taken this as an invitation and hauled her little ass underneath the bleachers and fucked her until she passed out. That was a year ago. When Shorty came back into my life, it was like giving me a second chance to right my wrongs.

If Shorty knew what I was like then, would she be disappointed? Hate me? I couldn't take it. I can't lose her again.

Everyone at the table seems to be in their own little world until my eyes meet Ash's dark expression My hips move forward when Addy moves her hand higher on my leg. Ash shakes his head in disappointment and goes back to his lunch. I grab Addy's wrist and gently push her hand away.

"Don't," I warn.

"Why?" she asks, sounding confused and a little hurt.

"Exactly what I just said. Don't.," I say, low enough for only her to hear.

"You're such an ass, D." She stands up and swings her purse over her shoulder, almost smacking me in the face.

"Where are you going, Addy?" Serena asks. Addy looks at me when she says, "I suddenly lost my appetite." She spins on her heels and walks out with a vengeance planning my demise.

"You should stop leading her on, Donnie," Serena says.

"I'm not leading her on." I try to argue, but to be honest, I don't fucking know what that is anymore. Addy and I were exclusive until the end of sophomore year. We agreed to have an open relationship to show face in public places, like games, dances, and family functions. Messing around with our group of friends was off limits. But now, since it's our senior year, she wants to start up again, but I have no interest in dating her again. That's a chapter in my life I'd like to end.

We decided to eat dinner downtown where Shorty works. It was a great idea when it was just me and Ash until the guys decided to tag along, bringing the girls with them, including Addy. The host leads us to a table in the corner by the tinted windows. The place is packed and music blares through the speakers, vibrating off the walls. The girls sit across from us, while Ash sits at the end beside me, and Jag and Watt sit on my left.

"Hi. I'm Gloria. Can I get you started on some drinks?" Our server hands us the menus. She's a sexy little thing, short with curves. She takes our orders and heads towards the bar. A loud screech catches my attention. I look behind my shoulder and notice a group of girls laughing and dancing to "In the Dark" by Dev. My eyes slowly travel to the bar and that's when I notice Shorty talking to another girl, the one who served us the last time we were here. Glancing back at Shorty, I remember her with curly hair, but she's wearing it straight which doesn't suit her personality. As a kid, she was free spirited, wild, and fun. The curls matched her sass perfectly.

Ash leans over to whisper in my ear, low enough so the others can't hear. "That's her, isn't it?"

I close my eyes briefly and nod, rubbing my hands together on the table. He looks up to watch Shorty laughing with her bright smile on display. She brings that sense of happiness that could calm your nerves. It sounds cheesy, but that's the affect she has on the Du Pont boys.

"What are we looking at?" Jag asks as he leans against me.

"Two fine ass Latinas." Wyatt laughs, leaning over the table when he notices me and Ash looking over to Shorty.

"Hey!" Serena smacks Wyatt on the shoulder.

"What did you say?" Ash turns his fury toward Wyatt.

"What?" he asks, dumbfounded. "I can't look at other girls? It's not like I'm going to fuck her."

"Oh! Is that the girl you were talking about?" Kenzie asks when she looks at Addy.

Addy shrugs and goes back to scanning the menu.

What the hell was that about, and why was she talking about Shorty?

"So, why'd you guys stop talking?" Jag asks.

"What?" I ask in confusion.

"I was just telling them how we knew her," Ash responds. Ash and tell them the reason we lost contact but not about losing Shorty.

"So, what are you waiting for? Go talk to her," Wyatt encourages.

"We're going to invite her to the party this weekend," Ash responds, taking a sip of his water.

"You think that's a good idea?" Jag asks.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

He shrugs. "People may give you shit for bringing…"

"Bringing what?" He better not say what I think he's going to say.

Jag looks at Wyatt who's shaking his head as if he's telling Jag to not go there.

"Fuckin spit it out." It comes out like a snarl.

He sighs. "Dude, I'm not trying to be an asshole—"

"Too late." I grind the words out through my teeth.

He rubs his hand down his face like he's already regrets the next thing that's going to come out of his mouth.

"She's not one of us. That's what he means," Addy jumps in.

"What the fuck does that mean?" My eyes snaps to Addy.

"I'm just being honest. She lives on the wrong side to town, she doesn't come from money, and she's a minority. Do you realize how much shit she'll get just for being herself?"

My eyes glance over Addy's shoulder, aiming at Shorty.

"I'm not trying to be a bitch."

There was no malice in her tone, but her words still pissed me off.

"Too late." I turn back to her, trying not to lose my shit. Addy shakes her head and rotates her ice cubes in her raspberry iced tea.

"That may be the case with your family, Addy. They're not fake and superficial like your parents are," Wyatt says.

"It doesn't matter. She still won't be accepted," Addy quietly says, not offended by Wyatt's words.

"I don't give a flying fuck if you won't accept her, or anybody else for that matter."

"Donnie," Serena says my name in warning.

"Stay out of it, Serena," Wyatt says.

"Alright, let's back up a second and breathe." Jag decides to take this moment to insert himself in the conversation.

Fuck this.

I start to get up from the table when Wyatt asks, "Where are you going?"

"I—" I stop midway when I catch Shorty looking right at me.