Page 56 of Their Cruel Play
“She likes me.” Nico smirks. “I’m Harper’s best friend.”
“Was.” Smiling, Caden shoves Nico into the lockers as he passes by. “She’s still pissed at you.”
“She’s probably still pissed at you too.” Nico catches up.
“She’s an angry kitten.” I smile. I can’t wait to get her to myself. “We need to discuss the sleeping arrangements for the week.”
Luke smirks. “I think they’ve been working just fine.”
“Yeah, you and Caden get her to yourselves and the rest of us just get her in the evenings.” I arch an eyebrow at Luke as we walk out to our cars.
“I don’t see a problem with that.” Caden stops at his car.
“You wouldn’t.” Nico shakes his head. “I agree we should be able to figure out something.”
“Harper’s mom might shut us all down.” Jack opens the passenger door to Caden’s car. “Especially if she figures out what we’ve been up to.”
I can’t wait until college where I don’t have to pretend to be part of a family that no one wants anymore. We’ll all be free of our parents. “I’ll swing by and get Harper.”
“I’ve got her.” Luke meets my eyes. “You go talk to Ashley and see if something is going on with her clique.”
I laugh. “Jack would have more luck talking to Emma than I will talking to Ashley.”
“Ashley’s always been hung up on you.” Luke shakes his head. “She wants you back. Go see what you can find out.”
“Luke, if I give her an inch, she’ll take a mile.” I shake my head. “You’re right. She wants me, but if I toy with her, she’ll hurt Harper.”
Of that I have no doubt. Ashley has always been a little possessive and vindictive, but I give her what she needs, and she lets me do what I want. We’ve never been official or monogamous. She likes to play around with others, but she always comes back to me, because I give her something no one else does.
Luke leans on the top of his car. “Hannah won’t give us anything. Emma is too much of a follower. They also don’t trust her with information. Ashley is Sidney’s right hand. I’d try Sidney, but she’ll know what I’m after and the cost will be too high.”
Sidney wants Luke to herself. She was content to let him screw others, but she must realize Harper is different. That we aren’t willing to give her up.
“You’re right. We need information.” I lean against my car and look back at the empty school. “But I need to protect Harper,and reaching out to Ashley won’t do that. What if we have another player or one of the girls that wants our attention check in with her?”
Luke nods. “As long as they get the information we need.”
Better them than me.
Luke
Harper sits in my car on the way to Caden’s. She changed into jeans from the skirt she wore earlier. That won’t stop any of us, but it will slow us down slightly.
“I need to stop at my house.” I turn in that direction.
“Okay.” She’s been quiet.
I want to demand that she tell me what she’s thinking or push her to tell me what’s going on in her head, but I don’t. I’m hoping she’ll open up, but I’m not the one she usually talks to. Jack, Caden, Nico, and even Eli sometimes get that part of Harper without having to force it. I’m just the prick who makes her come at restaurants when she’s already worried about being called a whore.
I blow out a breath. “I don’t know how to do this.”
She smiles. “Go to your house?”
I shake my head. “Be more than a guy looking to get laid.”
Her eyes widen, and her eyebrows go up. “What does that mean?”
“You’ve been quiet.” I run my hand through my hair as I pull into my driveway. “Jack would probably ask you what’s wrong, but if I do it, I’ll sound like the asshole I am.”
