Page 75 of Their Cruel Play
The pain lingers in his eyes, but he wouldn’t want me to acknowledge it. Not here. Probably never.
He steps back and leads me to our seats, pulling me into his right side between him and Caden. Kenz sits next to Brandon and gives me anoh, my godlook. I just shrug. I’m getting used to being manhandled by these guys.
At least, I didn’t end up drenched in the pool, but I’m definitely finding out what happened to Luke later. Probably before he gets any clothes off me.
The party rages on around us. Kenz and I talk a little, but the guys are on edge. The tension keeps me aware of everything, waiting for the incoming attack.
My gaze keeps straying to Luke. What happened to him? Last we heard they found his cell phone at Zach’s and him at home.
Maybe he got in a fight.
Eli strolls back over without Penny and Nat in tow. He sits on the other side of Brandon, but his dark eyes look over both me and Luke. The guys all seem preoccupied, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s going to continue to later.
My mom is okay with me dating them. But Luke wasn’t there. Why didn’t he show up?
Why is it so weird to think of them as my boyfriends?
“I need to go to the bathroom,” I announce to whoever is listening.
Caden stands, and I arch my eyebrow at him.
“I’m going wherever you go, little nympho.” His hand falls on the small of my back.
Shaking my head, I hold my hand out to Kenz. “Come with?”
She nods and takes my hand. With Caden at our side, we get through the crowd easier than if it had just been me and her. There’s a line at the first bathroom, so we go upstairs to that same room we talked in before.
Caden leads us in and points to the door. He sits on the bed and pulls out his phone.
I pull Kenz in with me and turn on the fan and the faucet to drown out the noise.
“How did dinner go?” Kenz sits on the counter while I go to the bathroom.
“We’re apparently boyfriends and girlfriend now.” I shrug. “Labels will keep girls from thinking the guys are available. And tie me even tighter to them.”
“So is this becoming emotional or still just physical?” Kenz jumps down when I wash my hands and uses the bathroom while I sit on the counter.
“I don’t know how to separate the two. I mean, they’re technically mine for the year, so how do I stop from caring what happens to them? How do I not care when they’re hurt? Or need me?”
That’s the problem. These guys have cracked my heart open. I’m afraid they’re getting in whether or not I want them to.
Kenz washes her hands and sighs. “I don’t know, H. If they were just fucking you, it would be easy to ignore them the other times. But that’s not what’s happening. They take up all yourtime. They want you with them. They keep you beside them. After what happened at the game last night, I don’t blame them.”
She puts her hands on my knees, and our eyes lock. “You’re in danger. A guy busted into your bedroom in the middle of the night. Then maybe the same guy trapped you in the laundry room. This shit is serious, H. Maybe having five boyfriends looking out for you is exactly what you need.”
I blow out a breath. “They won’t love me. How can I fall in love with them if there’s no chance of reciprocation?”
“No one’s asking you to fall in love with them.” Kenz leans back against the door. “Yeah, you can care for them, but love is a whole different thing.”
I know Caden is sitting out there, waiting for us. Waiting for me. The way he makes me feel isn’t just caring. The way he talks about a future with all of us... It was crazy at first, but the more I commit to them...maybe I want that future.
“You’re eighteen years old, Harper.” Kenz shrugs. “If you fall in love, so what? We all need our hearts broken a few times before we find someone who can truly make us happy.”
“You’re right.” I shake my head. There’s no way I’ll fall in love with these guys. “Maybe in college, I’ll find the perfect guy and forget all about my crazy senior year.”
“That’s the spirit.” Kenz laughs. “Though I’m thinking these guys will be hard to forget?” She arches her eyebrow and nudges me with her elbow. “I have nothing to compare to your fucking five guys.”
“It’s definitely overwhelming.” My face heats thinking about later tonight. I hop down from the counter. “Okay, back to the upside down, where I’m dating the five most popular guys in school.”
