Turned On: A Never Before Published Exclusive Romance Novel

Blurb

No one understands how hard it is to be the son of a billionaire. Lucas Prine had the best of everything. He made sure of it. Clothes. Cars. Girls. But when high school graduation suddenly thrust the unique Telula Grant into his bed and his life, Lucas suddenly realized being the son of a billionaire was more of a liability than an asset.

Telula Grant was not afraid of what mysteries were ahead of her after she graduated high school. But only a day after receiving her diploma her life changed. Lucas Prine gave her a glimpse into his world and suddenly her head was in conflict with her body longing for his touch while her heart craved something more.

Would Lucas and Telula be able to overcome their obvious differences and see into each other’s hearts or were their worlds just too different? Was there enough strength in their mutual attraction to each other to show them the path to true love? Or were they nothing more than opportunistic lovers who settled for wild, untamed physical desire?

One woman held the key to their happiness. But would she share it or had too much damage been done?

Chapter 1 - Lucas

"Come on, Monica." I purred as I slipped my hand underneath Monica Smith's tight-fitting Riverbank Tigers t-shirt. I had done this at least half a dozen times before. She would hesitate and remind me we were broken up, bite her lower lip as she pushed her body up to mine while saying no, no, no. But it would end with her screaming yes, yes, yes. This encounter would be no different.

“Lucas, I’m seeing Matt now.” She pouted. Her breath quickened as she felt my fingers teasing around her nipple.

Matt Hawkins was a nice enough guy. But I knew why Monica was dating him. He was cool and fairly smart but the most important thing was that his family was almost as wealthy as mine. That was the only way he’d get a girl built like Monica. Most women found his unusually large forehead and early indications of male pattern baldness at the age of eighteen to be a big turn-off. He was the “I like you as a friend” kind of guy.

I knew she was throwing herself at him to try and make me jealous. I played it up a little to watch what she’d do. Of course, as I predicted, she threw her cat at him so fast poor Matt thinks it’s true love.

I don’t have anything against Matt. You can’t blame a guy for taking what the girl offers up. But Monica is played so easily. It’s laughable how predictable she is. All I have to do is sulk around her a little bit, let her catch me looking at her once or twice. The next thing I know she wants to talk to me privately.

When a girl wants to talk privately it is one of two things. She is either mad at something or she wants sex. In my case with Monica, and just about every other girl I’ve been with, sex was the answer. But the trick is not to give it up that quickly.

A girl like Monica thrives on the drama. So, I had to be careful. I had to sneak a kiss carefully at her locker then brush my hand across her backside when leaving Biology. The goal was to get her so torqued up that it wasn’t me hinting at it anymore. It was her. This would be the twelfth time we hooked up since she started dating Matt two months ago. Every time she gave me the same lame line that she was dating Matt.

"So," I whispered in her ear. "You know that Matt doesn't do things the same way I do." I cupped her large breast in my hand and kneaded it forcefully. "Besides, I've known you longer. What's between your legs belonged to me, first."

“You said you just wanted to talk to me.” She put her hand over mine and only half-heartedly tried to push it away. It only made me step closer to her as we hid in the shadows beneath the bleachers of the empty gymnasium of Riverbank High School. “You didn’t say anything about…”

"About fucking you?" I loved hearing Monica gasp. It wasn't hard to make it happen. All I had to do was talk dirty to her. She loved that. "You are leaving me and going all the way to the east coast for school. You'll probably get fucked good and hard every night while I'm here all by myself missing you. We may never do this again. Matt won't let you, I'm sure."

“Matt doesn’t own me.” She panted, kissing me along my neck, tugging at my hair. When I forced my thigh between her leg she started to writhe and grind away. I knew she would. When I reached down between her legs I could tell she was ready.

I pulled away from her.

“You’re right.” I stepped back, taking a few deep breaths and looking down at my shoes. “You’re dating Matt now. We shouldn’t be doing this. I’m so sorry.”

“No.” She begged. Eagerly she took hold of both my hands and put them behind her to grip her ass tightly. Her ass was too big for my personal taste but beggars can’t be choosers. “Please don’t stop. Please.”
“What about Matt?” I pushed my groin against her, pushing her short cheerleading skirt up in the front knowing there was just a thin layer of spandex between the two of us.

"I won't tell him if you don't."

Now that was a tempting offer. I was never going to see Monica again. Wouldn't it be funny if I told Matt about this right before the graduation ceremony? I smirked devilishly. Monica thought it was because I liked her. I did NOT like her. We dated for almost our entire sophomore year. Let me tell you the girl was a full-time job. Calling and texting every day to tell me about such ground-breaking stories as that bitch Dolores Higgs, who was considered cute by all the guys but not hot like Monica, that being said, Monica's manicure looked like it was done at home. Sometimes I'd actually set the phone down, go make a sandwich and take a leak and come back and she wouldn't even notice.

There was only one thing she knew about me and that was that my family had money. It didn't take me long to figure out that my family's money would open a lot of doors and a lot of legs. There was no way I could accept the future Monica was planning. She expected us to be "steadies" through high school then a grueling long-distance relationship through college. Then a huge wedding to rival those Kardashian whores and before I could say prenuptial you can bet Monica would have a bun in the oven and the paternity to prove it was mine.

But when we broke up I told her it was because of my parents. They didn’t like her. It crushed Monica but it put the anger somewhere other than on me.

I can’t be sure it was even a lie. My parents only met Monica once and that was when she dropped by as they were leaving for a month in Hawaii. I told her they didn’t approve of us being so serious, talking about a future together when we were still so young.

Teary-eyed, she fell for it and said she’d win them over. That was two years ago. I’d been using her for sex ever since. If Matt knew how many times I’d tapped her ass while she was supposed to be his girlfriend he’d probably break down and start crying like a little bitch. I heard him talking to her at her locker this morning. The I love you’s and puppy dog eyes were enough to make me want to puke. I knew all I had to do was tell Monica I wanted to talk to her and she'd come. Or should I say cum?

"You're sure," I whispered in her ear, gently pushing aside her long, brown hair while I pushed my body against hers. Within seconds she had those little cheerleader panties pulled aside and my pants unzipped with one leg propped on the metal frame behind me.

I took my dick out and have to admit she had me as hard as an eighteen-year-old, red-blooded, American boy could be. As I entered her I watched her cheeks flush. She pulled up her top so I could rub those huge tits of hers and I did. I sucked them, tweaked them, rubbed them as I rocked in and out of her.

Her hips were like a jackhammer and her hair was flopping sloppily over her face letting me imagine she was Selma Hayack or Jennifer Alba or any other starlet I wanted and not just Monica who I’d done a million times.

“Yes!” She breathed hard. “That’s it!”

Before she could climax, I pulled out, spun her around and pulled those little panties down completely. Bending her over I took her from behind and reached around to rub that slit that made every girl weak-kneed and begging for it again before the homeroom bell could ring.

I felt my own urge rising. I stopped rubbing my hand between her thighs, took hold of her hips and pounded her as hard as I could as hard as I wanted. I reached one hand through her hair and tugged her head back to kiss her lips, my other hand finding her breasts again. They were too good and I was too wound up not to grab ahold of them again.

I watched her play with that sweet spot between her legs herself and it drove me crazy.

"You like this, don't you," I whispered to her. "Being dirty and fucking behind Matt's back. I know you do."

“Yes!” She pushed her back up against me. “Yes! Harder! Do it harder!”

Boy did I. I don't think I ever did it that hard but I was going to violate this girl so fucking hard she'd be walking funny for three class periods.

She braced one arm against the wall, her legs spread perfectly. If it wasn't for her abnormally large ass I doubt I would have ever broken up with her. She never said no to me. I probably could have taken her anally and she wouldn't have said a thing. But I wasn't into that. However, I wouldn't have said no if she really wanted it.

As it was, she was enjoying herself. With her skirt pushed up and her tits hanging down bare and smooth while her hair bounced and bobbed in the rhythm of our humping, I was ready to explode.

“That’s it.” I slapped her ass. “That’s it!”

“Yes! Lucas! Please don’t stop!”

But I couldn’t help it. I was ready to pop and so I did all over that short-ruffled skirt, all over her back and even on the bottom of her t-shirt that I had pushed almost all the way off her head.

“Yeah!” I chuckled and gasped for breath. “That was just what daddy needed.”

“Oh, wait.” She turned around to face me. “Please rub my pussy, like you used to do. One last time.”

“My gosh.” I adjusted my shirt and zipped up my pants. “You’re like a goat.”

“Don’t tease me.” She pouted. Her hair was a mess. The mascara started to smudge under her left eye. Her lipstick was all gone. She looked like a totally different person.

“Look, Monica.” I glanced at my watch. “I gotta get to study hall or I’ll get a check on my attendance. I can’t afford to get any more.”

“Please?” She completely stepped out of her little panties and stood there.

I stepped up to her, put my hand on her neck, slowly slid it down to her breasts, further to her thigh, swerving to her inner thigh where I stopped just short of her bush. I leaned my head close to hers and whispered.

“Would you like me to tell Matt to come in and finish you off?”

I started laughing as she gasped.

"Hey, you've got the whole gymnasium to yourself." I continued as I backed away from her. "Go nuts. I know several freshmen who'd pay good money to watch you take care of that thing. Need to make a few dollars?" I laughed.

She didn’t say another word as I pulled myself out from beneath the bleachers and headed out of the gym. I knew Monica would be mad at me for a little while but it wouldn’t last.

Even if it did what did I care? We were graduating and I’d never see her or this dump ever again.

I could feel her eyes burning into the back of my skull. She wanted me to turn around but I wasn’t going to. I listened and didn’t hear any tears. That was too bad. I would have enjoyed that. Strangely, I didn’t hear anything except my own footsteps as I walked across the gym and pushed open the swinging doors and merged with the sea of students moving from one class to another.

By my calculation, Monica had about seven more minutes to get to class. I know her. She's working her pussy before she goes to American History. I just know it. Just then I saw Matt.

“Hey, Matt.” I waved and chuckled. “I got a story to tell you. But you have to promise not to get mad.”

Chapter 2 - Tilly

“Where is the bathroom in this place?” I asked my friend Sandy as we waited at the back of the auditorium.

“I don’t know. Is my cap on straight?” Sandy scrunched her face and tilted her hat. “My mom insisted on this up-do and I swear, it makes my head about three hat sizes too big.”

“It looks great. It really does.” I shifted from one foot to the other. “How much time to do we have before the ceremony starts? I’ve got to pee. If I don’t I’ll never make it through the whole ceremony. God knows that Chris Habek has been waiting her whole life to be valedictorian so that speech will be anything but short.”

Sandy chuckled and nodded knowingly.

“I could use a smoke myself.” She looked at her watch then slipped her arm through mine. “Come on. You find the bathroom and I’ll have a smoke and we’ll be back in plenty of time.”

As we stepped out of line and headed down the hallway to begin our quest for the ladies’ room we once again got yelled at.

“You guys better be back in time.” Shelly Pinkowski scolded. “If Mrs. Ardnt comes looking for you I’m not covering for you guys.”

“Who asked you to?” Sandy snapped.

"Jeez, relax, Shelly," I ordered. "It's just graduation. Your risk of getting a detention is pretty much over."

As soon as we were out of earshot I shook my head.

“You know, some of these people are going to be exactly the same ten, twenty, thirty years from now. I’m not covering for you. When the hell did Shelly Pinkowski ever cover for us?” I snapped.

“Never.” Sandy smiled. “We were always too slick. Never needed anyone to cover for us. There. Bathrooms. I’m going to sneak out for a smoke. Meet you back here.”

I nodded before I headed down the long dark corridor. It was about five degrees cooler since there weren't any real lights on. My heels clicked on the marble floor making me walk uncomfortably on my toes until I found the door I was looking for. It had a black and white plaque that read LADIES.

As soon as I pushed the door in I was temporarily blinded by the bright fluorescent light. After peeing what felt like a river I fixed myself up, straightened my cap, billowed out my black gown and adjusted my bra strap underneath it all.

I almost didn’t recognize the person in the mirror. Just yesterday I was a freshman finding my way to class, ignoring just about everyone except for Sandy who had quickly become my friend. We were both odd. We didn’t come from affluent families. We dressed differently. The image of square blocks in round holes fit us perfectly.

Sure, we got teased sometimes. Girls like Shelly Pinkowski and Debbie Morosek made sure we knew we didn’t fit in. Not that Sandy and I ever wanted to.

This was the day we had been waiting for. Tomorrow I'd never see Shelly or Debbie or any of their minions ever again. Four years seems like a blip on the screen when I am probably going to live until I'm at least eighty. If I don't get hit by a truck or die in a terrorist attack.

I laughed at my morbid thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, I headed back out into the hallway and just as I was about to go toward the exit where Sandy was having a smoke I heard something.

“Well, you don’t get to decide these things, Lucas.”

“Oh, and you do?”

I tip-toed uncomfortably further down the hallway to a vestibule where an old-fashioned payphone was fixed to the wall and the arguing duo had snuck to in order to have their spat. I leaned my back against the wall and held my breath.

“Damn right, I do. Your father is away working. I’m supposed to go out there and meet him tomorrow. You are to be packed and ready to go when we get back. We didn’t fork out an extra ten grand, Lucas, so you could hang around the house all summer and…”

"You didn't fork out anything, Jenna. You don't work. That's my dad's money. So, don't talk as if anything in that house belongs to you."

I carefully leaned forward just a hair and saw an older woman in a low-cut blouse and extremely tight skirt pointing at someone out of view with a long red manicured nail.

There was silence for a minute.

“You’re right about that, Lucas. But let me remind you that the only thing that does belong to me in that house is in your father’s pants. So, I have a lot more control over what goes on than you ever will. Don’t you forget it.”

I gasped and coughed. It echoed down the hallway and back to me.

Before I could bolt out of there the woman came stomping around the corner and gave me a look like I was nothing more than gum on the sidewalk. I looked down at her since she was only about five feet tall and I was a whopping five seven. It was like Gulliver in the land of Lilliputians.

But what she lacked in size she made up for in attitude. Without a shred of embarrassment, she left the hallway with her heels and gold bangles around her wrists jingling all the way.

I was about to follow her when I heard a man clear his throat. I looked around the corner and saw Lucas Prine.

Normally, I wouldn’t spit on the best part of Lucas Prine. He was one of the many spoiled rotten brats that attended Riverbank High School. Actually, he was probably the most spoiled out of all of them. His father was some kind of government big-shot or maybe he was a Wall Street big-shot or a big-shot plastic surgeon. I didn’t know and frankly, I didn’t care.

We had a couple of the same classes over the years and I can remember him making fun of the fact I wore the same skirt twice in one week. He also commented on my car. It was a used Dodge Neon I had saved up for. To me, it was nicer than the Hummer he drove and took up two parking spaces with. But, like I mentioned before, since I didn’t look like everyone else or act like everyone else, well, it was open season all year long.

This little skit I observed couldn’t have come at a better time. Just when I was getting ready to flip the middle finger to just about everyone in my class here I stumbled across a goldmine of gossip. Sandy would love this story.

But in the few seconds I looked at Lucas I changed my mind. For once I saw him look defeated. I’m sure it wouldn’t last but I didn’t kick people when they were down. That was what cowards did. I was no coward.

“So what, are you into cougars?” I asked arching my right eyebrow.

“None of your business, Telula.”

Telula was my full name but all my friends called me Tilly. That was why Lucas Prine called me Telula.

“You’re right. But, if it’s any consolation what she just said to you was not only rude but totally disgusting and I’m going to put it in my novel. A woman that age should know better.”

For the first time ever Lucas Prine chuckled.

“Whoa!” I put both my hands up. “Is that a laugh? Yikes, Prine. Don’t freak me out. I didn’t know you could smile.”

“That was my dad’s girlfriend.” He admitted as he stuffed his hands into the pockets of his graduation gown. “He couldn’t make it on account of work. So, she came alone. I think it was just so she could use the limousine.”

“That will be a fun ride home.” I frowned.

“I drove myself. Like I said, I think she just wanted to use the limousine.”

“That’s kind of bad.” I nodded, smiling.

“Yea. It is.” Lucas chuckled again. The sad part about talking to Lucas now was that he really was good-looking. He had sandy blond hair with those natural highlights that come from vacationing somewhere sunny a couple times a year. That also helped him keep totally fit and buff.

It was a shame the guy had to speak because that was what usually ruined everything else he had going for him.

"So, we better get back. Shelly Pinkowski is keeping track of everyone who steps out of formation and she said if Mrs. Arndt comes by she won't cover for us. Well, I'm sure she'd cover for you but Sandy and I will be left out in the wilderness."

“Shelly’s a real bitch.” Lucas snapped quickly.

I clutched my heart.

“That’s two shocks within a matter of minutes, Prine. You know, you’re a lot more tolerable when graduation is just a few minutes away and I know I’m never going to see you again.”

“What? Wait just a minute.” He started to slowly stroll down the hall with me. “What do you mean I’m more tolerable?”
"Oh, this is awkward. Did no one ever tell you what a grade-A jerk you are? I'm actually being kind using that word. People have had to tell you. I mean, other than your dad's girlfriend."

He chuckled again.

“Telula, you know no one talks to me that way.” He shook his head. “Jenna just thinks she can. It won’t be long before my dad kicks her to the curb. It’s obvious she’s a gold-digger.”

“Is she really?”

“Of course, she is. They all are and when…”

He stopped speaking. His cheeks flushed red.

“Well, truthfully, I don’t need to know.” I stepped into the light and Sandy was just crushing out her cigarette and walking back in.

“I’m having a huge graduation party at my house tomorrow.” He boasted. His personality had already changed when Sandy stepped up to me slowly as if Lucas was a snake and coiling up to strike.

“Really. That’s a shock. You had parties all year long if I recall.”

“I don’t think I ever saw you there.”

Sandy burst out laughing and that made me chuckle along with her.

"Right. The two of us show up at one of your parties? Not bloody likely." I put my hands on my hips.

"Well, I am officially inviting you both to my graduation party tomorrow. People will probably start showing up around nine. It'll go until the police show up. But my dad donates generously to the Fraternal Order of Police so no worries there." He smirked.

I hate to admit it was a cute smirk and pulled a smile out of me.

"Maybe," I answered.

Lucas looked at Sandy, gave her sly wink and strolled confidently down the other hallway toward the auditorium where we were all expected to line up.

"You aren't actually going?" Sandy asked. "That guy is nothing but trouble. It'll end up like that murder case with the little twelve-year-olds doing the bidding of Slenderman. Except those little girls were smarter than him and his friends."

"I won't go if you don't want to." I slipped my hand through Sandy's arm. "But aren't you the least bit curious to see what his house looks like?"

“No.”

“Don’t you want to see how all those losers look when they get wasted?”
“No.”

“Don’t you want to be there to see the whole house get trashed and maybe do a little trashing yourself? You don’t have to break anything but an accidental black marker on the wall or some red wine on the white carpet might be fun?”

“How do you know they have white carpet?”
“Rich people always have white carpet because they don’t have to clean it.”

Sandy rolled her eyes.

“Okay, you convinced me. But if the house isn’t getting trashed I’m going home.

“Deal.” I smiled. We found our places back in line just as the music was starting. As I stepped out into the auditorium I searched for my mom and dad who were way back in the nosebleed seats. I blew them kisses and waved like a madwoman. But as I took my seat and listened to Chris Habek drone on about every detail of the last four years I couldn’t help but think the party tomorrow might be fun.

Chapter 3 – Lucas

“Where did you disappear?” Henry asked. “Monica’s looking for you.”

"I'll bet she is," I smirked.

“What did you do to that girl now?”

“Nothing that I haven’t done to her a hundred times before.”
“No.” Henry shook his head. “You still tappin’ that? I thought she was dating that Matt guy. Did they break up?”

“They probably have by now.” It was really kind of heartbreaking. Not for me but for Matt. I mean, I just finished Monica in the gym. He’s in the hallway and I can tell he was looking for her. They had a sick ritual of putting their affection for each other on display for the whole school to witness. All tongue and hands at her locker or his.

I made the guy promise not to get mad as if a real person could promise that. But he agreed. So, I told him that if he hurried he could catch her pulling her panties back up behind the bleachers.

“I’m sorry, man. But I’m really doing you a favor. She’s a gold-digger. She’ll break your heart to second a guy with more money if he shows up.”

He must have thought I was right because he just looked at the floor and shoved his hands in his pockets.

“It’ll be all right.” I clapped him on the back. “I mean, it’s not like you guys were in love or anything.”

“No. I guess not.” Matt grumbled. “But she only let me feel her tits. I never got any further than that.”

“Look. I’m really sorry to hear that.” I snapped my fingers. “This is what I’d do if I were you.”

My advice to Matt was to get her alone.

“She loves when you talk dirty.”

Matt’s eyes flashed and he almost started to giggle like a girl.

“If you are trying to be a gentleman it’s not going to work with that one. Nope. Just start talking about her body. Tell her how hot she is. How the thought of it keeps you up at night. Trust me, she’ll open up to you. Then, once you’ve had her, break it off. Leave her begging and scratching her head. You’ll feel better.”

“Hey, thanks, Lucas.”

“The big lug actually shook my hand.” I chuckled to Henry.

"No, he didn't."

"My hand to God he did." I looked around the auditorium and saw Telula across the aisle and back a couple rows. She looked utterly bored. But as I was watching her she started to laugh. Something was funny back there and I really wished I was part of it. I never noticed how cute she was when she laughed. Her nose wrinkled up and her eyebrows arched up.

“So, what are you going to tell Monica when you see her?” Henry’s question brought me back to the present.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you going to tell her you told Matt?”
“Hell no. And risk not taking one last ride before we scatter to the far corners of the earth? She’s going to need some comforting and I know exactly who she’s going to run to.”

“You’re lucky, Lucas. If I had your powers I’d have pussy lined up outside my door every day and every night.”

“Yeah, well, that’s why you don’t.”

We laughed and watched as Chris Hadek rambled on at the podium in the front of the auditorium. She looked like a straw of black licorice with a flat top.

“Is the party still on for tomorrow?” Henry asked. “I saw your dad’s girlfriend. Is she sticking around?”

"No." I hissed. "She's catching a plane after the ceremony." Suddenly all the fun of the evening slipped away. "I don't even know why she came," I grumbled. My dad isn't here. If she thinks she's anything like my mother she's wrong.

“I know why she’s here.” Henry looked at me seriously. “She was hoping to get a handful of this.” He pointed to his crotch.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Look, Lucas. How long are they going to be gone?”

“I don’t know. I think they’ll be back before I head off to Dartmouth.”

“Right. So, let’s get through tonight and then party tomorrow and leave the hounds at the door, man.”

“What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know, Lucas. Just go with the flow, man.”

I smirked and looked around to see who else there was to talk to. It was funny that I found myself looking at Telula again. She looked like she was falling asleep. I wondered what she looked like asleep. I’m not sure why. Maybe I’d see her at the party tomorrow. Maybe.

Chapter 4 - Tilly

“Are you having second thoughts about going?” I pinched my phone between my shoulder and my ear. “Sandy, you know I won’t go without you.”

“No. You convinced me there would be trashing going on.” Sandy bubbled. “I would like to see that. Speaking of trashing what about that graduation speech yesterday. I didn’t think a person had enough saliva in their mouth to talk for almost forty-five minutes straight.”

“Right?” I held up a black pencil skirt in front of my hips and looked in the mirror. “The chances of anyone ever listening to her speak again for any length of time is probably slim so she had to jump on that chance while she could. Hey, what are you wearing tonight?”

“Jeans.” I could hear the smirk in Sandy’s voice. “I’m not getting dolled up for that group. Especially if I may have to make a quick getaway.”

“Why would you need to make a quick getaway?” I shook my head.

“I don’t know.” Sandy’s innocently replied. “Maybe if one of their priceless Ming vases gets broken or a Monet painting gets ripped. I’m out of there before they can blame me.”

“Who said they had Ming vases or Monet paintings? I think you are giving these people a lot more class than they deserve.” I didn’t want Sandy to know that I was nervous so I tried to pretend we were just stopping by to drink Lucas’s liquor, go through his mom’s jewelry and maybe, maybe scratch a wall or crack a tiny piece of plaster. Any small act of vandalism was to make up for all the rude bull we put up with over the past four years.

“Maybe.” Sandy agreed before telling me she’d be on her stoop in ten minutes and I better be there before she changed her mind.

I left a pile of clothes on my bed. It was embarrassing that I was putting this much time and energy into an outfit to wear. Especially when I didn't want Lucas to think for one second I was trying to look good for him. I wasn't. In fact, I wanted to look like I didn't care one bit. But with each shirt, with each skirt or any one of the two dresses I owned, I was mercilessly reminded that I didn't have any money.

That was another reason I wanted to look like I didn’t care. I knew who was going to be at this party. I knew what kind of people they were. They were the same people who made fun of my car, a used Dodge Neon, and my clothes that never had a famous label attached to them.

But they couldn't hassle me about my grades as I was a straight-A student with the exception of Phys. Ed. That was the only grade that disqualified me from being co-valedictorian with Chris Hadek. Mr. Quinn, the gym teacher, gave me a D+. I worked very hard for that D+. It takes a very creative mind to find so many ways to avoid breaking a sweat.

Regardless of the debilitating mark in Physical Education my grades got me a full scholarship to Columbia University in New York. Not too shabby for the girl everyone said would become a stripper after high school.

Oh, yeah. That was another prediction Lucas’s group of friends had said about me. But I never felt as insulted as they expected me to be. You’ve got to be pretty hot to be a successful stripper, right? It was a compliment, even if I had to stretch my mind around, underneath, on top of and inside their words to find it.

Finally, I decided on a denim miniskirt and a white t-shirt with my Converse gym shoes just in case Sandy and I had to make a quick getaway.

“You look adorable.” My mom said as I walked from my room to our tiny kitchen where she was washing dishes.

“That skirt is too short.” My dad piped up from the other end of the kitchen table where he was sorting out some bills. He was always sorting out some bills.

“You think so, Dad?” I smirked. “Mom just said I looked adorable.”

“He’s just worried because I was wearing a skirt shorter than that when we met.” My mom teased.

“Believe me, Dad. I won’t be meeting my future husband at this party. But just cover all bases do you have enough money in case I need bail?”

“If I don’t pay our electric bill.” Dad mumbled without changing his expression. “Why might you need bail?”

“Sandy is coming with me.” I pulled the refrigerator open and grabbed the gallon milk jug and took a swig.

“Sandy’s parents can handle her bail. You’ll just have to serve the time, honey. We love you but we love cable more.” Dad diligently made some notes in his checkbook before looking up and winking at me.

“Thanks, dad. I knew I could count on you.”

“So where is this party?” my mom grabbed a pen and paper and smiled while blinking innocently at me.

“Don’t you trust me?” I put my hands on my hips.

“Of course, I do.” mom rubbed my arm. “It’s the rest of the world I don’t trust.”

“Okay, give me this.” I quickly wrote Lucas’s name, address and phone number on her notebook and handed it back to her.

“Are you kidding?” Mom sighed. “You are not going to Sarkis Estates.”

"What? Yes, I am."

“Honey, the cheapest house in Sarkis Estates costs over three-quarters of a million dollars. That’s the house for the poor family in that neighborhood. Who do you know who lives there?” My mom was suspicious. “I don’t want you to end up like those true crime stories where the wonderful girl with the big heart get ambushed by a bunch of rich monkeys because they think they can get away with it.”

“Believe me, mom. Sandy and I are just stopping by and I promise to be home in about two hours. Three tops.”

“So, if you don’t call me to tell me you’re okay in three hours that’s the signal to go ahead and call the police?”

I looked at my father.

“What is she going to do when I go to New York?”

He shrugged, shaking his head with a smirk on his lips.

“Okay, I’m out of here. I’m going to pick up Sandy and I’ll call you to let you know everything is all right. Don’t worry. I’ll be home early.”

"Be careful and have fun." My mom called me as I left through the back door.

“Don’t call us if you get arrested!” My dad yelled through the window.

“I won’t!”

"According to the Mapquest, you need to take a right up ahead and the Prine Estate is on that street somewhere," Sandy instructed as she looked up from her phone to the scenery out the car window.

"These houses could house many houses like mine." I gasped. To say they were mansions was an understatement. Huge, rolling brick structures with perfectly manicured lawns and cobblestone driveways were on each side of the street. "Look. Even their flowers all grow perfectly together. I'm a creeped out. Are you?"

"A little," Sandy muttered. She pointed to a well-lit house. "That's it."

“Of course, it’s white.” I sighed. “Jeez. Maybe this is a bad idea.”

“Oh, no way.” Sandy insisted. “We’re here now and I want to know what this place looks like on the inside. I’ll bet you twenty dollars there is a Monet hanging on a wall somewhere.”

“You’re on.” I couldn’t resist a sure thing. “If we separate, keep your phone close and make sure you make your own drinks.”

“Right. Could we be more suspicious?”

“It’s not suspicious. It’s cautious. There is nothing wrong with being cautious. That’s why I’m parking on the street. Just in case we need to make a quick getaway.”

The music was thump-thump-thumping as we walked up the long driveway. Sandy pointed out BMWs, Lexus’, Mercedes and even a Tesla parked all the way up to the front door.

From the back of the house, splashing water could be heard. People were laughing and girls were squealing.

“Are you ready?” I asked Sandy.

“Yeah. Hey, Tilly?”

“Yes.”

“I’m nervous.”

“Me too. I don’t even know why.”

“Let’s do this.” Sandy took my left hand in hers. “Let’s make a lap around, see what’s happening, and if either one of us wants to leave after then we go.”

“Perfect. It isn’t like we have anything to prove.” I soothed.

“Yeah, we won’t even see these people anymore after tonight.” Sandy boasted.

“That’s right.”

We both took a deep breath and while still holding hands we opened the front door and walked in.

After a quick look-around we both realized we didn’t know a soul.

“Are you sure this is the right address? There are bound to be tons of spoiled brats having graduation parties, right?” I asked Sandy.

“This is the address.”

“Do any of these people even go to our school?” I smiled pleasantly.

“No. That’s a good thing. Let’s make a lap.”

I had made the mistake of assuming the entryway was the living room.

I carefully walked the long carpet as I was afraid if I walked on the marble any guest could see almost a mirror reflection up my skirt.

There were no Monet’s hanging on the walls but there were dozens of paintings taking me off to beautifully colored abstract worlds that I would have loved to study them had there not been a couple dozen teenagers loitering in front of them.

“Look. How many kegs are over there?” Sandy shouted in my ear.

There were five silver barrels lined up along a wall, each with a tap attached on top.

“Let’s have a drink and finish walking around.”

With beers in our hands, we continued exploring. But before we got too far Sandy shouted, pointed and burst out laughing.

"Tilly, look who it is!" She let go of my hand and dashed through a crowded room into the open arms of her good friend Sean Householder. I knew Sean and he was a really nice guy. Of course, he was traveling with his entourage, a short dude named Timmy flanked him on one side and a tall, lanky fellow who went by the name of Rob was on the other. I waved hello and watched my friend let down her guard knowing that if there was any trouble these guys would be her first, best line of defense.

“Hey, Tilly.” Timmy came up to me and we hugged. “What brings you to this part of town?”

“Just slumming it, Timmy. How about you?”

“Same.”
“Do you know where the bathroom is?” I asked.

“I don’t even know whose house this is. Sorry.”

“Tell Sandy I’ll be back. You guys staying for a while?”

“As long as the beer keeps flowing.”

I chuckled and had to admit knowing those guys were there, did help take the edge off. Finally, I saw the line of girls. That had to be the line to the bathroom.

"Yikes. I'm not waiting for that." I looked around.

Chapter 5 - Lucas

“Check it out.” My friend Henry elbowed me and jerked his head toward the front door. “Is that Telula Grant?”

“Wow. I’m actually surprised she came.” I tried to hide the fact I was happy to see her. I caught Henry ogling her up and down. Telula brought her friend along. She was cute, too, but I never knew her name. Telula was more my style.

“You knew she was going to come?” Henry asked.

“I invited her.”

"What for? Is this like the last night of slumming before you hit the big time or is there something else going on that you need to tell me?"
“I’m not sure yet.” It was true that I had no idea why I invited Telula Grant to my house. But I was glad I did as I walked up to her.

“Where is your bathroom?” She asked immediately.

"Uh, hello to you, too," I replied. That was annoying. She barely noticed my house or me. "Did you just come here to take a leak?"

“Yeah, I wasn’t dressed fancy enough for the gas station bathroom.” She whipped back.

I rolled my eyes and waved for her to follow me.

I lead her up the stairs and down the hallway to my room. I had my own bathroom. She didn’t seem to notice my Dolce shirt or my Rolex watch. I couldn’t figure out why. I could barely take my eyes off her and I know what she was wearing she probably got at WalMart. My mind had gone blank. I felt my mouth go dry.

“What’s in there?” She asked. I heard suspicion in her voice.

“This is my room. I have a bathroom you can use.”

“You lock your bedroom door?”

“I’m sorry, maybe you didn’t see the group of savages we passed on the way up here. Do you really think I want any of them using my bathroom?”

She laughed.

I held the door open for her to step inside. She bolted for the bathroom, shutting the door quickly and I heard her instantly lock it behind her. Part of me felt a little insulted that she’d think she needed to lock the door like that. I was called a lot of things but I wasn’t a rapist.

The water started to run in the sink and I heard the toilet flush.

“Would you like a tour to the house?” I offered.

When she stepped out she had fresh lip-gloss on and I could smell the not so unpleasant scent of Lemonheads candy. It was impossible not to smile.

“That would be fine. So long as I can leave a trail of breadcrumbs.” She tugged at the hem of her skirt.

“What?”
“You know, like the little kids in Hansel and Gretel? Their evil step-mother tried to lose them in the woods so they left a trail of breadcrumbs to find their way back home. Don’t you read?”

“I must have missed that one.”

She rubbed her hands together. I could tell she was nervous.

“Let me just let Sandy know where I am. She found some friends of hers so I don’t have to worry about her.” As she pulled her phone from her back pocket I thought how happy that little device must have been so close to her ass.

“You don’t trust me?”

With glittering blue eyes that seemed to flash darkly for a split second, she smiled.

“No. I don’t.” Her giggle was condescending.

My chest tightened at the words. There was a brutal honesty to her reply.

After a nod that her message had been received, Telula put the phone back in her pocket and looked up at me. She studied me, waiting for me to make a move.

I couldn’t say for sure what was holding me back. The fact that I wanted to stare at her for as long as possible couldn’t be it. I was not that guy. Maybe I was coming down with a fever or something.

“All right. Follow me.” I jerked my head and lead the way out of my room, sure to lock it up behind us. The last thing I wanted was to find someone’s DNA cocktail smeared on my bed sheets.

“Aren’t you worried about leaving your party?” She inquired.

“Why would I be?”

“Well, some of the kids there are not your friends. Aren’t you worried they might damage the place?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.” I chuckled as I recalled an epic trashing my house took for a party last year. It got way out of hand. “But that’s what insurance is for.”

“Aren’t you worried what your dad will do?”

"Why do you care?" The words came out sharp. A sensation of dominance crept up from my feet as if it had been waiting there for the right time to spring to life. It wove up my legs and to my chest but stopped short of my brain. Had it continued it would have wrapped over, around and through my brain. Telula's face stared back at me blankly. I didn't know what to do.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t care.”

She’s walking away. Don’t let her walk away. You don’t want her to walk away. Not yet. My thoughts hissed.

“Wait!”

Telula stopped but didn’t turn around.

“I’m sorry. That was rude.”

She put her hands on her hips but I was still looking at her back.

"No one ever asked what my dad thought," I mumbled. "You just caught me off guard. It's like you sat me down for a pop quiz or something and I realized I didn't have a number two pencil."

Finally, she turned around and looked at me as if I’d sprouted a third eye.

I smirked confidently and shrugged my shoulders with relief as her smile tore away the weeds clogging my thoughts.

“Is one of these rooms your dad’s room?”

"Yes. The one at the end of the hall. Those double doors."

“You don’t mind people up in there doing Lord knows what unholy things?”

“Better there than in my room.”

Telula laughed.

“Prine, you are on a roll. I am shocked. You’ve shocked me again.”
“Why would you say that?” I chuckled confidently.

I lead her through the kitchen that was packed with people. The music thudded and people were dancing and talking. There were always a couple of criers. Those were girls sobbing uncontrollably because they saw their ex-boyfriends talking to another girl. That was a result of too much alcohol. Some folks you could tell in just a few more minutes would be puking their guts out. I just hoped they made it to the yard or the bathroom in time.

There were science projects going on in the den where some of the guys from the wrestling team were seeing who could drink fastest from their pitifully constructed beer bong. In the sunroom, the seventy-two-inch television was blasting Call of Duty as two of my buddies were engrossed in the game with an audience cheering them on.

The pool was as lively a place as any. Some people were smart enough to wear their bathing suits. For some other people, underwear was just as good.

I put my hands on Telula's shoulders and guided her ahead of me. I couldn't help but enjoy the feeling of everyone's eyes on us. It was like I'd suddenly become a mystery that none of them could solve. This group of people wasn't the brightest to start with.

"Go down that hallway and take a left," I instructed in her ear.

She nodded and continued ahead while I clapped a couple of guys on the back, gave a few girls friendly hugs.

That was when I made eye contact with Monica.

I winked at her but she didn’t smile. She just folded her arms in front of her chest and whispered something to the guy next to her. It wasn’t Matt. No shock there. I had seen him earlier pounding back the beers. They were going to avoid each other for starters. But before the night was over they will have either hooked up or had a huge fight that will make this party an epic event for anyone attending.

For now, I was the object of her anger, not Matt. I thought back to the gym the other day and couldn't help the sly grin that pulled my lips back. I let Monica see me look at her thighs then back up to her face. She didn't walk away. Instead, she rolled her eyes as if that would convince me she didn't care. Right. All I had to do was snap my fingers and she'd come running.

But I didn’t snap my fingers. Instead, I took Telula’s hand. You would have thought I grabbed hold of a live flame the way Monica’s eyes widened. As I said before she was as predictable as a sunrise. Monica would turn FBI grilling everyone and anyone for information on what I was doing with Telula Grant.

"Where are we going?" Telula asked. She was still holding my hand but rather limply like she was ready to pull away quickly.

“It’s a surprise.”

The noise of the party became more and more muffled, the further we went down the hallway.

“Do you want to take the elevator or the stairs?” I asked her.

She looked at me suspiciously.

“Stairs.”

I nodded and lead her down a winding set of stairs. At the bottom was a heavy wooden door that was also locked. Pulling my keys from my pocket I unlocked the door, reached in and flipped the lights on. I turned to see her reaction while I held the door open.

“What is this?” She asked carefully stepping over the threshold.

“Our garage.”

“Your garage is air conditioned? That’s crazy. Is that a Bentley? Wait, you have a Ferrari, too. What do you take to the grocery store?”
“We have a chef who handles all the shopping.”

“What?” She punched me in the shoulder. “You’re lying.”
“No. Seriously.”

“Well, you’re seriously missing out on one of the most enjoyable tasks of running a house. I love grocery shopping. If I had your money I’d be up to my eyeballs in Oreo cookies and Chef Boy-R-Dee Beefaroni.”

“What kind of money do you think I have?” I bit.

“Hey, don’t act like you don’t know you have money. That’s like me saying I don’t know how good I look in this skirt. If you didn’t want people to know you wouldn’t have parties.”

“Is that why you came?” I could hear the agitation in my voice. I didn’t want to fight with Telula but I couldn’t help myself. It was what I always did. As I watched her look at the cars and around the garage I could see the dollars being added up in her head.

“I came because you invited me. And I’ll go if you want me to.”
I didn’t want her to leave. She saw that when I blinked and looked past her shoulder like a smart comeback was hiding over there somewhere.

“Have you ever sat in a Bentley before?” I asked.

“Yeah, all the time.”

“Sure.” I scoffed taking her by the hand again and leading her to my father’s car. The back seats were real leather and there was enough room to lie down comfortably.

“When I was a kid, sometimes I’d come down here and play James Bond in the back seat. Would you like a sip?”

I pulled out a flask from my back pocket and offered it to Telula. She looked at it, tilted her head to the left like to say I’m not that stupid and mouthed the word no.

"I'm not trying to trick you, Telula." I took a gulp myself. "It's just vodka."

“Sorry, but I can’t say I totally trust you. You are a pretty big jerk.”

“What?” I put my hand to my heart as if I’d been wounded. “I can’t believe you’d say that. I’ve got to sit down. It’s like you punched me in the gut.”

I crawled into the roomy backseat and gasped. Telula laughed. I really liked that sound.

Chapter 6 - Tilly

I couldn’t help it. I liked Lucas.

“All right, one sip and scoot over. I’ll be Miss Moneypenny.” I grabbed Lucas’s flask, took a small sip and let the warm feeling spread from my throat all the way down to my toes.

“Do you like James Bond movies?” Lucas asked as I climbed in next to him and pulled the door shut behind me. The bang bounced off the floor and walls for several seconds. Then it was quiet as a church again.

"Not too much. I can't imagine a guy who is so irresistible to women that they just drop their panties as soon as he walks in the door. The threat of torture or death from their own governments for giving up secrets isn't even a deterrent."

“What are you talking about?” Lucas took another sip and handed me the flask. “You’re looking at a guy like that right now.”

“What?” I started laughing almost spitting out my second gulp of vodka. “You really do think so don’t you.”

“You’d be surprised what women will do when they know you’ve got money.” Lucas’s face darkened. I wasn’t sure how much he’d had to drink before I got to the party. But as he spoke his eyes began to redden. I didn’t say anything. I just listened.

“What have girls done for you?”

“Well, it isn’t what they’ve done for me. It’s more like what they’ve done to me.” He chuckled but I could tell I was making him uncomfortable. Good. He should know how that feels.

"I'll bet a good bit of it is illegal in this state." I mused dropping the smile on my face. "What do you tell them when they do these things?"

“What do you mean?”
“Do you tell them you love them? Do you let them believe you are serious?”
“No. I’m always honest with them.” He cleared his throat. “Look. I’m eighteen years old. I have no idea what I want to do when I go to college. How could I possibly be serious about a girl? They know this. But they always think they can change me. That’s where they make their mistake. I’m not changing for any girl. She’ll have to change for me.”
“Is that so?” I whispered. I hadn’t eaten a thing at home. I was sure there would be food here but now that I think about it I think I only saw beer and bottles. The two swigs of vodka had gone right to my head.

I hoped the fact my mind was buzzing didn’t show in my eyes. I stared intently at Lucas as he told me how some of the girls he’d been with made it very clear they were hoping to secure their stake in his inheritance.

“Of course I’m going to have a lot of money. My dad is CEO of Cambridge Logistics. He’s connected to everyone from government officials to Hollywood to the United Nations. I mean, the president of Argentina asked him to be the godfather of one of his kids. That’s connected.”
"Yes, it is." I purred. "Did he do it?"
“Do what?”
“Was he godfather?”
“I have no idea. Probably. It’s good for business, right?”
I shrugged and took one more sip then handed Lucas back his flask. I scooted closer to him and watched his eyes as he spoke.

"I'll inherit all this someday. When that day comes Jenna will be out on her ass. I swear she will."
With just the mention of his father's girlfriend, I saw Lucas transform. He became that jerk I saw so often in school.

“Is she like the girls you know? The girls who will do whatever you want because they know you have money?”
“Jenna is a professional gold-digger. She caught my father hook-line-and-sinker. My mother wasn’t even dead for a whole year before she was sniffing around.”

“I’m sorry.” I put my hand on Lucas’s knee. Suddenly I felt very sad for him. If I’d lost my mother I would probably be a jerk, too. “When did she die?”

“Right before my freshman year. She had ovarian cancer.”

"You barely have time to say goodbye when a woman gets diagnosed with that," I mumbled. My mom had a friend who died the same way. She had been diagnosed and within three months she was gone. "I'm so sorry, Lucas. That's messed up."

Lucas looked at me. His eyes reddened but just as quickly as they did they focused hard on my face. I watched his Adam’s apple bounce as he swallowed hard. My mind swirled and I leaned in to kiss him. I didn’t want it to be his idea. I knew what I was doing as I pressed my lips gently against his. They were velvety soft and I waited for him to pull back quickly, sorry or embarrassed, but he didn’t. He kissed me back.

I moved my hand to his and held it tightly. When I inhaled I could smell his cologne that was some exotic spicy thing that was like a mixture of cloves and honey. It certainly wasn’t something you’d pick up at the drug store like the body spray I was wearing.

Finally, I pulled back and looked at his face.

“I’m not like those girls, Lucas.” I felt I had to say that. “I’m actually having a good time with you just sitting here in your father’s Bentley.”

“Yeah.” He sat back looking at me. I felt my cheek blush while he stared then he smiled again.

“You should do that more often.”
“Do what?” He leaned toward me.

“Smile.”

I couldn’t help myself. When he smiled wide and genuinely I returned it back then fell forward into a passionate kiss. Our tongues met and I willingly pushed my body up to his.

His body was muscular probably from playing tennis on his own private court or working out in his own private gym located at some other corner of the estate.

Off in the distance, I could hear the thump, thump, thump of the music but it was way off somewhere. We were here together in this weird world of red leather seats and windows that were slowly steaming up.

"You should probably get back upstairs," I whispered in his ear.

“Why would I want to do that?”
“Your house could be on fire or someone could be hurt and you wouldn’t know it. Then you’d hate me forever because I got you in trouble.”
“Do you want to go back? We can if you want to.” He swallowed again.

I thought about that for a long time. Did I want to go back to the party? Did I want to look for Sandy and get going? Did I want everyone to see me with Lucas like some kind of prize turkey in a shoot? No. I didn’t want to go back to that world where I was poor and Lucas was rich and people would stare at us.

“This can’t go anywhere.” I murmured.

“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” I stammered. “I’m just a little lost right now. And I think I forgot to leave that trail of breadcrumbs.” My joke fell flat. I was the only one who tittered at it.

“You’re not lost, Telula. I’m here.”

“My friends call me Tilly.”

“Tilly.” He whispered into my neck making my whole body shiver with a delicious delight that heated up my thighs and made my heart pound so hard I felt it in my ears. “Stay with me. Just a little longer.”

It was easy to say yes. But what was I really saying yes to?

"Maybe we should go back upstairs." I pulled back. My eyes started to sting a little at the thought of returning to all that noise and mess tore at me. "If I were you I'd be terrified at what I might find up there." I thought of Sandy's threats to cause just enough damage to feel she'd have her revenge.

"I don't want to go back." Lucas's voice sounded tight. Like a kid resisting his parent's orders to go to bed. "It's just the same thing that always happens. A couple of statues will get broken. A couple of people will have puked here or there. There will be spilled beer and food and hundreds of empty cups and plates and shit all over the place. None of them will ever do anything differently."

“So why did you tell them to come over?” I prodded.

“Because they are my friends.”

“All of them?”

His eyes looked to the left.
“And because when my dad’s girlfriend comes home she’ll have a hissy fit. You should see her when she gets angry. It’s hilarious. She always threatens to throw me out of the house if any of her stuff is missing. That’s why I always lock my dad’s bedroom door. See what I mean?”
“Not really.” I shook my head sadly.

“She’s got a plan in her head but I always beat her at it. As long as none of her jewelry, none of her clothes, none of her stuff is ruined she really doesn’t care. My dad will replace everything else.” Lucas smiled grimly.

“Why don’t you leave?” I asked innocently. “Tell Jenna and your dad you’ve had it and you don’t need them. Start your life on your own terms.”

“Maybe I will.” He replied. But I could tell he wasn’t serious. I couldn’t say I blamed him totally. A million dollar home with maids and chefs and everything you’d ever need was a pretty hard habit to quit.

“Well, I do appreciate your showing me around.” I tugged at the hem of my skirt again.

“You’re not leaving, are you?”

“Yeah. I better go.” I better go before I do something I’ll regret. How could I have kissed Lucas Prine? What was I thinking? This was going to be plastered all over tomorrow’s Riverbank High School Gossip Chain and everyone will be thinking the same thing. That I’m just after his money. I can just hear it now. Little Orphan Tilly Thinks She can Land Herself the Neighborhood Daddy Warbucks.

“Don’t go, Tilly.” Lucas purred. When he leaned in to kiss me I didn’t move forward. My head was screaming for me to be careful, to remember what kind of guy he was. But before I could stop myself my hands were pressed against his chest and I was fumbling with the buttons of his shirt.

Chapter 7 - Sandy

“Hey!”

"Sandy, I think that girl is trying to get your attention." Sean jerked his chin up and looked at me. I turned around and saw a very drunk, very upset Monica Smith staring down at me.

It wasn't the first time I had issues with Monica and as usual, she had her entourage with her just in case she. There was Casey Reed, Shelly Pinkowski, and Tara McCoy. These three traveled in a pack all the time. In four years Monica never said a kind word about me. She rarely said anything to my face but word gets around in a high school. Her minions make sure of it. So I heard that she didn't like me because I was friends with Tilly and both of us came from a whole lot of nothing.

"This is really inconvenient, Monica, because as much as I hate to admit it, I am having a really nice time."

“What did you say?” She slurred.

“What is it that you want, honey?” I looked at Sean who was watching the rest of the group to make sure there wasn’t going to be some kind of ambush. He might not have been the biggest dog in the park but I’ll swear he was the most faithful.

“You know Telula Grant, right?”

I looked down at Sean then back up at Monica.

“Yes. I know her. You know that.”

"Well, you tell that bitch that the next time I see her I'm going to rip her hair out by the roots." She swayed slightly like a breeze had all of a sudden wafted past.

"Okay," I replied and sat back down resuming my conversation with my friends.

“I mean it!” She shouted. “You tell that bitch!”
“Okay.” I shook my head. “Do you believe this crap?” I looked at Monica. “I’m texting her your message right now. Give it a couple minutes and I’m sure she’ll drop everything and rush right over here to let you try and pull her hair out by the roots.” My phone beeped that the message was sent. “Happy now?”

The dancing that had been taking place all around us had now practically stopped and the music was lowered to a low thumping.

"You don't even belong here." Monica hissed. "I didn't know that Lucas Prine let stray cats in his house spreading their diseases and filth." There were several gasps and chuckles at Monica's comments but I just shook my head.

"Monica, you do know that school is over, right?" I stood back up and took a step closer. I wasn't a fighter. I had never been. But during our freshman year, a rumor was spread about me that I never confirmed or denied letting it fester into fact organically.

I was dating a dreamy sophomore named Dave. I really liked him. He was kind and handsome and sometimes could be very funny. Puppy love is what they called it. But alas, Dave had a dark past in the form of an ex-girlfriend who was appalled by his ability to move on. After all, love in high school is supposed to last forever, right?
Anyway, this poor girl was so distraught that she sent her friend, Michelle, with a message for me. At first, I thought it might be one of those messages that make great country-western songs about please don’t take my man, or I still love him or even a warning about his tomcat ways. But I was wrong. When she approached me in the hallway in between classes she didn't have anything nice to say at all.

“You’re nothing but a bitch and everyone knows it. I’ll kick your ass. You just try me.”

What? This wasn’t the pleading on behalf of a broken-hearted woman. This was a lunatic who I didn’t even know getting in my face. So I did what any girl in my position would do. I shoved her. So she turned around and slapped me across the face.

As I said, I’m not a fighter. I react purely on instinct. And my instinct made me grab Michelle by her stringy blond hair, yank her backward and slap her right across the face. Did I mention I didn’t even set my books down?

Well, before I could really do any damage a substitute teacher split us up. He was such a newbie he didn't report it to the principal so life just continued at Riverbanks High School until the next day when Michelle didn't come into school. Or the day after that. Finally, when she did arrive it looked like she'd run face first into a Mack truck.

Everyone thought I did it. The stories were fantastic. I waited for her after school and jumped her in the parking lot. I found out where she lived and went to her house and jumped her there. There were even a couple of people who swear they saw me do it.

“Did you beat Michelle up?” I was asked over and over all day long.

I gave them that Robert DeNiro Goodfellas look that said what the fuck are you asking questions for without saying a word. Of course, I didn't do it. I'm not going to go wait outside alone in the dark. There are weirdoes out in the world.

But my reputation was set that day.
So, when I took a step toward Monica she took a step back. As luck would have it she took a step back a little too quickly. I’m sure the room shifted in front of her and when she reached out to steady herself the only thing within her reach was a beautiful painting in a thick gold frame. Both Monica and the painting crashed to the floor.

Chapter 8 – Lucas

I was angry with Tilly for bringing up Jenna. I’m not sure why. Even as Tilly pulled at my shirt and had her body pressed close to mine I felt like I was teetering on an edge. I hate Jenna and do everything I can, take every opportunity to let people know I hate her. But something made me push back at Tilly. I just didn’t think she had the right.

“You really don’t know anything about my situation.” I scolded. “With Jenna, that is.”
“No. I only know what you told me.”
“Yeah, and that wasn’t a lot. So maybe you should keep your mouth shut on the topic from now on.”

“Hey, pal. You brought her up.” She withdrew from me. Tilly not only pulled her hands away but her mind and spirit as well. I could feel it and it made my heart sink.

“I’m sorry.” I took another swig from my flask. The warm liquid distracted my brain from what I was feeling. “I don’t know why I’m jumping on you. I’ve got a lot on my mind and you’ve kind of distracted me from all of it. When you mentioned Jenna it stuck in my brain. She’s one of the things I’m trying to forget.”

I looked at Tilly hoping she believed me. I was being serious.

“Did you ever get a spanking growing up?” She asked, her right eyebrow arched sexily.

"Never," I answered quickly.

“There’s your problem.” She laughed at her own comment. But before she could lose the smile on her face I slipped my arm around her and pulled her to me. My lips found hers. They were soft like rose petals and her skin smelled clean and fresh. There was no heavy make-up and expensive perfume smell that most of the girls I got with had.

I was sure she was going to lean back and slap me good and hard across the face. But when a moan of pleasure escaped her I knew she was enjoying herself. Her tongue slipped between my lips while I felt her scoop up a handful of my hair.

She picked up where she'd left off tugging at my shirt. I slipped my hands up underneath her t-shirt, feeling her smooth skin beneath as I ran my hands up her sides and over her breasts in order to pull the t-shirt off completely. Her bra was a pretty white lace thing that happily cupped her tits so perfectly I wondered if they could possibly be real. But with one touch of my hand, I knew they were.

Before I could stop her she’d shifted her weight, hiked up her miniskirt and straddled me. I could feel her sex rubbing against my hard member through my jeans and there was a heat there that I was desperate to be engulfed in.

“Are you sure?” I whispered to her. Three words I never asked a girl before in my life.

"Oh, yes." She panted. When I looked into her eyes they smoldered at me. I wasn't even sure if she could see me or if she just saw a means to satisfy the lust that had consumed her. It consumed me as well. I kneaded her breast, pulling the bra aside to expose her nipples. With one hand to teased and tweaked the bud while I sucked and licked the other. She was grinding against me as moaned softly.

“Please.” She begged.

Without saying anything I quickly unzipped my pants. I was so hard that just seeing her look at my throbbing cock made me almost pop. They widened as if she wasn’t sure what to expect. I knew she’d be impressed. I don’t like to brag but I know I’m well hung.

It was a matter of seconds before she had one leg slipped out of her panties and was climbing on top of me. As my cock found her sex I thought for sure I’d have to work her up but she was already slick with desire. I slid inside immediately and a yelp of sweet pain escaped her. I watched her closed eyes as she bit her lower lip, taking a moment to get used to so much inside her. When she opened her eyes she was a different person.

Tilly was still the girl in my graduating class, the girl who I had somehow missed over the four years at Ridgebank High School. But she was somehow wild, free and uninhibited. Slowly she began to ride my cock up and down. Her thighs were smooth as I ran my hands up them to cup her perfectly shaped ass.

Her large tits spilled over the lace of her bra, bouncing playfully and sexily as she threw her head back. Her hair bounced in the rhythm we were enjoying together.

Truthfully, the way the back seat of the Bentley was made I could do little more than just sit while I watched Tilly writhe and bounce and pant wildly.

"You look so beautiful," I whispered, pressing her closer to me with one hand on the small of her back and the other stroking her breast.

“This is what I needed.” She panted. “I can’t stop. It feels so good.”

“Don’t stop. I don’t want you to stop.” I urged.

Her voice began to climb. I could feel the strain on my cock as her muscles contracted and her body worked me harder and faster.

“Not yet.” I urged her.

She listened to my instructions. She held her breath and a sad whimper came out but I knew she hadn’t come yet. Her eyes were glazed over and she smiled devilishly at me while we both caught our breath for a moment.

When I knew she was under control I slowly moved my hand down to her sex. I found her clit. It was wet and soft and when I delicately touched it Tilly almost screamed with delight. I rubbed it in tiny circles watching her slowly but surely push her hips into my hands to get more, feel more as she worked on top of my cock.

Her cheeks bloomed into a fantastic tint of red as I felt her muscles tighten like a spring on a mousetrap.

“Oh God!” She cried. Oh God was right. I couldn’t bear to watch her anymore. But I couldn’t take my eyes away from her. Her miniskirt was pushed up around her middle hiding her bellybutton. Her bra straps had completely given up and were drooping over her shoulders as the lace and satin were pushed aside by her beautifully round breasts.

I felt her getting closer and closer. She was holding out as long as she could but as I worked her button my mind stopped thinking. I didn’t know what day it was, where I was or who I was. I just knew that I had an angel on my lap fucking me like the devil and I didn’t want it to stop. Again I took hold of her hoping to make it last a little longer but she was not going to be deprived of her orgasm this time. I could see it in her eyes. She stared at me with such intensity it made my cock grow another inch.

“Now?” She panted. “Can I come now.”
“Yes!” I yelled out. “Yes!”

It was like she was part jack-hammer. I leaned back feeling her muscles tighten around me, pulling more and more from me as she rocked her hips back and forth, rubbing her own breasts and tugging furiously at her nipples while she screamed in pleasure.

I put my hands on her ass again and guided her, rocking her hips faster and faster until I felt the floodgates open and her body shudder with the ripples of desire. Just when she thought she was slowly gliding down there was one more burst of delight that made her shake her ass wildly, panting like she'd run a marathon, blinking her eyes madly as the surprise coming one more time possessed her.

Chapter 9 – Tilly

“Oh my God!” I couldn’t keep my voice down. I was so hot and Lucas had found that place on my body that made me never want to stop. I couldn’t. Even if I wanted to I couldn’t stop.

My body wanted his hands on me. Every part he touched, my breasts, my ass, my neck, especially between my legs erupted in heat and when without warning I felt the overwhelming urge to keep fucking sweep over me I nearly fainted. My body was on fire. There was no other way to put it and I didn’t want it to end.

But it did end. Finally, my body shuddered happily against Lucas’s. I stayed there, on his lap, feeling his manhood still inside and tempting me to start up again. But I couldn’t. I was spent and wanted a drink of water.

As I slip off his lap I was terrified to look in his eyes. Should I tell him I’ve never done that before? Never just hooked up with a guy just a few minutes after talking to him? I doubt he would believe me if I did tell him. Actually, he was probably used to this. Girls probably dropped their panties all the time hoping to get their hands on his money.

You’re not like that, Tilly. You just had a moment of weakness.

“That was fun.” Was all I could come up with. Brilliant, I know.

“Yeah.” He answered. There was nothing more.

“I didn’t hurt you or anything?” I smoothed out my t-shirt afraid to meet Lucas’s eyes.

“No.” He zipped up his pants and began to button his shirt.

"Well, I guess I better get back upstairs," I mumbled. Embarrassed wasn't even the word to use. Humiliated? No. Mortified. That was a better word to describe how I was feeling.

“You don’t have to go yet, do you?”

You can imagine how shocked I was to hear those words.

"No. I don't think so." I looked down at my phone that had fallen on the floor. "Why?"
“I thought we could talk a little more.”

“Oh.” I was literally struck dumb. The son of a millionaire that had done nothing but be mean to me and my friend all through high school now wanted to sit and talk with me. Was I dreaming? Was this his usual M.O.? “What do you want to talk about?”

He adjusted his shirt and scooted further away from me. The afterglow was already leaving his cheeks and it would soon be business as usual. Better to beat him to the punch.

“Hey, look. That was a lot of fun.” I bubbled. “But I’m a big girl and with all the excitement of graduation and the party and a couple of stiff sips of whatever that is in your flask, well, it was a lot of fun.”

“I’d like to see you again.” Lucas interrupted.

“Really?” I wasn’t sure if this was a trick or what but I proceeded with caution. “To do what?”

His laugh was more annoyed than amused.

“Hell, I don’t know. Talk. Fuck. Whatever. I’m just saying that I think you are a fun person to be around and you’re getting all suspicious and negative.” He snapped.

"I'm sorry, Lucas. I didn't mean to come across that way." I put my hand on his and squeezed it. "I have to work tomorrow. Why don't you come to my house on Sunday? It's not nearly as fancy as this place. Hell, it's not nearly as fancy as this car." I chuckled alone. "But it's home and my mom will be making spaghetti. I don't care how much cash you've got. You've never tasted gravy like hers."

“Gravy?”
“Yeah. Gravy. Sauce for all you non-Italians out there.”

“Okay.” He agreed. I was about to jump out of my skin. This was a really interesting turn of events. “Give me your hand.”

I pulled a black magic marker from my pocket and quickly wrote my phone number on his hand. I'm not sure if he wondered what I had a black magic marker in my pocket for and I knew Sandy would never tell our initial intent for using the said marker.

“Give me a call. I’ll give you directions.”

I reached for the car door, opened it up and stepped out into the underground garage. My legs were a little wobbly and I knew my hair was just a mess so I smoothed it out as best I could. The walk of shame through all my previous classmates would come next. But what did I care? I’d never see any of them again.

It was actually quite liberating knowing that I just had sex with the class bad boy and we were going to go hang out together Sunday and no one was going to know about it. Well, I'm sure Lucas was going to tell someone but it didn't matter because I wasn't going to school here anymore. I wasn't even going to stay in the same state. In a little less than three months, I'd be living in New York.

“That sounds fine.” He murmured as he stepped up to me and buried his face in the hair hanging down my neck.

Of course I could have screamed but instead, I just shrugged my shoulders and turned to walk back toward the steps we had come down. Tugging at my skirt and the hem of my shirt

I looked at my phone.

"Uh, oh," I muttered. "Looks like someone wants to beat me up upstairs."
“Right.” Lucas joked.

“Nope. It’s true. Is she a friend of yours?” Sandy had sent me a quick picture of a very drunk woman sprawled out on the floor next to a broken picture.

“Fuck.” Lucas ran his hands through his hair.

“We better get up there.” I insisted.

He nodded his head, took my hand and led the way. But before we stepped into the kitchen with all of his friends around he let go of my hand and walked ahead of me. I didn't see the symbolism until quite sometime later.

The party is in full swing and it is obvious that practically no one even noticed the host was missing. I looked at my phone and realized we were only gone about half an hour. After all the excitement I was sure it was longer than that. But I followed Lucas as he stomped, pushing his way through his guests to the spot that was in the picture on my phone.

“Tilly!” Sandy yelled and waved. She was still with Sean and Timmy when I jogged up to her. “Where’ve you been?”
“I hope you weren’t worried.”

“No. I figured you’d text me if there was anything bad happening. What have you been up to?”

“I’ll tell you later?”

“Why can’t you tell me now?”

“I said I’ll tell you later.”

“There’s no time like the present?” Sandy insisted.

I gave her my best motherly “don’t push it” look that my mother had so perfectly mastered. It worked for the time being.”
“So what happened up here and who wants to beat me up? Do you happen to know why this person wants to beat me up?”

Sandy was shaking her head, her long blond hair waving back and forth.

Without saying a word she pointed to a picture that was smashed, the frame cracked apart and completely ruined while the canvas the peaceful scenery was painted on was ripped.

"Please tell me you didn't do that," I mumbled to Sandy without moving my lips.

“Me? I’m not that bold. Nope. That little weirdo over there did it. The one Lucas is hovering over.” Sandy looked at my face. “She’s the one who wants to beat you up. She says she can kick your ass.”

I shook my head.

“Do I even know her?”

“Monica Smith? Lucas’s on again, off again girlfriend? Yeah, you know her. You just don’t recognizer with her make-up not perfect.”

I snapped my fingers.

“Oh, yeah. Why does she want to beat me up?” I wasn’t sure unless word of my backseat tryst with Lucas had already made the primetime.

“Well, probably because she’s drunk and you look prettier than her.”

I shook my head. The whole idea that a girl like Monica Smith could ever be jealous of me was as ludicrous as my trying out for the Chicago Bears and expecting to get hired.

But I couldn’t help but watch how Lucas was tending to her. She had just damaged what looked like a really nice picture. The frame alone had to cost a couple hundred dollars and mounting canvases like that isn’t cheap. Not to mention the damage to the painting itself.

Yet, Lucas was speaking to her quietly, tucking her hair behind her ear and asking her something to which she nodded, looking up at him with pouty eyes and trembling lips. He took her by the hand. I swear before they left the room she looked at me and that scared, helpless look slipped right off. She glared hatefully at me.

“Did you see that?” I asked Sandy.

“Sure did.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever spoken one word to that girl. What the hell is she looking at me that way for?”

“She’s drunk. She’s probably seeing about three of you right now.”

“Well, you think she’d have enough sense not to pick a fight with a crowd.”

Sean and Timmy pulled us back into their conversation. I was nervous as I waited for the inevitable grapevine of gossip to start weaving its way around me. Lucas hadn't come back from helping Monica and I was starting to feel like a really big fool.

What had I just done? Did I really just give it all up to Lucas Prine? Sandy was going to have a freak out when I told her. Maybe I shouldn’t tell her. Maybe I shouldn’t tell anyone.

“Want another beer, Tilly?” Timmy asked. I nodded and walked with him through the house to what I’d call the keg room.

That was where I saw Lucas talking with Monica. He had her propped up against a door frame and was holding her hands in his. She was looking up at him like a child being scolded by a parent that never enforced any kind of punishment. She looked at me then back at Lucas before slipping her arm around his neck and kissing him passionately.

He didn’t stop her.

“You know, I’m not feeling all that well. I think I better get going.” I said to Timmy who was visibly disappointed.

When we got back to Sandy and Sean I used the same lame excuse.

“Are you sure?” Sandy asked me.

“Why. Are you having a good time?” I looked at her with my eyebrows pinched together.

“Actually, yeah.” Sandy raised her eyebrows high. “No one is more surprised than me. And I didn’t even have to cause any damage. It was done for me.” She pointed to the broken painting that was just lying there on the floor like some kind garage sale castaway.

Looking at that picture I suddenly felt very bad for Lucas. I rubbed my stomach to give the appearance of illness. Actually, there was a knot in my stomach but I knew what it was from. Seeing Lucas not give me a second look after what we had shared in the garage…

No! No! No! I shook my head. You are not thinking that way! This is a party! Have some fun!

“If you’re having a good time we can stay.” I conceded.

Sandy smiled and took another sip from her beer. She scooted over and made room for me on the arm of the huge chair she had perched on. Sean and Timmy were talking about some kind of music they had discovered while Sandy and I critiqued the outfit of every girl that walked through the room.

After a while, I was actually enjoying myself. Timmy was sitting close to me. We had been friends for such a long time it was like we were brother and sister.

“It’s pretty gross that you are always trying to sneak a kiss from me whenever you’ve had a couple beers.” I’d say to him whenever he called me Sissy.

“Says you.” He’d reply.

Tonight as the evening went on Timmy and I danced together and talked and due to the intense physical activity I had with Lucas in the garage I was very relaxed. It took a little extra effort on my part not to look for Lucas. I didn’t want to turn my head every time someone passed through and I certainly didn’t want it to appear to anyone else that I was looking for him. It was a dangerous, delicious secret that I wanted to keep to myself. If no one had said anything yet I wasn’t going to be the first.

But I have to admit that somewhere deep inside I was hoping Lucas would come up to me and just say hello. I thought we'd had a good connection before we "did it". After the act, I thought things were okay.

Just wait until he calls you. You can talk to him then. I soothed myself as Timmy and I talked some more.

"I'm sorry to be a party-pooper but I'm tired." I groaned after my fifth diet coke. "I'm going to hit the road. Do you want to come?" I asked Sandy.

“I’ll drive Sandy home.” Sean offered. “It’s no problem.”

I felt hugely relieved. I didn't want to tell Sandy about what happened with Lucas and now the Monica thing and who needs it. I turned to give Timmy a hug and he grabbed my butt like he almost always did when we hugged goodbye. Sean and Sandy hugged me too but without the butt grabbing.

I walked through the house. It seemed like even more people had arrived. Out of the crowd of people, I didn't know I saw the face of Henry Torrence, Lucas's lackey. He didn't have to say a word. I could tell by the way he was looking at me that he knew. It made me feel dirty but I wasn't going to let him know that.

I rolled my eyes and walked past him without saying a word. I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or if he was really that gross but I swear he started to flop sweat the second he saw me.

Once I was outside there were a few pockets of people sitting on the massive porch, some were in the yard, some were hanging around the parking lot of cars in the driveway. I silently congratulated myself on being smart enough to park on the street.

"Telula!" I heard my voice and turned around. I was disappointed t was Henry again. I kept walking toward my car. "What did you do to him?"
“Who?”

“You know damn well who. Lucas. What did you do to him?”
“Why don’t you go talk to Lucas, Henry?”

“I tried. All I got was a story about how you let him screw you in dad’s Bentley. Then he got all upset. So what did you do to him?”

I looked at Henry as if the story were made up. I rolled my eyes and mumbled some kind of he wishes or in his dreams kind of reply to his accusation and hurried to my car.

Henry didn’t follow and for that I was glad. Once I opened the door, scooted behind the wheel, slammed the door shut, started the engine and pulled out of there the tears were racing to fill my eyes.

What had I done? I totally humiliated myself. I fell for a couple of smooth lines and tender touches like an idiot.

"No, Tilly." I scolded myself. "You had a good time. You did it. It's over. You're going to New York in a matter of weeks. What do you care what Lucas thinks of you? You had one amazing experience with him. So he bragged to his friends about having you. You had him, too. It wasn't one-sided. He broke down whining about his dad's girlfriend. It wasn't you complaining about your million dollar life being so hard. If anyone should be embarrassed about anything it should be him."

I nodded my head as I drove home. Sure. I had nothing to be ashamed of. But I knew he wasn’t going to call me. I’d probably never see him again.

“Is that a bad thing?” I asked.

It probably wasn’t. It was probably for the best I never saw him again. But as my eyes filled with tears I recalled him kissing Monica Smith just minutes after we’d gotten back from the garage. She knew it too. She knew we had done something with Lucas and it made her mad. Nothing was worse than a mad ex-girlfriend.

“Is she an ex-girlfriend?” I couldn’t be sure. The crowd Lucas rubbed elbows with swapped partners faster than square-dancers.

Chapter 10 – Lucas

Monica was a hot mess.

“What the hell, Monica?” I growled.

“It’s your fault.” Monica slurred. “If you were up here instead of playing doctor with that trash from, I don’t know where she’s from but I’m sure it’s trashy.”

“You’re going to sober up and then you are going to get out of my house. Forever.”

I couldn’t say I felt bad kicking Monica out. She looked up at me like there was nothing to it. She thought she had my number. That I’d quickly forgive and forget that she was making a fool of herself and me.

Leaning down close to her face I could smell the alcohol seeping from her skin. Her eyes were glazed red and her make-up blurred the edges of her eyes making it look like she was wearing a mask and ready to rob a bank.

"Did you hear what I said?" I took her hands in mine and squeezed them hard. She didn't flinch. I'll doubt she noticed.

"You don't want me to go, Lucas." She tried to stand but nearly fell over backward hitting her head against the side table that didn't have any people sitting on it.

“I do.” I held her up by one arm.

“No, you don’t. Because I will verify your story.” Her eyes swam dreamily as she tried to make sense. “Jenna is going to come home and see this mess. She’s going to see that painting broken. Who’s going to pay for that? You? Me? No. But I saw that trashy girl intentionally push it off the wall and walk away giggling. I saw her, Lucas.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Don’t get me wrong. I’ve lied more than once to get what I want or to avoid trouble. But when Monica suggested I blame Tilly for what she did I felt a strange twist in my gut. Sure. I could go along with this plan. Blame Tilly and let Jenna go after her with a threat to go to jail. But Tilly wasn’t from here. She wasn’t cut from the same cloth as Monica and Henry and me. Even if she did break the painting there would be no way for her to pay any restitution. It was a bonehead idea. “That’s stupid, Monica. I’m not going to blame Tilly.”

"Her name is Tilly? My God, she sounds absolutely charming." Monica snickered. "I'll bet she uses an outhouse and is promised to her first cousin Jed to marry after high school."

“Keep it up, Monica.” I hissed. “Just keep talking.”

I was giving myself away. I didn't want to. I didn't want anyone to know what I had done with Tilly. I wasn't embarrassed by her. Not in the traditional sense. It's just that she was nothing like Monica or any of the other girls here at the party. If I'd done Monica again I'd be telling every dick-wagging gent in the place.

But I wanted to keep Tilly a secret. There was a feeling twisting in my gut like if I told anyone it might never happen again. I might not see her again. Or someone else might swoop in and scoop her up.

Why do you care? I couldn’t say. Not even to myself.

“Why do you care?” Was Monica reading my mind? “Are you into that girl?”

“Monica, go outside and get some air. You wreak.”

I watched her look up at me. There was a hesitation in her movements. When I thought she was going to do as I said she slipped her arm around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. It was sloppy and wet and routine.

I let her do it and when she pulled back I stared at her.

“I don’t care how drunk you are. You need to leave now.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Lucas. If I have to make friends with Jenna and your father I’m not going anywhere.”

“Suit yourself.” I turned and walked away from Monica and the whole situation.

"Hey, what was that all about?" Henry approached me with two shots in each hand. He handed me two of them that I knocked back in succession.

“Who the hell knows? She’s a loose cannon.” The warmth of the Jagermeister inched down my throat and chased away the jitters that had been in my stomach. I thought Monica was enough to push me over the edge but when I saw Monica in the other room hugging some short red-headed guy I nearly choked. “I’ll take two more if you’re selling.”

Henry nodded his head, pulled the bottle of Jagermeister from behind him and poured us two more shots each.

“You won’t have to brush your teeth for a week, man.” He coughed. Before I could say anything Henry had two beers in his hand and handed one to me.

I didn't say anything. I just watched as Tilly enjoyed herself. She was laughing and smiling. I saw her whisper in that short guy's ear and then to the blonde sitting with her. They all started laughing.

I was sure she was telling them what we did and what we talked about. I'll bet they thought it was really funny. Considering if you added up everything they were wearing and whatever was in their wallets the total wouldn't come close to the price of the shirt I was wearing. I'd wonder if they thought that was funny. Maybe I should just march over there and tell them.

"What's the matter with you, Lucas?" Henry asked. He was a big guy and we'd been friends for a long time. I knew I could trust him because for one he had his own trust fund. He'd never have to work a day in his life. What he was going off to college for I wasn't sure. Probably for the parties and the girls. Second, he was the only guy I knew who wasn't afraid to tell me when I was wrong. It was a rare occasion but when it happened I usually listened. Friends like that are hard to come by. Finally, and most importantly, he could keep a secret. Whether it was because he really had my back or because I knew a few things about him that might get him tossed in jail didn't matter. He kept an eye on me. Returning the favor was no hardship.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I huffed. Then I finished off my beer in three huge gulps. Before I could ask Henry made sure I had another full plastic cup in my hand.

“You keep looking at that girl over there.”
“So. She’s just in my field of vision.” I could hear my own voice starting to slur. I drank too much too fast and needed to slow down.

“You’re looking at her like your dying of thirst and she’s a glass of water.” Henry wouldn’t let up. “That’s Telula Grant. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her at any of your parties. Frankly, there ‘s no way to miss her. She didn’t dress like that in school, did she?”

“Leave it alone, man.”

I felt Henry staring at me, then at Tilly and then back at me.

“She got something on you?”

“What?” I scoffed. “A girl like that?” I cleared my throat. “If I wanted to slum it I think I could do better.”

My heart felt like it had been pierced as I said the words but I just couldn’t stop myself.

“Besides, I’ve heard about her. She’s been around.”
“If she has how come I never got any of that? I know all the girls that have been around. I’m the one that they’ve been around with. No, I think you are wrong there.”

"I'm not," I grumbled. "I know a guy from Kennedy Central who says she's pretty popular around these parts. I don't think there's a jock she hasn't seen." I couldn't stop the words once they started coming out.

“That’s enough to make me jealous of those public school dummies. Jeez, look at all that’s wrapped in that tight skirt.”

“Naw.” I looked away. “I’m not interested in anything like that?”
“What’s the matter?” Henry elbowed me. “You got no pulse.” He chuckled as he licked his lips and shifted from his right foot to his left.

“I’m just not interested. That’s all.” I looked around and slowly took another sip of beer.

“Oh my God. Did she shoot you down?” Henry stared at me as if I just sprouted a third eye.

“Are you kidding? No. I don’t know her. I don’t want to know her. Is that so hard to understand?” Three more gulps of beer. “Man, you’re bugging me with this. If you want a piece of her you go get it but I’m a little more upscale.”

"Yeah, Monica Smith is real top-drawer material."

I didn't want to hear any more. I couldn't. There was something in everything Henry was saying that was making my insides coil up like a snake and I didn't want them to spring. I didn't want to upset my friend but I also couldn't give myself away.

So I strolled around surveying the damage. Aside from the picture I didn’t see any real damage. But the night was still young. Every route I took lead me back to the sunroom where Tilly was with her friends. She never looked up. Not once. Never made any attempt to look for me or even look at me. It was like she had totally forgotten about me already.

I grabbed another beer letting the empty plastic cup fall to the floor as I chugged half the new one. My head was swimming.

Speaking of swimming I went out into the yard. The music was still thumping and every couple of second a splash could be heard as someone was jumping in the water. The smell of chlorine was high which meant the pool system was working overtime. God only knew what kinds of bacteria were swimming around in there. It would be the Fourth of July before I’d even consider taking a dip.

Although I knew where I was and who I was the whole yard seemed to tilt just a little as I walked. Thankfully I had enough friends on all sides I could use them to steady myself.

“Why did you invite them?” The words Tilly spoke in the backseat were kicking my ass right now. I don’t know why I invited all these people. I don’t know why I let strangers join in. Like that little red-headed guy who was hanging on Tilly the whole time.

I couldn’t help think she’d be with him later tonight. I couldn’t prove it. I didn’t know it for sure. She didn’t say anything to me about a boyfriend, either.

Maybe she was just the kind of girl that slept around.

No. We had something. Between the two of us in the back seat of my dad's Bentley, it was more than just fucking.

You mean, it was for you. You don't know if it was for her and by the way, she's acting. I looked in the window of the sunroom and saw her getting her ass grabbed as if it were nothing. She’s not thinking of you at all.

My body began to revolt against me. My stomach lurched and I quickly went back inside. Henry was just a few steps away as I staggered in. All I could say was “She’s a bitch. I fucked her in my dad’s Bentley tonight.” I glared at Tilly just in time to see her turn her back and walk away. She didn’t even notice me.

"You mean Telula Grant?" Henry asked. He had been pounding the drinks since the afternoon and unless he had a wooden leg the guy could handle alcohol better than any seasoned alcoholic on the planet. "You want me to go stop her?"

I waved my hand, slipped down into a small space on one of Jenna's favorite Brunschwig and Fils loveseat and passed out.

Chapter 11 – Tilly

“Why don’t you call him?” Sandy pushed. Two days after the party I told her all about my encounter with Lucas and after I picked her up off the floor she demanded every detail.

“I can’t call him.” I humbugged. “I’ll look desperate.”

“Aren’t you?”

“Very funny. No I’m not. Give me some of that.” We were sharing a cup of double chocolate chip ice cream from the food court at a mall that was slowly disintegrating into oblivion. There were more empty storefronts than there were actual open businesses. But the food court was always jumping. It was probably the only thing keeping the place alive. “I’m not sure what I am. But I’m telling you, Sand, I saw a side of him that was different. He was funny and he listened to me. I had a good time and a “good time”, if you catch my meaning.”

“I just hope you don’t catch anything else.” Sandy mumbled looking at me out of the corner of her eye.

“Come on. Be serious.”

“I am. Tilly, I’m not trying to bust your bubble but Lucas Brine is a grade-A asshole. You remember how he was in school. A few hours after graduation does not a prince make.” She took the cup of ice cream from me and helped herself to another spoonful.

“Maybe he always was a prince and was turned into an asshole after his mom died. That is a completely reasonable theory.” Now I knew how Alexander Fleming felt when he discovered penicillin. Sort of.

“Yeah, you could be right about that.” Sandy concurred. “Divorce has that effect on children. I’m sure death does the same thing. And with Old Man Brine bringing in another woman to the marital bed, that’s got to be a mind-screw I wouldn’t want any part of.”

“See? So I can’t just focus on the negative about him. I saw something there that was better than what we saw in school.”

“That we saw every day for four years in school. Let’s not sugar coat it.”

I slouched my shoulders.

“What would you do if you were me?” I helped myself to another scoop of ice cream. “Would you call him or would you just call it an anomaly and move on?”

Sandy took a deep breath and thought for a minute.

“What I’d probably do is call him once. If I didn’t get a hold of him then I’d just treat him like a UFO. I experienced something. Not sure what it was. But I was probed and I’ll say no more about it.”

I couldn’t help laughing, elbowing Sandy playfully in the ribs as we continued to walk toward the mall exit.

“Very funny.”

“I was probed and I liked it.” Sandy laughed. I tried not to but I giggled, too.

When I finally got home I had the house to myself. My parents were both at work until five and it was only two o’clock now.

I took the tiny piece of paper that had Lucas’s number on it and pulled out my cell phone. Then I proceeded to pace around the house. I went to my room and flopped down on my bed. The springs squeaked a familiar tune that I had been hearing for the past eight years at least. I looked around at the place that had been my refuge my whole life.

I'd be living in the dorm at Columbia. My new home would be half a room with a stranger in the other half. Suddenly I felt like I wanted to cry.

There wouldn’t be any Saturday morning coffees with my parents. Sandy was waiting for her soldier boyfriend to come back from the Philippines this coming January and then they were getting married.

Everything was changing.

“That’s right. Just like that night you let yourself just enjoy life. This is no different. If he doesn’t want to talk to you. You’ll be leaving in a few more weeks and will never see him again.” I comforted myself. “Besides, who is he going to tell? If you hadn’t heard by now the chances are no one.”

I took a deep breath, dialed the number then hit end call. I walked to the kitchen for a glass of milk. Still carrying my phone and Lucas’s number I dialed once more but hit end call when I realized I didn’t know what I was going to say. I drank my milk on the way to the bathroom. I pushed my hair back and quickly rehearsed my lines.

“Hi, Lucas. It’s Tilly. Remember me?”

“Hi, Lucas, It’s Tilly. How are you?

“Hi, Lucas. Sorry to hear your arms got chopped off so you couldn’t dial my number.

"Lucas, the phone works both ways. Believe it or not, you can call me, too."

“Hi, Lucas. I was just calling up to see if you needed any help yet cleaning your house. I’m not offering to help I’m just inquiring if you need help.”

I snapped my fingers. Biting sarcasm was always my language of choice.

I dialed the phone and hit the little green button.

“Brine Residence.” An older sounding lady too old to be Jenna answered the phone.

“Hello. My I speak to Lucas please?”

“May I ask whose calling?

“Tilly Grant.” I let out a deep breath. At least I wouldn’t have to say “Tilly. Tilly Grant. Telula Grant from school. The one you had sex with in your dad’s Bentley the other night.

“I should hang up. If he wants to talk to me he’ll call back thinking we got disconnected. Maybe I should do that. It’s a perfect plan that would save me a lot of embarrassment and I could…”

“Hi, Tilly.” His voice sounded serious. All business.

“Hi, Lucas.” I swallowed hard. “I was just calling to see if you survived your party.”

“I did.” He sighed. “The cleanup cost me a lot more than usual. But the house looks pretty good now.”

“Well, I’m glad.” This was not going well. It was like calling a friend right after their spouse died in a freak chainsaw accident or some relative you know hates you but keeps you on the phone none the less just to hear you squirm.

He didn’t say anything more.

“I guess I’ll let you go. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

“No, Tilly. You are no bother. In fact, I had been meaning to call you.”

"Sure you were," I smirked. "It's okay, Lucas. I'm a big girl and I don't; regret anything. In fact, I had a great time with you and at the party so I can't be mad at anything or anyone."

“No, it’s true. Let me tell you what happened.”

Lucas gave me a blow-by-blow account of what happened after I left. He had passed out and when he woke up the only people he knew in the house were henry, some guy named Matt and a half a dozen strangers.

“I hit the shower immediately forgetting your phone number was on my hand until it was too late. My father has a continual subscription to PeopleFinders so I was just going to look you up but I hadn’t gotten to it due to the massive cleanup I had. Sorry.”

“No, don’t worry about it.” I gushed. “So, do you have big plans for the summer?”

“My dad is coming home on a special two day layover before he and Jenna head off to wherever it is they are going. That’s his idea of spending quality time with his son.”

“Do you wish you could see him more often?” I gently prodded.

“Sometimes. I just wish I could see him without her. I know for a fact that she’s already whispering in his ear about my leaving for college. She probably wants to turn my room into her hobby room or something and put a stripper pole right in the middle of everything.”

I started to laugh.

"She can't really be all that bad," I asked carefully.

“She’s worse.” Lucas chortled. It was weird how we seemed to pick up right where we had left off the other night. Again, I was comfortable talking with Lucas and listening to his problems although they weren’t really problems to me. Keeping grades up in order to get a full ride scholarship that was a problem. Trying to figure out how to make $128 dollars cover $216 dollars worth of bills, that was a problem. Making a 2001 Dodge Neon last one more year, that was a problem.

Trying to figure out a way to chase your dad’s girlfriend of a couple years out of the house wasn’t a problem. It was a quest that Lucas chose to go on. But I didn’t want to say that to him. I didn’t kick people when they were down.

“Well, other than Jenna everything else sound good. I’m glad.”

“Yeah. Uhm…”

“What is it?”

“Don’t you want to talk about what happened the other night?”
I felt my cheeks burst into flames. I held my breath for a minute and tried to think of something witty, something smart to say but my mouth went dry and so did the font of wit that normally overflowed.

“What do you want to talk about?” I sounded so stupid.

“You were really something. You must have done that quite a few times to be so good at it.”

“What did you say?” I had to have heard him wrong.”

“Hey, I’m not judging. I thought you were amazing. A little loud but I didn’t mind. Just remind me to never sneak you in my dad’s house if he’s ever home. You’ll give us away for sure.”

I stared at the floor while I listened to Lucas chuckle.

“Why are you talking like this?” I hated how the words came out so meekly.

“Well, I didn’t want you to get any ideas. I know where you live and where you come from. We’re from two different worlds.”

“You’ve got that right.” I snapped. But he just laughed at me.

“Okay, you can go ahead and play the role like you don’t care about my money if you want to.”

“Do you think I had sex with you for your money?” I gasped.

“Why else?”

“Because it was graduation and a party and I was attracted to you, yes, and for one night I thought I’d throw caution to the wind and let myself be wild and free and do something different.” It sounded lame but I was terrified to tell him I thought we had good chemistry. He’d sharpen his claws on that for sure.

“You mean do someone different.” He laughed sadistically.

“If that is how you feel Lucas, I’m sorry.” I lifted my chin even though he couldn’t see me. “I did it because you brought out something new in me. I thought maybe you’d understand that. I guess I was wrong.”

“Well, let’s not make this out to be something more than what it is. We fucked. That’s it. You don’t have a stake in my claim. We aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“I never said we were.” I bit my tongue to keep the tears from falling down my cheeks. “You’re right. We fucked. Now I’m going off to Columbia University. I got to say I bagged the richest guy in my high school. Yay for me. Good luck, Lucas. I hope someday you get over your paranoia and learn to trust people.”

I hung up my phone. I really hated how ineffectual cell phones were for the violent hang-up. You can’t slam a cell phone down. You just tap a button. Tapping anything when you’re mad is so unsatisfying. Really.

Chapter 12 – Jenna

I could smell the cigarette smoke as soon as I walked into the house. That brat had another party.

“Lucas!” I listened for a moment but knew he wasn’t going to answer. “Please put those bags over there, Clive.” I huffed. Clive the limo driver had the easiest job of all and drooped around like any minute he was going to be walked to the gas chamber.

“Will you be needing anything else, ma’am?”

“Not right away.” I didn’t want him thinking he could just go drive off to the casino or spend his afternoon drinking beers and watching reruns of Gunsmoke on my dime. Better to keep my answers vague. It keeps the staff on their toes.

I kicked off my heels and walked toward the kitchen. Everything looked in order but when I opened the fridge it was just as I expected. My avocados were gone. Every gluten-free, non-GMO granola bar was gone. There was only whole milk left to drink.

“Son of a bitch.” I slammed the refrigerator door shut and stomped upstairs. “If there is anything missing from my room even a slip of tissue paper I’ll have that kid strung up by his balls.”

This was what happened every time I left the house. I tried to explain to Michael that his son had absolutely no respect for me but he never listened. He’d just say he’s still not over his mother dying. Well, Jeez, how long does it take? The woman has been in the ground for over four years now. He’s got have a sliver of an idea that she isn’t coming back.

It was only after dating Michael for eight months that he allowed me to redo the bedroom. It was a muted, dusty rose color with cream trim. Our four-poster bed was so big it required two steps on either side to climb in.

Michael insisted that I have a black and white photo of myself framed and hung on the wall between the two floor to ceiling windows that let the glorious eastern exposure in every morning. It was the first thing you’d see when you walked in.

Trust me, it wasn't my idea. I've always been very photogenic and Michael enjoyed playing amateur photographer. After he'd snapped a few pictures of me out on his yacht he insisted I have a friend of his photograph me.

Well, who am I to argue? If you look closely you’ll see that there is a tiny strap of a thong over my hip but all my nasty bits are concealed by a cleverly placed shadows. It’s quite tactful. Very classy.

Thankfully, it was still hanging where it should be. My jewelry box was locked at all times but I still took an inventory of everything before I left and once I returned. I didn’t trust Lucas at all.

“Lucas!” I yelled again after stomping back out of my bedroom. It smelled even more like smoke up here. I marched down to his room and knocked loudly on the door.

“What!” He shouted from the other side.

“Lucas, you need to open this door right now.” I waited and listened. Nothing.

“Lucas, I hope you have finished all your packing and will be ready when the taxi arrives to take you to the airport.

That must have done it because finally, I heard footsteps charging toward the door. Junior yanked it open with so much force the breeze made his hair fly.

“What are you talking about?”

“Didn’t your father tell you? School bells are ringing, son. You’re off to Dartmouth.”

I watched him let out a sigh. It was hilarious.

“Freshman orientation isn’t until August. Sorry to disappoint you, Jenna.”

“Oh, Lucas? Didn’t your father tell you? Maybe I was supposed to tell you.” I snickered at him. “Well, no matter now. You need to get packed. Your father had a discussion with the Dean of the school. You are supposed to start the pre-fall season. Your dad and I both thought it would be best for you to get a jump on your grades that way. You can learn your way around campus, find the best pizza places, maybe even get a part-time job to help with a little extra pocket cash.”

The look on Master Lucas’s face was almost worth the lingering cigarette smoke that was still assaulting my nostrils.

“No.” He smirked. “School starts in August.”

“Not for you. School starts next week. But you need to get there by tomorrow noon if you’re to stake your claim on a good single room.” I folded my arms over my chest and watched Lucas’s eyes. I swear, for a minute I thought he was going to cry.

“You and Dad are going to Europe or the Caribbean or somewhere for the summer. I’m not going anywhere.”

"Oh, gosh. I guess he didn't tell you about that change in plans either. Or maybe I was supposed to. I don't remember. Yeah, well, your dad and I have decided to stay home this summer. Your father is going to work from home and we are going to solidify some plans for the future."

“You are not going to marry my father.” Lucas hissed.

“That isn’t up to you.” I took a step toward him. “Now pack your bags. The car will be here in four hours. Your dad’s jet will be leaving at eight.”

I turned my back and went down the front staircase but stopped midway and listened. As I suspected the little punk called his father. I knew he would. Silently, I crept back up a few stairs and held my breath as I picked up Lucas’s side of the conversation.

“Why didn’t you tell me this yourself?”
“Of course I’m going to be pissed!”

“And what’s this about a dorm room! You agreed I’d have an apartment!”

“She’s just after your money, dad!”

“This was all her idea, wasn’t it?”

“I don’t believe this is happening. How could you let her tell you what to do like this?”

“Fine. I said fine!”

Then everything went quiet. After I had slipped downstairs and asked Carla our maid to go to the grocery store and stock up on everything, I started to worry. I didn’t hear any movement from upstairs.

I had assumed he was sulking while he went through his things and packed. He would no doubt be dragging down a dozen suitcases with everything he owns in it.

I know a lot of people would be upset that their stepchild was leaving for college. Granted, Lucas isn’t officially my stepson but that’s really just semantics at this point. Truth be told, I am relieved.

About two hours passed before he came downstairs. I was in the kitchen enjoying a quiet cup of tea and getting ready to go to get my nails done once the taxi was here to take him to the airport.

“Did you finish packing?” I asked.

He bent over in the fridge looking at all the new food that had been stocked in there. I saw him grab the small tub of calamata olives with pecorino peppers and marinated cauliflower. That was mine but of course, he didn't care.

“Nope.” He mused while he grabbed a fork and began to eat right out of the tub.

“What do you mean nope? You are leaving in two hours.” I looked at my watch. “Your father hasn’t called me to tell me any plans have been changed. Trust me. If he comes home the day after tomorrow and you are still here he is going to the roof.”

After spitting some of the olives back into the container Lucas grinned at me and put it back in the fridge.

“Aren’t you ever going to grow up, Lucas?” I shook my head.

He gave me the finger.

"Real mature." I hissed. "Well, you just remember that I'm the one sleeping in your father's bed. There are certain things that he wants that only I can give him. And if you think a temper tantrum from his eighteen-year-old son affects him more than a hummer from me you've got a lot to learn about being a grown-up. Now, run along and finish packing while I call the pilot and see if he can't get you out of here sooner."

Some people might think what I said was mean but we all know it’s the truth. Before the kid could do anything else I picked up my phone and called Jim. He had been Michael’s pilot for quite a few years now.

“Do you think you can bump up the flight a little?” I purred into the phone. “Lucas is really excited and can’t wait to get to New Hampshire. It’s all he’s been talking about.”

“I can probably shave an hour off, Miss Holstom.”
“That would be great, Jim. I’ll make sure Michael compensates you for accommodating his baby boy. You know there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Lucas.”

“Yes, ma’am. I appreciate that.”

After I hung up the phone I couldn't help feeling like a kid on Christmas Eve. Except for this time I was getting exactly what I wanted and more.

My mother always used to say it was just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as it was a poor one. My family had money. My father had worked his way up the corporate ladder at Pepsi-Cola. He died of a massive stroke when he was fifty-eight leaving a very nice life insurance policy pay-out for my mother and me.

But a couple million dollars doesn't really get a girl very far. It paid for school and college and my real estate license. It also paid for my cozy five bedrooms, three bath home on over six acres of land in Forest Park that I am saving for a rainy day. But as far as I can tell, with Michael, there's nothing but blue skies ahead.

Plus, with Lucas away at school I’ll have a lot more time to convince Michael of the financial benefits of my taking his last name.

It's no secret that I love the man's money. It certainly does help and in my opinion, there is more than enough to go around. But, I have feelings for Michael, too. He's fun and likes the finer things in life. Trips abroad. High-end champagne. Fast cars. Yachts. Jets. He knew when he met me that I liked those things, too.

Is it really wrong to admit that?

I didn’t think so.

"Jeez, the whole house smells like a tobacco factory." I couldn't take it anymore. With the air-conditioning running, I yanked open all the doors and windows, turned on the ceiling fans and tried my best to get the smell out.

Just as I was opening the front door Lucas came downstairs. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt with his Nikes and the Rolex his father had given him.

“Lucas? Where are your bags?”

“I’m not packing.”

I clicked my tongue.

“You need to get your ass back up those stairs, throw something in a suitcase, I don’t care what it is and get your ass ready to leave. Jim is bringing the plane in an hour early and suitcases or no you will be on your dad’s jet.”

“I said I’m not taking anything.” He snapped. “You can tell my dad that I’m buying new stuff in New Hampshire. I’ll need to furnish my apartment and I hear it gets even colder there than here so I’ll nothing I have here will be warm enough come winter.” He smiled that shit-eating grin of his.

“Is that so?”

“ Yeah. I guess I’ll see you guys at Christmas.” Lucas looked at me with eyes as hard a granite. He had some features of his fathers. The broad shoulders and he was at least six feet tall. But everything else favored his mother. It was like I was reminded that she came first every time I looked at Lucas. She’d never be just a memory if he were still around the house. That is why I convinced Michael it would be best for him to get out of the house and start experiencing life on his own.

Michael agreed that Lucas should go to college earlier. But nothing I said or did convince him that his son should have his allowance of almost ten thousand dollars a month taken away from him.

“How is he ever going to stand on his own?” I argued.

“Jenna, I worked this hard so my son would never have to stand alone. He won’t ever go without.”

Maybe not while Michael was a single father raising his son. But when I officially become Mrs. Michael Brine things will be changing.

I watched as Lucas walked out the door leaving it wide open behind him and climb into the back seat of an Uber. I guess the limousine was not good enough for him. He was gone and I had the house to myself.

As I let out a deep sigh I looked and saw the vacant spot on the wall across from the windows in the sunroom.

“Where the hell is my Erik Hansen painting?”

Chapter 13 - Tilly

“Hi, mama!” I yelled into the phone over the static. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes. You’re a little choppy but I can hear you. Are you still at the airport?”

“Yeah. The weather is expected to get better by sundown.” I pointed to the television screen that was broadcasting all blizzard all the time across the screen. “I actually saw a couple of the Airport plows going past and they are starting to clear the runways. That’s a good sign, I think.”

I had arrived just as the sleet and snow started to fall. But by the time I got to the luggage area and found my bags, the last to be dropped down the carousel, the entire city had been encased in ice.

There wasn’t a single cab in sight. Uber wasn’t on the road at all. And as luck would have it, the Blue Line trains had a derailment due to the ice and they were not pulling out of the station that was beneath the airport.

“That sounds like they are starting to clear things away.” My mom said hopefully. “Don’t worry, honey. We’ll keep Christmas until you get here. Even if it takes until July.”

“Let’s hope it’s not that long.” I joked. “I’ll call you when I’m on the road.”

I hung up the phone, took a deep breath, grabbed my suitcase with the wobbly wheel and headed to the food court. As anxious as I was to get home I really wasn’t in bad spirits. I had slept the entire trip from New York so it didn’t feel like it was four hours. I was comfortable and didn’t pack too much stuff so I wasn’t struggling with clumsy and awkward packages and luggage.

Christmas music was playing. There were twinkling lights and decorations all over the place. I had a good book in my suitcase. Plus, since I traveled on Christmas Eve taking the red-eye to save money there was practically no one in the airport. So, with a enough money in my pocket for a hot toddy and maybe an order of fries I moseyed over the nearest watering hole, a place called Flannigans, ordered myself a Cutty Sark with a cup of coffee grabbed my book and sat down to watch the skeleton crew at work while I read my book.

Just as I was in the middle of a terribly thrilling scene where the heroine was trapped in an old abandoned car while her tormentors were skulking just outside unaware of her presence I happened to look up.

I saw a face. I knew who it was. But I went back to my book as if it had been a dream. Did I really see what I thought I saw? I looked up again and there he was.

How many months had gone by since our tryst in his father's Bentley? How many times had I tried not to cry over the last phone call we had had.

If it hadn’t been for the exciting first semester at Columbia I may have lost my mind staying home dwelling on what happened and what could have been. But once I stepped off that plane at LaGuardia Airport I had very little time to think about Lucas Prine.

There were a number of very handsome men in my classes. I had a great roommate. Sandy called once a week and my folks of course called and sent care packages that were the envy of all the other girls in my dorm. Mom sent practical things like granola bars and ramen noodles. But dad had the great idea that I needed fashion magazines, dollar store jewelry always with a matching t-shirt, pepper spray and enough money for a couple of beers with friends and a cab ride home.

Nope. I hadn’t thought of Lucas Prine in several months. But there he was looking as good as ever. His shoulders looked broader and stronger. His hair was shorter than it had been giving him almost a military look.

I cupped my chin in my hand and waited to see if he'd notice me. I wasn't the one who had any reason to be embarrassed. I wasn't anything but nice to him. He was the one who thought I'd just drown myself in pills and alcohol because he shot me down. Well, won't he be surprised if he catches a glimpse of me now?

Plus, I had to admit that I was looking very cute in my new maroon colored yoga pants and a tight black turtleneck. School had also helped me tone up since each day I had one class at one part of the campus and it was inevitable that my second class was as far as possible from the first. Plus, you do a lot of walking in New York City. Cabs are expensive and running to the bus stop had become a kind of sport for some of my friends and me.

Yup. I knew I was looking adorable. I just wondered if he was feeling as confident about himself that he’d speak to me if he saw me.

Enough water had passed under the bridge I was really surprised that I wasn't more terrified of bumping into him. He looked well. I would like to ask him how school is going and perhaps even be bold enough to bring up the dreaded Jenna subject. I might even ask him why he thought he needed to be so mean to me in our last phone conversation. But that would let him know I was hurt and I wasn't going to let that happen. As far as he knew I had had a dozen other trysts with a dozen other guys and he was the only one to act like a brat afterward.

Still, I remembered the words he said. What kind of person I was and where I came from. But something inside was whispering that he had a reason for saying that and it wasn’t because he actually believed it.

I don’t know. Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part that a billionaire like Lucas Prine would be interested in a nobody like me. I mean, isn’t that what all the romance novels are about these days? Still, I remember talking with Lucas and I felt a connection. Maybe he didn’t. But I had faith that he did and chose to ignore it for one reason or another. Boys can be so silly at times.

I waited. Finally, he looked up from studying some magazine in a rack and our eyes locked. Without thinking I stuck my tongue out at him.

At first, he pinched his eyebrows together like he was looking at Crazy Mary the bag lady on 42nd Street who liked to expose her privates if you didn’t give her spare change as you walked by.

It was impossible not to laugh at him. As soon as I did I saw the light bulb go on over his head. He recognized me and blinked his eyes a few times while he just stood there like a dope. That made me laugh even more.

Finally, I came to his rescue and pulled out the seat next to me, patting it for him to come and sit.

For a second I was sure he was just going to shake his head and walk away. But he paid for his newspaper and magazine, slung an absolutely gorgeous leather carry-on case over his shoulder and headed in my direction.

My heart began to race inside my chest and I felt my ears and cheeks tingle with jolly embarrassment.

“Merry Christmas, Lucas.”

Chapter 14 – Lucas

I wasn’t in any hurry to get home. My dad told me in a text that Jenna had planned a huge party on the day I was supposed to fly in. It wasn’t a party for me. It was a Christmas party for her at my father’s house. He didn’t have time to give me a call. That would require he actually speak to me. He stopped actually calling me. Every time he did I asked if he’d dumped Jenna yet. I guess it bothered him to keep telling me no. So I didn’t get any more calls from home. He certainly couldn’t Skype. That was reserved for important business associates and politicians who needed donations. So I got the memo in less than 250 characters on her big Christmas bash one week ago.

Jenna ‘s family/friends coming to the house for X-mas. Your room still yours. CU then.

This was the only correspondence my father had had with me since I left at the end of May after graduation except for one other text when he asked if I had purchased a $1600 watch from Cartier. He wanted to make sure no one had stolen his identity. I simply replied YES.

Now here I was actually enjoying being stranded at the airport for a few hours while the roads get cleared. The longer I was here the less time I’d have to spend at home with Jenna and her family. I couldn’t quite imagine it.

I could still remember Christmas when my mother was alive. It wasn't that long ago. She wasn't baking cookies and making homemade Christmas presents kind of mom. But she did love to decorate the house. There were pictures of me from a baby dressed in an elf onesie with Santa all the way through eighth grade when I became so cool I wore a dark green Givenchy sweater and perfected the trademark smirk my mom warned me the girls were all going to fall for. She was right.

We weren't a really religious family but at Christmas time my mom always puts a Capodimonte nativity scene on the fireplace mantel. It was really quite an exquisite thing. All swirly and colorful. Instead of the individual figures being placed in their traditional spots this was one big, fifty-pound depiction of that night in Bethlehem. I remember her telling me it cost $5000 but not to tell my father. Not that my father would have said anything about it. Compared to Jenna my mother was a regular tightwad.

The year my mother had gotten sick I noticed some strange things turning up in the house. Little prayer books would be lying around. I’d see a gold cross pendant around her neck that I’d never seen before. There are no atheists in foxholes, I guess.

After the funeral, my dad and I spent that one Christmas together just the two of us. We had burgers and fries for dinner with some of my dad's favorite red wine from his private collection. We watched a couple of movies on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning the entire living room was filled with presents for me. Including a Mustang in the garage complete with a big bow around it. I wasn't even old enough to drive. It took the entire day to thoroughly inspect and play with everything. I think that was my dad's goal all along. It kept me occupied and out of his hair.

In return, I had gotten my dad a subscription to the Robb Report. As a freshman in high school that gift had cost me over one hundred dollars.

This year I had a very hard time figuring out what to give my father. I knew when I walked in the door that the living room wouldn’t be filled with presents for me. Not that I needed that. If I wanted something now I pretty much just went and bought it. But I’d probably have a couple of designer shirts under the tree and maybe a pair of Italian shoes. But when it came to my old man I didn’t know what to get him. Here it was Christmas Eve and the only thing for him in my bag was my report card. Even that wasn’t as great as it could have been.

I walked around the airport just to stretch my legs and I looked in every shop there was hoping there might be something I could snag for my dad. The nicest thing I saw was a gold keychain with an onyx embedded in it. I knew no one else would probably buy it so I didn't have to jump on it immediately.

Instead, I roamed around and finally settled myself at the bookstore where I tried to find some halfway decent magazine that would help me kill a little more time.

That was when a flood of memories came flooding back to me. I saw the woman across the food court looking right at me. She was absolutely gorgeous but before I could use my smirk on her she stuck her tongue out at me. Just like that. Like a spoiled little girl making faces at everyone when her mother's back was turned. At first, I thought she was just a loon that had wandered in out of the cold. Just because she had a hot body didn't mean she couldn't be bat-shit crazy. In fact, experience has shown that to be the case exactly.

But then I saw something familiar. She started to laugh and I remembered. It was my last party after high school. My father’s Bentley. Telula Grant.

In a matter of months, she had become this amazing grown woman. I couldn't help but stare at her for a few seconds before I got it together enough to approach her. I did smirk as I casually sauntered over to her.

When she stood up to greet me I nearly gasped. She was curvy and soft in all the right places. Her baby fat had given way to a tight stomach and her ass was up even higher than it had been before.

“Telula?” I mouthed the word as I approached her.

She nodded her head, her hair flopping playfully around her face.

"Merry Christmas, Lucas." She said happily. For a split second, I was sure she was going to slap me. That she was just pretending to be happy to see me just so she could embarrass me in public. But as I inched closer I didn't see anything like that in her eyes. All I saw was crystal clear happiness.

“Merry Christmas.” I stuttered. “This is weird seeing you here of all places.”

“Yeah, right? It was so beautiful this morning in New York when I left. Where did you hail from?” she asked with genuine concern.

“Oh, you know Dartmouth is in New Hampshire. I can’t say it was beautiful there but it was clear skies at least.”

“Have a seat and let me buy you a drink.” She offered. I was still suspicious but took a seat anyways. I couldn’t stop looking at her even if I wanted to. Her lips were smooth and pink and there was just a small smudge of eyeliner at the corners of her eyes that made her look sexy as hell.

I told her to keep her money. I never needed a woman to buy my drinks. Quickly I ordered myself a red wine and did as I was told, taking the seat next to her.

"So how is school going?" She asked. It was an absolute cliché and boring thing to ask but I answered her. I searched each syllable she uttered looking for the condescension in her voice but there was nothing. I waited expecting to see a mass of storm clouds pass over her eyes before she launched into me with a barrage of insults and threats for the way I treated her after the party. But nothing. The suspense was killing me as she told me about her classes and how excited she was to be back home but how much she loved New York.

“There is one thing I wanted to tell you.” She smiled devilishly. Here it comes was all I thought. This was it. It’s too late to get up and walk away now. Just listen to what she has to say then put her in her place. It will be easy. She’s obviously unaware of who she’s dealing with. Everyone in O’Hare International Airport will know what slut she is and maybe even more than that.

I felt myself squint at her as I waited for the shoe to fall.

"I thought about that time we spent together." She blushed madly. What? Was she serious? Did she want to talk about that? "When we were alone in your garage, in your dad's car."

Tilly shook her head letting her hair fall in front of her face while she grinned.

“I hope you don’t mind me saying this and I’m not saying it to make you embarrassed but that was so much fun.” She giggled.

“What?”
“Oh, don’t be a big jerk and pretend you don’t remember.” She playfully slapped my arm and batted her eyes at me.

"No. I remember. Of course, I remember." I swallowed hard. "I was expecting you to be mad at me."

“Let me guess. Because you were so mean to me after the fact?”

I sat there and waited for the attack to begin. I had my lines ready in my head and would start hurling the insults faster than she could imagine.

“I was mad at the time but not too much anymore.” She put her chin back in her hand and looked up at me from beneath her long black lashes. “I am over it.”

“You’re over it?” I balked.

“Yes. Besides, it’s Christmas. Peace on Earth and all that good will toward men. I can’t hold a grudge at this time of year, can you?”
“I bet I could.” I murmured and she laughed.

“Well, I can’t, Lucas.” Her smile was so warm I wanted to jump into it. She was sitting facing me with her hands folded in her lap innocently pushing her breasts together and leaving her thighs slightly parted. Everything about her reminded me of that time in the garage. But this was different. It was like I was suddenly with a grown mature woman and she was turning me on. “Are you and your family doing anything special?”

I cringed at the word family. It took a split second for Tilly to catch on.

“Dare I ask?”

“Ask away.” I pouted.

“Jenna is still with your dad?”

“Yup. She’s got her family and some friends at the house right now. That’s why I’m figuring let it snow. Let it snow. Let it snow. I’m in no hurry to see any of them.”

“Did you know she was inviting all these people when you made your plans to come home?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m coming home on Christmas Eve and not last week. I thought I’d throw a couple of flies in the ointment.”
“Oh.” She looked down at her hands. “I’m coming home tonight because the fares are so much cheaper.”

I instantly felt like a jerk. But I wouldn’t let that feeling last for long.

“Are you hungry?”

She blinked at me.

“Well, I did have some French fries but I could…”
“Have you ever been in the VIP Lounge?”

“Sure. When I’m jet-setting to the United Arab Emirates I usually take the edge off with a visit to the VIP Lounge.”

I laughed at her. She never seemed to hold back and that was refreshing. How many people told me exactly what I wanted to hear all the time just on the off chance that I’d pick up the check. It was all so terribly boring. Tilly brought something fresh to the whole scene.

I took her by the hand and lead her through the airport to a set of closed doors with a very bored, very blonde female attendant guarding them. I reached into my wallet and pulled out a card. Handing it to her both Tilly and I watched her punch it into her tablet.

"Welcome, Mr. Prine." She said as she handed it back to me and opened the doors for Tilly and me to walk through.

“It really isn’t much.” I protested. “But it’s a little nicer than being so cramped with all the riff-raff.

“I found you loitering among the riff-raff out there.” Tilly teased. “But I will say that this is pretty swanky.”

I was actually having a good time watching Tilly’s eyes take everything in. We took a quiet table for two where I ordered us a couple glasses of champagne, shrimp cocktails, some antipasti with fresh bread and double chocolate cake.

“Are you sure you don’t want a steak or something?” I urged.

“No. This was fantastic.” She gushed.

“How about another glass of champagne?”

“No. Lucas. Really. This was so kind of you. See, I knew it.”

“What did you know?”

"I knew there was a really nice guy in there somewhere. I mean, I'm not trying to say you are evil and horrible. Actually, it must be hard in your shoes at times." She pinched her eyebrows together. "But just remember that there are some people who just want to know you for you. Hell, we went through four years of high school together and I never asked you for anything except to maybe quit teasing me." She shrugged up her right shoulder and looked at me seductively.

I was bewitched.

“You know you are incredibly sexy?” I whispered.

“You’re just saying that.”

"No. I mean it." I snapped my finger as I remembered something. "Tell me. That night of the party after graduation, why didn't you come looking for me?" I felt like an idiot asking her that question. Like I was one of those needy guys that get suicidal if their girlfriend doesn't call or text at least twenty times a day.

“Believe me when I tell you, Lucas, I wanted to. But I thought that you were probably used to that. So I wasn’t going to do it.”

“What?”

“You know I’m right. Besides, as soon as you left me you had your hands full with whats-her-name. Monica Smith.”

I had almost totally forgotten about Monica. I enjoyed the last time I was with her too but it was so sloppy, so business as usual that it was no wonder I hadn’t thought of her in months.

“That’s right. She broke Jenna’s painting.

“Jenna painted that? She’s got real talent.”

“No.” I laughed. “Jenna has no talents. Well, none that she can do in public. She bought that. Erik Hansen painted it.”

Tilly laughed.

“Now, let me ask you another question.” I watched her straighten in her seat. I wondered what kind of bra she was wearing underneath that tight shirt and if it were strained and tight like her white lace one had been. “Who was that red-headed guy you were with?”

“Red-headed guy? That was my friend Timmy. He doesn’t go to our school. I don’t know how he found out about your party. But he and Sean always had a way of sniffing out the big bashes.”

“He put his hands on you.” I hated how my voice sounded so insecure. What did I care? I had had my hands all over her, too. I didn’t hang my label on her. Or did I and I didn’t know it?

“I wouldn’t say he put his hands on me.” I watched Tilly shift in her seat shyly. “He just gave me a goose. He does it all the time.” She waved off my inquiry.

“Does it all the time? I’ll bet your current boyfriend won’t be very happy with that.” I watched her eyes bat and her cheeks blush. She was getting more beautiful by the minute.

"Oh, you are so smooth." She teased me. "I don't have a boyfriend."
“You don’t? I don’t know if I believe that.” I studied her face. She could be lying. Chances were that if she did have a man in her life he wasn’t as wealthy as I was. So if I had the door cracked she might push it in.

She’s not like Jenna. She’s not anything like Jenna.

The thought pushed itself into the forefront of my mind.

"I don't really care what you believe." She smirked. "I'm a single lady because I am up to my eyeballs with classes and work and I just don't have time to tend to the needs of a man."

“What about your needs?”

Tilly took a deep breath and I watched her breasts heave up high then settle perfectly back into place.

“Those are secondary right now.” She took a sip of her champagne. “If I work hard now I’ll be able to play hard later. Pretty simple.”

She didn’t say anything more after that. I could see her eyes flitting around the room looking at anything but me. I couldn’t read her and wondered what she could be thinking.

Chapter 15 - Tilly

Why is he asking me all these questions? I can see the lust in his eyes why doesn’t he just kiss me already? Are my signals not clear enough? How does a guy not understand the signals I’m sending? The lights on the runway aren’t as clear as the signals I’m sending up.

I couldn’t think of anything else to say to Lucas. He’d caught me off guard. I didn’t know how. Actually, I did know how to answer but I couldn’t be so bold as to say to Lucas Brine my needs are not being met by anyone. Care to help me out with that? Since you were the one to rock my panties right off maybe you’d like to do that again? I couldn’t say it. Could I?

I went to open my mouth and just blurt out my desires but Lucas’s cell phone cut me off. He pulled it out of the snug jeans he was wearing and smiled down at the message.

“Looks like my driver said the roads are almost clear. He’s just waiting to get into the airport passenger pick-up area.” He waved his finger around in a circle in the air.

“Oh, that probably means the taxis will be getting through too.” I let out a deep sigh. “Well, this was a really nice time, Lucas. I don’t think you can call it a date but I really enjoyed myself.”

“I did too.” He stood from his seat looking down and searching the floor as if he’d dropped something. “I did too.” He repeated himself.

As I stood up I watched his eyes follow my body. I bent down to pick up my napkin that had fallen to the floor and knew he was watching my backside as I did so. AS I slowly stood up I was sure to arch my back a little.

“Wow.” He mumbled. “You’ve got every guy in this place watching you.”

I looked around innocently and smiled back at Lucas.

“Well, I’m glad I got someone’s attention. I was doing everything I could to get yours and you just ignored me.” I pouted.

“You were?”

I let my arms fall limp at my sides.

“I thought I did everything but shoot off a flare.” I joked. “But now it’s too late. Your limo is waiting and I’ll have to stand in line for a cab. I could hop the Blue Line train but I doubt it’s up and running. A derailment in this kind of weather might take twenty-four hours to fix. I don’t know.”

“Do you know how much a cab costs to our neck of the woods?”
“I know it’ll cost me my Christmas money from my grandma.” I shrugged and chuckled.

“You’re not taking a cab.” I looked at Lucas. “You live about twenty minutes from my house, right? You’ll come with me.”

“I can’t let you do that, Lucas.” I shook my head. “Then I’d owe you and I don’t like to owe anyone anything.”
“What do you mean you’d owe me?”

“Look, you paid for my food and champagne and kept me company all the while being the perfect gentleman, darn it.” I sighed while grinning. “I can’t have a limo ride on my conscience, too.”

“Can’t you call it a Christmas present and accept it gracefully?” I froze. Those words sounded so sweet coming from Lucas. Maybe it was because I didn’t expect him to say such a thing that I finally nodded okay. Maybe it was because I felt that same feeling in my heart that I did after we had sex in his garage that I nodded okay. Maybe it was because I thought he felt the same way towards me. I don’t know. But as we made our way through the airport to the passenger pick-up my heart was racing and my palms were a sweaty mess.

“The airport always smells like caramel corn, did you ever notice that?” What was I saying? Jeez, I sounded like a complete spaz.

“They all have those popcorn places like no one can get caramel corn mixed with cheese popcorn in any other place on the planet.” Poor Lucas sounded just as nerdy as me.

As soon as we stepped outside a long black limousine honked and pulled up along the sidewalk.

Lucas waved without smiling as the driver put the stretch in park and got out.

“Hey, Clive. We’re taking Telula Grant home. She’s on the way.”
“Very good, sir.”

"Merry Christmas, Clive," I said. "I hope you don't have to work too late and can get home with your family."

“Merry Christmas to you, Miss Grant. Can I take your bag?”
I smiled and let Clive handle the luggage. It was absolutely freezing outside and I quickly climbed into the car before Lucas who slammed the door shut behind me. With the push of a button, he had the divider up between Clive and us.

“This might sound rude but have you ever been in the back of a limo before?” Lucas asked, like a peacock displaying his feathers.

“Yeah. When my great Aunt Sophie died. She was 101 years young. That rhymes.” I chuckled nervously.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, Lucas.” I had no words. My mouth had gone totally dry. My mind couldn’t form a sentence. “I mean, I can’t say it.”

“Sure you can.” He scooted closer. Clive was already in the front seat and I felt the vehicle start to move even though I could barely see out the tinted windows.

“What are you doing to me?” I whispered.

“What do you mean?” I could smell the same cologne he was wearing the one and only time we were ever together. It smelled especially good now with the crisp, sharp cold outside contrasting the warm scent.

I leaned into him.

“I think I had too much champagne. I’m not thinking straight.”

“What are you thinking, Tilly?”

I couldn’t stop myself. The words just tumbled out of my mouth and once they were out there was no taking them back.

“I’m thinking I want you right now.”

“That’s funny.” He sniffed. “I was thinking the same thing.”

This time he was the aggressor. He slipped his hand around my waist and before I could change my mind he pulled me to him pushing down on the seat. I felt sexy as he helped me peel off my shirt. I arched my back up and he buried his face in my breast, kissing and licking every inch as he rubbed them gently over my bra.

The point between my legs rubbed slowly against his thigh that was planted firmly there. When I moaned he pushed his leg harder against my pussy making me wetter and more desperate.

Lucas leaned back and looked at me. For a minute I thought he was going to stop. I was terrified he was going to stop.

“You are so beautiful.” He whispered. “I want to see all of you.”

My breath hitched in my throat. I arched my back again and popped the hook and eye that held my bra firmly in place. My breast sprang forward with a delicious freedom that made me even more excited. I slipped off my gym shoes and with one quick movement slipped off my pants and panties all at once.

Now it was Lucas's turn to catch his breath. He stared at me, at all of me. Then I watched his eyes as they focused on my sex and I trembled. He lowered his lips down and began to kiss my pussy as gently as if he were kissing my lips. My hips pushed up wanting more and he understood what I wanted. He flicked his tongue against my clit sending waves of lust over and over my body. I spread my legs even further and as I did faster he twirled his tongue around my juicy button.

My body shuddered as I was about to scream when he stopped. My skin was hot and my cheeks were flushed. I was teetering on the edge and nearly fainted when he unzipped his pants pulling out his cock standing at full attention.

I held my breath as he lowered himself down on top of me. In one slow movement, he penetrated my pussy and held me there as my body tried to grind against him.

“Wait for it.” He whispered, her skin slick with sweat and his eyes glazed with the fever of lust in them.

I stared up at him, giving him complete control as he slowly began to slide in and out of me. Every nerve was on fire. I didn’t feel the motion of the car, only the rocking of Lucas’s body as he fucked me.

With one strong hand, he held my arms over my head bound at my wrists while with the other he teased my nipples. All the while he watched my face. I stared into his eyes as my body did what he wanted it to. It responded to him. He watched as every tough, every thrust, every grind of his hips into mine made me want more and more. The further I spread my legs the deeper he entered me. The more I arched my back the more attention he licked and plucked my nipples.

“Don’t scream or the driver will hear you.” He panted in my ear. I had almost forgotten about Clive. “Do you want him to know I’m fucking you back here?”

“I…I… don’t…know.” I could think. I could only feel the tightness in my stomach as I tried to stay in control. “Just don’t stop.”

He didn’t stop. Instead, he started riding me harder. I could feel every inch of him as he eased out only to push himself deep and hard into my tight box. I was loving it. I wanted to scream Lucas’s name and tell him to keep fucking me.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better Lucas reached down and with his hand teased my clit sending me over the edge. He pressed his lips against mine then leaned next to my ear.

“Shhh.” He instructed. “Just let your body get fucked and enjoy it.”

“Oh! Oh! Oh!” I breathed heavily trying not to make noise as my body was raked over by wave after wave of pleasure. “Lucas! You’ve wrecked me!”

"I haven't even started, Tilly." He panted. He rode on top of me making me groan and again feel my sex gush with excitement as my pussy was pounded harder and harder. Lucas looked down at me. We locked our eyes and I could see his pleasure rising. Within seconds after I came to his body responded perfectly to mine. His hips bucked with wave after wave of delight until he collapsed on top of me burying his head in my neck.

“There is something about being in a car with you, Lucas that is very dangerous.” I joked and was glad when I felt his body shake with laughter.

We quickly pulled ourselves together and I cracked the window to take a breath of cold air.

“Why don’t you just come to my house?” Lucas insisted. “Jenna’s going to have the place operating like a zoo. No one will even notice we are there.”

“I can’t. My parents are waiting for me.” I sighed.

“Maybe you’d like to come by for some coffee or something tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is Christmas.”

“So?”

“So?” I laughed. “I like my parents, Lucas. I’ve missed them while I was away.”

“Yeah. I suppose. Some people like spinach.” He tucked my hair around my ears. “I just don’t want you to go.”

“Well, I am. But you know how to get a hold of me.”
“You’re sure you can’t just blow them off?” he insisted.

“Absolutely not.” I shook my head. “Call me tomorrow?”

“Yes.” He nodded without really looking at me. I wonder how many girls had blown off their families to be with Lucas. It’s obviously happened before or else he would be suggesting it to me.

He opened the car door for me once we pulled up in front of my house. It was a simple ranch home with tacky multicolored Christmas lights hanging around the windows and a Nativity scene made out of plastic in the yard.

Clive helped me with my bag and I quickly took it from him without looking him in the eye. I’m sure he knew what happened in the back seat.

"Merry Christmas, Lucas." I waved as I hurried to the front door, careful not to slip on the layer of ice that was in the driveway.

I rang the doorbell as Lucas shut the car door and didn’t turn around. I couldn’t. It was just like at the party all those months ago. I couldn’t be like every other girl. I just couldn’t. Besides, if I had I would have missed my dad’s expression when he opened the door.

Chapter 16 – Jenna

“I’m not looking forward to him coming home. I’m sorry.” I looked at Michael seriously. Sure. I had a few drinks and I was feeling a little braver and bolder but these were things I had to tell the boy’s father. “He should have been sent to Paris or Milan or something for Christmas.”

“Jenna.” Michael clicked his tongue. “You can get along with him for a couple of days, can’t you? He’ll be heading back to college in less than two weeks. I’d like my son to feel he can come home if he needs to.”

“That’s the thing. As long as you keep putting money in his bank account he’ll never leave. Don’t you think he’s got to learn how to stand up for himself?”

“Like you?” Michael’s words bit hard.

"Don't even go there, Michael. I made a very good living in real estate. I learned how to take care of myself. So sue me if I think it's time someone takes care of me for a change." I pouted.

“Now, Jenna, you know I understand your background. But Lucas is my son. He can have whatever he wants. I’ve got no bad news coming from the school. He’s not dropping out or bringing home any baby-mamas. In this day and age that is a pretty big accomplishment.”

“But you promised we were going to be alone over the holiday.”

“I did. Then you invited your mother and aunt and someone you knew in kindergarten.”

“She was in my sorority in college. She handles the alumni club newsletter.”

“Is that why she’s eating my food and sleeping in one of my guest rooms with her weird husband who stares off into space?”

“No, silly.” I lied. “We’ve been friends a while and she doesn’t have any children so I thought she’d like to spend the holiday with us. We’ve got the room.”

"Well, since the weather canceled most of the travelers I think…"

“Wait. Wait a second. The weather didn’t cancel anything. Everyone is coming over tomorrow instead of tonight. The weather is supposed to be sunny and the roads will be clear by then. I had Carla call everyone to confirm.”

“When were you going to tell me about this?”
"Tomorrow around four o'clock when you'd need to get dressed." I smiled and sidled up to Michael. "Don't be mad at me Michael. It's not that many people. Twenty maybe thirty guests altogether. I think your son had about five times as many people in the house as that without your permission."

“Are you still bringing that up?”

“Yes, because you didn’t do anything about it.”

“He threw a party, Jenna. Kids do that all the time.”

“And he ruined a $14,000 painting.”

“That could have happened at any time.”

“You just don’t want to believe me.” I blinked my eyes to keep from crying.

The truth was that I'd taken a lot of time to make the house look beautiful for Christmas. I hired one of the best decorators's in town. The entire house glowed with soft white Christmas lights and the twelve-foot tall tree in the foyer could be seen from the sidewalk out front. There were seven trees throughout the house and I even took a tiny four-foot tree and had it decorated with all of Lucas's tacky ornaments and gifts from his grade school days. Michael suggested I do it.

“I do believe you. But you need to give a little if you’re going to get along with him.”

“Give a little? Or give in completely?” I folded my arms over my chest.

“Come on, Jenna. You are both adults. I’m not going to get involved in this dispute you two are in. You’ll both have to figure it out on your own.”

Just then, as if on cue, the front door opened and slammed shut.

“There’s your only son.” I huffed.

I watched as Michael walked out of the kitchen where we had been talking and went to the front door. I followed behind him and put on as much of a smile as I could muster.

“Lucas.” Michael stretched out his hand. Lucas took it and shook awkwardly.

“Hi, Dad.”

“You’re looking good.”

“Thanks.”

“You got my text that we’ll be having guests with us this Christmas.”

“Yeah, I thought you guys were having some kind of party tonight. What happened?”

“The weather.” I piped up and stepped from behind Michael. “Welcome home, Lucas.” I just stood there waiting for him to give me a hug or shake my hand but he barely looked at me. “We’ve just postponed the party until tomorrow. Everyone will be here then.”

“Where’s mom’s tree?”

“What?” I looked around. “What are you talking about?”
"My mother, she had a tree. It was like seven feet tall and had all kinds of old-fashioned ornaments on it. She used to put it in the small window in the living room."

“Well, Lucas.” Michael finally spoke up. “We thought it would be nice to have a professional decorate the house this year. I think Jenna had some really great ideas and they turned out fantastic.” He slipped his arm around my waist and kissed me on the head.

Lucas stomped over to the fireplace.

"What the hell is this?" He pointed to a picture Michael had painted of me. It was not very big. Only a 18x24 frame. It wasn't going to stay there on the mantel but I wanted to show it off to my guests.

“A Christmas present from your father.”

“Where’s mom’s Nativity?”

“Her what?” I asked rolling my eyes.

“Dad?”

“Lucas, why don’t you go upstairs and unpack, maybe take a long hot shower and relax instead of looking for things to be upset about. The house looks fine. Let it go at that.”

I looked at Michael as Lucas stomped down the hallway and up the stairs to his room. Within a matter of seconds, the door slams shut making Michael jump. I was used to it.

“See, I told you this would happen.”

“Jenna, what do you want me to do?”

"He doesn't take me seriously because he just sees me as your girlfriend. Nothing more. I've heard about the way he treats women and to him, it would be just great if his dad just kicked me to the curb without any rhyme or reason. It's what he does. He had to learn it somewhere, Michael."
“Come on, Jenna. You know I love you.”

“Then why aren’t we married? That is what love is. Committing to one another for the rest of our lives. Unless you think we aren’t going to last that long?”

“You are just upset because Lucas didn’t like what you did with the house.” Michael shook his head and looked down at me. “You’ve been stressing about him coming home for days and it’s just all coming out now. Your party was postponed. My gosh, Jenna. You should be in your fanciest dress, with a drink in your hand talking and laughing with all your friends, not worrying about what my son thinks of your Christmas decorations.”
“But…”

“But nothing.” Michael stepped closer to me and slipped his strong arms around my waist. “And I only have one complaint about the décor.” He smirked.

“What? The house looks perfect.”

“I didn’t see any mistletoe.”

I started to laugh. I couldn’t help it. There were times when Michael wasn’t all business that he could really be quite charming.

“And I have one request for tomorrow.” He continued.

“I’ll play nice with Lucas as long as he’s nice to me. But don’t think for a second that…”

“It doesn’t have anything to do with Lucas.” Michael leaned down pushing my hair away from my ear and put his lips right next to my ear. “I don’t want you to wear any panties.”

"Michael," I whispered feeling his hand move to my ass. "What kind of party do you think this is?"

“This is my house. If I want to slip away with you for a few minutes a couple of times throughout the night…”

“A couple of times?” I purred.

“I’ve got a few more Christmas presents hidden away for you. But it all depends on if you are a good girl.”

I slung my arms around his neck and stood on tiptoes to kiss him. My tongue found him quickly and I pushed my hips toward him happy to feel the growing hardness in his pants.

He grabbed my ass with both of his hands but quickly let go when my mother came into the hallway.

“The well is dry.” She slurred, holding up a goblet I had already filled twice with eggnog. “Your aunt wants a refill to and so does the maid.”

“The maid? Carla isn’t in today.”

“Well, whoever the girl is who keeps picking up every frame and knickknack to look at the bottom and then put back. I just assumed she was dusting.”

“Fine, mother. I’ll bring you some more eggnog.”

I left Michael wanting and tended to my drunk mother. I had a feeling that the engagement ring would be coming soon. Once that was in place I wanted a quick ceremony and Michael’s entire will scrapped and started over from scratch with me entitled to everything.

It wasn’t that I didn’t love Michael. I did. But I needed to protect myself and that was what I was doing.

Chapter 17 – Tilly

"What is it with you two and the back seats of cars?" Sandy huffed over the phone.

“That’s funny.” I blurted. “That’s the same thing I said to him.”

“I mean, Brian likes it when I dress up in camouflage and pretend I’m Army Barbie but that’s nothing compared to you two.”

“I like Brian and now I’ve got this weird image in my head that you put there. What am I supposed to do with it?” I pleaded. “I’m asking you for help and you are messing with my brain. Thanks.”

“No. I’m not.” I heard her take a deep breath over the phone. “It was Christmas Eve. You’d both had a little drinkie-poo. You got caught up in the moment and now he texted you at eight o’clock in the morning a message to come and have coffee with him at his house. Don’t go.”

“What?” I gasped. “You didn’t even think about it.”

"Yes, I did. Remember what he did after the party? Look, you might want to put on a tough girl act for everyone else, maybe even yourself but I know you Tilly and that guy hurt your feelings. Don't tell me he isn't part of the reason you aren't dating anyone." I sat silently on the phone. "Plus he was a total douchebag in high school. A guy with that kind of money has to be."

“No, he doesn’t have to be.”

“See? You’re agreeing with me.”

“Sandy, it was just like nothing had changed between us. He opened up to me and talked nicely to me. I can’t just give up on him.” I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince Sandy or myself that Lucas was something special.

"Okay, how about this." She took a deep breath. "How about you tell him you can't make it today because it is, after all, Christmas Day. But that you'll call him in a day or two to get together. You can see how he reacts. If he gets mad and says no then you know you were just a bootie call. But if he says okay and you call him in two days and he's ready and waiting, well, I'll rethink my whole opinion of the guy."

“That’s actually not a bad idea.” I concurred.

“I’m not just a pretty face, Tilly. When are you going to realize that?”

“I guess I just did.”

Taking Sandy’s advice I politely declined Lucas’s offer. I texted him that I wasn’t able to come on. It was Christmas morning and I was getting ready to open presents with my parents but would be free for a little while tomorrow. I was polite and included a Santa smiley face.

"Come on, Tilly." My mom called . "By the time you get in here, it won't even be Christmas anymore."

“Tilly, do you want your flipping presents or not?” My dad teased.

“Yes! Yes!” I set my phone down and dashed into the front room. My mom had the Christmas tree decorated with at least six strands of lights. You could barely see the branches through them. Ornaments from when I was kid hung all over in between ribbons of tacky silver tinsel. The star at the top blinked prettily.

There weren't a lot of presents. There never were. But there were Christmas songs playing on the radio and the house smelled of freshly brewed coffee. My father insisted on playing the fireplace video on the television. It was a down-home tacky Christmas.

"Here, open mine first, Dad," I smirked as I handed my father a small package wrapped in brown paper that I drew Christmas trees and snowflakes on.

“Nice to see you went all out on the wrapping paper.”
“Do you know how expensive that stuff is? I get these bags from the grocery store for free when I buy my groceries.” I laughed.

When he opened it up he found a Swiss Army knife.

“How did you know?” He smiled happily.

“I have my spies everywhere.” I joked.

“I’m going to eat dinner with this. It does have the spork on it, right?”
“I wouldn’t have bought it if it didn’t.” I wrinkled my nose.

My mom opened her present and acted like some lavender bubble bath and lotion and soap with a trashy romance novel I bought at the thrift store were gold plated.

"The bathroom is off limits tonight. I'm soaking in the tub with my soaps and my novel. Do not disturb. Thank you, honey. I love it."

“Now, did you get the bag of coal I ordered?” My dad asked my mom.

“You should have gotten coal.” I snapped back. “I’m good. You saw my grades.”

“We did, honey.” My mom interrupted. “Dean’s list and everything. We thought you better start getting ready for the really serious work to start.”

She handed me a big box. It was wrapped in beautiful green paper with a red velvet bow around it. When I tore it apart and opened the box I started to cry.

“This is so expensive.” I blubbered. Staring back at me was a vintage briefcase with my initials etched into the leather.

“It wasn’t that much.” My dad soothed. “Your mom thought it would match your style. Every lawyer needs a briefcase but you don’t have to blend in with all the other sharks.”

I threw my arms around my father's neck and hugged him tightly. Then I went to my mom. She was always the tougher one of my parents but even her eyes were glistening wet.

“Thank you, mama.”

“You’re welcome, honey.” She kissed me on the cheek and pushed herself up from the floor where she had been sitting next to me. “Okay, who is ready for cinnamon rolls and coffee?”

“That sounds good.” My dad offered.

“Need any help?”

“Nope. You just pull them out of a tub and slap them in a pan.” She smiled as she pinched the end of my nose like I was five years old.

I sat in the living room with my dad and watched him examine his new knife. It was just a little after nine when I heard my phone go off.

“Mom, could you answer that?”

I heard her say hello and just a minute. My first thought was that it was Sandy calling to tell me something Brian had bought her. As if getting an engagement ring wasn’t enough. But nothing prepared me for what my mom said.

“Tilly? It’s some boy named Lucas.”

I nearly choked. Why was he calling now? Probably just to wish me a Merry Christmas, right. Before I got up I looked at my dad who was peeking at me from underneath his heavy eyebrows.

“Lucas?” He mumbled.

“Dad, please.” I rolled my eyes.

I took the phone from my mom and shuffled quickly to my room and closed the door.

"Merry Christmas," I said calmly even though my insides were jumping like fleas all over a dog.

"Merry Christmas." He stated the cheery phrase like he was reading it from a script.

“Are you all right? You sound like something is wrong.”
“Well, I would like it if you came over today. Jenna’s got people coming from all over the country to eat my dad’s food and drink his booze and I’ll be all alone.”

“Maybe you could try having a good time, Lucas. It’s a party and your dad will be there. Can’t you just hang around with him?”

“Are you kidding?” He took a deep breath.

“Hey, how about this. Since you think that Jenna party will really blow why don’t you wait until about five and come on over here. We’re just going to hang around the house and watch a couple movies, make popcorn and drink some wine. It will be fun.”

“At your house?”

“Yeah.”

“The place I dropped you off just yesterday?”