Leo
Niall wasn’t exaggerating when he said their clubhouse was burned to the ground. Riding out to a pile of ashes was pointless but dad wanted to see it for himself and see if we ran into any Black Crows. We didn’t. Now, we’re home and I’m tired, missing India and in need of a drink.
Ordering a beer, I wait as patiently as I can and scout out a seat I can fall into. I spy one in the back corner and it’s still available when I get my beer. My back is stiff from the long ride and it isn’t long before JJ is joining me. I don’t mind as long as he doesn’t chew my ear off.
I try calling India and get her voicemail. I try again five minutes later and still, I get her voicemail.
I should’ve woken up with her this morning and be with her now. Instead, I’m in the bar, alone and miserable.
“I hear your girl’s out partying with the college quarterback tonight,” JJ says.
Rolling my eyes, I take the bait and ask, “Where did you hear that?”
“Overheard Kristen telling our moms. I couldn’t work out if she was happy or not about it.”
I hit up her number again and her voicemail assaults my ear. I literally want to smash my phone across the bar.
“If you and the twins noticed her, you can bet your ass the entire football team has. And she’s out drinking with them, you have a good imagination, I’m sure you can imagine what goes down at those college parties.”
I can’t listen to anymore. JJ is my best friend but sometimes he doesn’t know when to shut his mouth. Luckily for him, I know when to walk away before punching the shit out of him. I head for my room and lock myself in. I fall onto the bed and kick off my boots. I dial her number one last time and I hear loud music before I hear her voice.
“Leoooooo, hey,” she slurs.
She sounds happy and drunk. India hasn’t been drunk before that I know of.
“Hey, babe. You doing okay?”
“I feel soooooo good,” she starts to babble.
“Are you safe?”
She’s making me nervous. She’s alone there, and vulnerable.
“Yes, babe. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Do I have to worry about this quarterback I’ve been hearing about?”
I cringe hearing how pathetic I sound.
“He’s a friend, Leo. I’ve told him all about you, he’s a friend,” she repeats herself and I sigh, “Besides, I still don’t understand why you love me, oh yeah, you have nothing to worry about, said quarterback is kissing some chick.”
It makes me feel slightly better, but not much. I open my mouth to tell her to be careful when the line goes dead. I get her voicemail, a-fucking-gain, when I call her back. Her battery must’ve died.
I trust her implicitly, it’s everyone around her I don’t trust. She doesn’t see how beautiful she is and somehow, I don’t think it will take the pricks around her long to see what I missed for so long.
* * *
I don’t remember closing my eyes, when I wake it’s after ten in the morning and the first thing I do is call India.
She should’ve charged her phone by now, only, I get her fucking mind fuck voicemail. I’m getting sick of hearing her voice telling me to leave a fucking message and she’ll get back to me when she can.
My stomach growls and as I fell asleep in my clothes, I slip my boots on and head downstairs to the kitchen.
Harper sits at the table with her heeled shoes up on the chair. Her legs go on for miles and I remind myself I have a girlfriend who has longer, more toned legs that I love wrapped around my waist. She barely acknowledges me, choosing to tap away on her phone.
There’s fuck all to eat in the cupboards and no coffee left in the pot.
“Where’s JJ?” she asks.
“Do I look like his keeper?” I grunt.
“I was only asking, jeez, what’s crawled up your ass? At least my baby cousin seems to be getting the hotties, this guy has probably left burns on her he’s so hot.”
She has my full attention.
“What are you talking about?”
I march over and take her phone off her and look for myself.
“Hey, give it back, asshole,” she shrieks, getting up and reaching out to snatch it back. Pushing her back with one hand, I quickly scroll down her Facebook newsfeed and India has been tagged in twenty-one photos. I count thirteen photos of her with the football player and while he’s not all over her, he’s definitely too close for my liking.
I give her the phone back before she shrieks my ears off and dig mine out of my pocket. My fingers haven’t typed so fast before I’m sending her a message.
‘CALL ME.’
“What are you doing here anyway?” I ask, slipping my phone back in my pocket.
“My uncle is helping my mom with something, I got told to wait here. It wouldn’t be so bad, if JJ was here.”
I don’t trust this girl. Her eyes dance around too much to trust. Then again, JJ is a fucking slut who doesn’t give a fuck about anyone with tits.
I leave before anyone can see us alone in here and put two and two together and come up with all kinds of bullshit that will travel back to India. I didn’t peg her for the jealous type when we began, but as much as it annoys the shit out of me, I kind of like it too, while it’s controllable anyway.
“Hey, you’re up early,” Sparky says, walking into the bar from the direction of dad’s office.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I lie.
“Your dad wants us riding around today, checking out town for lingering Black Crows.”
“Has he had information they’re here?”
“No, but he’s not taking any chances after what happened to him and Niall. They are sourcing work out to nobody’s, they are plenty of assholes in town looking to make easy cash. We’re gonna show our faces and remind people that they shouldn’t accept invitations to play with the devil.”
“Sure, I’ll meet you outside in ten.”
After the fastest shower in history, I’m dressed and locking my room with no reply from India. No call or text. Nothing.
She’s never gone this long without replying before, and I hope it isn’t a sign of what is to come now she’s at college, partying with football players and fuck knows who else.