“BRAD YOU’RE UP,” I say, poking him with the pool stick.
Brad, Justin, and I decided to blow off the parties and head over to Mac’s for dinner and a few games of pool.
Brad turns away from the railing and says, “Mackenzie just walked in with the goddess.”
I look over the railing to see Cole and Jayla heading for the stairs, Evan and Lexi right behind them. “Stop calling her that.”
“Yo!” Cole hollers with his hands in the air, making his presence known to everyone as he makes his way over to me.
Cole taps the pool stick just as Brad is lining up his next shot. “Dude, come on,” Brad growls and tosses it on the table. “I’m done.”
“I thought you were going out to dinner?” I ask.
“We did,” Cole answers before he turns his attention to a group of girls sitting at the high-top table in the corner and winks. This fucking guy. “Jay wanted to see Alex and Dylan play tonight.”
Jay walks up and her eyes immediately zero in on the girls—who, by the way, are not here with us. Without acknowledging me, she says to Cole, “Lexi and I are going downstairs to get a table.”
Cole nods. “I’ll be down in a few.”
Jay nods and walks off with Lexi. I watch her until she disappears from my view before shifting my gaze to Cole, who’s grinning.
I shake my head.
“I told her yesterday that you two need to kiss and make up.”
“Oh, yeah? What’d she say?”
“Something about punching you in the throat.” He chuckles and walks off.
LEXI AND I find a table near the stage and settle in while Alex, Dylan, and two other guys are setting up the stage. Harper comes over to our table. “Hey, Jay. You want a sparkling water?” she asks, remembering my drink order from lunch.
“Yes, please. With a glass of ice and a lime?” I wave my hand between the girls. “Do you two know each other from school?”
Lexi smiles. “Yes. Harper, right? I think we were in Mr. Fritz’s fourth period math class together last year.”
“Yes, that’s right.” Harper nods and smiles. “Would you like something to drink?”
“I’ll have what she’s having,” Lexi says, jerking a thumb at me.
“Sure thing. Be right back.”
Harper walks off and Lexi turns to me. “I’ve always wondered about her. She’s so pretty, yet I’ve never seen her with a guy. She never ate in the dining room with the rest of us or went to any of the parties. I think I saw her a few times at the football games last year, but I don’t think she has many—if any—friends.” She shrugs. “Not that I have many friends either. All of my friends are Evan’s friends.”
I frown at that bit of information. “What about the girls you introduced me to at the party yesterday?”
“They’re Ashton’s friends, not mine.”
“Who’s Ashton?”
Lexi snorts. “Ashton Grant. She used to be my best friend until she and her gold-digging mother moved into our house and took over my life. Now we barely tolerate each other.”
“So, your dad is married to her mom?”
“God, no. My dad is an idiot for moving her in, but he’s not stupid enough to marry her. I think he only did it because Ashton and I were close and he thought her mom would be a good fit, but Ashton’s mom is a fake bitch. It’s funny how people change when they win the lotto.”
“She won the lotto?” I’m confused.
“She did when she hooked my dad.” She rolls her eyes. “And, of course, he’s never around to see the way she really treats me. I can’t stand her, so I stay at Evan’s a lot of the time.”
“That sucks. Have you talked to him about it?”
She lifts a shoulder. “Nah. She makes him happy, so I just stay out of the way.”
“Wow, Lexi. I’m sorry. My dad wouldn’t go anywhere without me and my mom. That’s why I was homeschooled my whole life. And if it makes you feel any better, I only had two friends growing up. Now they’re both busy with their own careers, traveling all over the country. I could really use a friend or two.” I give her a wink and she smiles. “And I’m sure Harper could use a friend or two.”
Lexi nods. “Definitely.”
“HEY, EVERYONE,” ALEX greets the bar patrons. “Thanks for coming out tonight. I want to introduce you to a member of the Mackenzie family. Come on up here, Jay.”
I look over at Lexi and she smiles, giving me a little push. “Go.”
I shake my head and look around the table. Evan and Cole are with us, along with Brooklyn, Piper, Hannah, and Ashton, who is perched on Cole’s lap, like a queen.
I like Brooklyn. She’s a year younger and a grade below the rest of us, but she’s much more mature than the company she keeps. And she’s down to earth, like all the Manning kids I’ve met so far. Piper is quiet and seems to go along with whatever her friends are doing. Hannah is an asshole. She’s rude and snarky to everyone, as if she just hates everything and everyone around her. Ashton is self-absorbed and only interested in Cole. I keep my thoughts to myself because I’m the new girl and I’m not here to stir up any shit. I don’t need the negative attention.
“Go, Jay,” Cole urges.
“Fine,” I mumble, pushing my chair back from the table and heading to the stage. I hear Hannah say, “Why is she going up there? Can she even sing?”
And Cole replies with, “Shut up, Hannah.”
“Everyone, this is Jay,” Alex says into the microphone and a round of applause rings out. “Feel like singing something?”
I give a half smile. “Do I have a choice?”
Shaking his head, Alex smirks. “Nope.”
I look over my shoulder and wink at Dylan before returning my attention to Alex. “Okay, but I get to pick the song.” I walk over to the side of the stage, grab a tambourine, and move back over to the microphone.
BRAD, JUSTIN, AND I finish our game of pool and head downstairs just as Alex calls Jay up to the stage. Ashton, Hannah, Piper, and Brooklyn are at the table. Thankfully, no Reagan.
Brad takes Jay’s empty seat, while Justin and I grab two chairs from a nearby table, just as Jay taps a tambourine to her side and Alex strums the guitar.
“Oh, my God,” Brooklyn squeals at the same time Lexi shouts, “I love this song!” Both girls jump out of their chairs and haul ass to the small dance floor in front of the stage.
“Wait for me,” Ashton calls out and Piper follows. Hannah leans back in her chair with her arms crossed because—like I said—she’s a bitch. Just about every female moves to the dance floor and begins singing and dancing along with Jay.
“This song sounds familiar,” I say.
“It’s Adele,” Hannah informs me in a snarky tone. “They play it on the radio like twenty times a day.” She rolls her eyes.
I hope they get stuck.
Maybe then I’ll enjoy looking at her.
“So, does Brooklyn,” Brad adds. “She’s got it on replay. I heard it four times in a row in the car the other day.” Brad smirks at me and says, “Your goddess has a set of pipes on her.”
“His what?” Justin asks.
I say, “Nothing,” at the same time Brad says, “I meant the goddess. Not his goddess.” He smacks himself on the forehead.
Cole laughs and leans forward with his forearms on the table. “You ain’t heard nothing yet. She’s really good.” He looks over at me. “Goddess. Really?”
I jerk my thumb at Brad, which is all the explanation he needs.