Worse Than Enemies : A Dark Bully Romance Read online

  “Sure. He’d pull all the guts out and stuff.”

  “Minnows aren’t fish you eat. They’re too small.”

  “Then I must’ve gotten the name wrong. What difference does it make?”

  He’s quiet for a second. The only sound I hear is his breathing. “You know what I think?”

  “No, what?”

  “I don’t think you’ve ever been fishing. Not even once in your life.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Just a guess.” He raises his eyebrow like he’s daring me to argue.

  I shrug. “Fine. You got me. I’ve never been fishing.”

  “Why did you make that up?”

  “Do you really want to know?”

  “Now, yeah. I do. It’s a random thing to pull out of your ass.” He picks up the coffee and takes another sip.

  “Because all I’ve ever been able to do about my father is make things up. Because I don’t know who he was. I never met him.”

  It surprises me when his face falls. “That sucks.”

  “It kind of does sometimes. And again, maybe it doesn’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m just saying, what if he’s really an asshole? I mean, between you and me, my mom doesn’t have the best taste in men. I’d probably fall over dead from shock if she actually picked a good one for once.”

  He snorts. “Yeah. I know that feeling.”

  “Does your mom date losers, too?”

  His jaw works again, and the light leaves his eyes before he looks down at his dangling feet. “In my case, it’s my father.” He heaves a sigh that sounds like it comes all the way from down in his toes. Something is really bothering him, something deep and painful. How can I know that when we’ve only just met? I don’t even know his name.

  “Are your parents divorced?”

  “Why are we talking about this?” His head snaps up. Now his piercing blue eyes are hard and flashing. His lip curls in a sneer. “It’s none of your fucking business.”

  “Okay. That’s all you have to say.”

  “Fine.”

  “But I’m sorry you’re going through that. I know how hard it is when you see a parent making stupid decisions, and you can’t do anything about it.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “That’s fine. But if you do, I can listen.”

  He takes a deep breath, and I think maybe he’s going to open up for a second. Why do I care so much? “Why did you pick fishing?”

  “What?”

  “Fishing. Why did you decide to lie about fishing and not something you know about?”

  I have to laugh a little. “I don’t know. I guess I never wanted to think about my father being the dad who sits around burping up beer and watching baseball. And I don’t like football. Too violent.”

  “Makes sense.” He sounds tired now, but at least he’s not so angry anymore. “Listen. You really should go. I need to get back home.”

  “You’re leaving, too?”

  “As soon as you do, since you’re in the way.” He nods toward the end of the bridge, where I came from.

  “Okay. Thanks for talking with me.” I get up slowly, carefully. For a second, it looks like he’s going to help me, but then he stops himself. “See you around.”

  “Yeah. See you.” He nods. I nod back. Something is different about him now. I think whatever he was feeling passed.

  I’m at the end of the bridge before he calls out.

  The wind blows my hair in front of my face as I turn around. I brush it away. “What did you say?”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Morgan!” I wave goodbye before turning toward the hotel again. I’ve already been out here too long. With my luck, this is the one time my sister will decide to wake up before I expect her to. But even if Mom is pissed by the time I get back, it’ll be worth it if I helped that guy. I wish I had thought to get his name.

  My heart’s pounding by the time I finish trotting back to the hotel and taking the elevator up to our floor. I haven’t been gone all that long, but time got away from me. I hope Mom didn’t take it out on Lucy if anything happened.

  As it turns out, something has.

  When I open the door, I discover a whirlwind.

  “Good, you’re back!” My mother, who less than an hour ago staggered in here probably still drunk, is now racing around. Lucy watches from a corner of the sofa, eyes wide.

  “What’s going on?”

  “He just called.” She’s going through the shoes in one of her suitcases and doesn’t bother explaining who she’s talking about. Too busy tossing things around. We can’t fit all the bags in the bedroom, so some of them are out here. “Where are my nude slingbacks?”

  “What’s-his-face? Is he taking you to breakfast?”

  “Better than breakfast.” She finds her shoes and stands, sliding one on, then the other. Anybody who didn’t know her might think she actually possesses class and sophistication. She looks great in a form-fitting cream dress, and the shoes make her already long legs look endless.

  “Lunch, too?” I wink at Lucy, who giggles.

  Mom clasps her hands in front of her chest. “He’s going to call the store to have them open early, so I can shop alone. This is a dream come true. I’m afraid I’m still in bed, sleeping.”

  Meanwhile, I haven’t gotten new clothes for school, but she’s going on a shopping spree. “That’s nice. Have fun.” If anything, it’ll be better if she’s not around.

  “You don’t understand.” She’s glowing, I realize, and tears are welling in her eyes. “He called because he didn’t want to wait anymore. We had such an incredible weekend that he wanted to wait until he’s back in town on Friday and make a big thing out of it, but… he’s so impulsive.” Her chin trembles.

  “Make a big thing out of what?”

  “Girls.” She looks from me to my sister and back again. “He’s taking me out to buy an engagement ring. We’re getting married.”

  3

  My heart’s hammering so hard, I’m afraid I’m going to be sick. That would be a great way to introduce myself to my classmates. Throwing up all over myself, or maybe on one of them. I have dreaded this moment all summer. Walking into my new school, not knowing anyone.

  But this is worse, somehow, because I didn’t imagine it this way. I didn’t imagine going to this school.

  North Woods Prep is where the rich kids go. I would imagine myself going to Harvard one day before imagining going here. This world is totally out of reach for me.

  No, not anymore. At least, not according to my mom, who insisted her fiancé pull strings to get me a last-minute registration. “And he did it because he wants you to have all the best things. Finally, we’re all going to have exactly what we deserve. This is only the beginning. Just wait until you see everything he’s put in place for when we move in with him.”

  Right. I hope she’s not getting her hopes up too high. This is further than she’s ever gotten with any of her guys—he gave her an enormous ring, so big I’m surprised she can lift her hand—but plans can change. She’d better hope he’s okay with a quick wedding, so she can hook him before he sees who she really is.

  It’s a shame, because he seems like a decent guy. Kind and thoughtful. He’s pretty handsome for an older man, too. Tall, dark-haired, chiseled. She won’t let him do more than say hi to Lucy and me when he picks her up for dates, which he’s done more often over the past two weeks since his proposal. But he always tries to be friendly, and he’s brought a few presents for Lucy. Last night, it was a little stuffed bunny.

  “I’m not so sure what a seventeen-year-old girl wants,” he admitted with a laugh.

  “You shouldn’t be getting them gifts, anyway. You’re too generous.” Mom gave him a big kiss, but I heard what existed underneath her words. Jealousy. She can’t allow even her four-year-old to get a little attention when she thinks it should be hers. She needs to get their names on a marr
iage certificate, fast, before she ruins it by being herself.

  Though right now, looking at the school from inside the Uber I took from the hotel, I wish this all could have waited. Getting used to a new school would be bad enough without it being North Woods Prep. Everybody walking across campus looks like they just walked off the set of a TV show. And the cars in the parking lot! It’s like a freaking luxury dealership.

  Meanwhile, I’m about to climb out of a Corolla that doesn’t even belong to me.

  “Are you okay?” The driver checks me out in the rearview mirror.

  “I’m fine. Thank you.”

  I have to force myself out of the car. I don’t belong here. My clothes aren’t nice enough, even though it’s my best pair of jeans and an almost-new pair of sandals. I’m not wearing half as much makeup as most of the girls, and it doesn’t look like I spent an hour doing my hair this morning—but I did. I tried my best with the few things I had at the hotel. I guess my soon-to-be stepfather’s generosity doesn’t extend to spa treatments or salon visits, though, it’s not like I want it to. It would feel weird to accept that from somebody I don’t know. But that doesn’t stop my mother from taking advantage.

  Once I knew I’d be going here, I looked up the campus map online. Most of the classes take place in the main building, which is more like a castle or even a fortress. A huge center section looks like it stretches a mile in both directions, but that’s probably my nerves. Then there are two buildings to the sides, forming a capital letter H. Those are the buildings holding the gym, the pool, the auditorium, that sort of thing. I’m already wondering how anybody can get from one end to the other in the five minutes we have between classes.

  “Look out!” I barely have time to notice someone shouting before realizing they’re shouting in my general direction. Moments later, I’m scrambling, along with a handful of other kids, trying to get out of the way of a bright red sports car now tearing across the lawn and sending clumps of sod and grass in all directions. Another few seconds and I could have been run over.

  The car screeches to a stop, and moments later, three guys jump out. They don’t care that they just tore up the lawn any more than the driver does. He peels off the second the doors are closed. I guess, to park. What was the point of that display?

  “Always trying to get attention!” a girl calls out, and one of the guys flips her off, laughing. She flips him off right back, and her girlfriends laugh and tease the guys.

  “Don’t need to try!” he calls back, and his buddies laugh. They join up with the girls, and together they all climb the stone stairs leading up to the big double doors.

  I feel like somebody put ice in my stomach. I don’t think I can do this.

  But I have to. I can’t run away. Besides, it’s only for one year. I can keep my head down for a year if I have to. I know I’ll never fit in with any of these people, so I’m not going to bother trying. I’ll get my diploma, then get the hell out of here. As far away from my mother as I can. Even the thought of leaving Lucy doesn’t bother me as much as it used to, now that I know she’ll have a home and a stepfather. He’s even talking about getting a nanny for her, which, of course, thrills Mom. Now she really won’t have to pay attention to either of us.

  Still, no matter how I try to encourage myself, my feet are like lead as I climb the stairs. I feel like I’m walking into my execution.

  The inside of the main building is even more impressive than the exterior. It was built more than a hundred and fifty years ago by a wealthy family that founded the town. I look up, craning my neck to see the ceiling of the front lobby, which stretches two stories over my head. Tall windows allow sunshine to stream through and make the polished wood floors glow. There’s artwork all over the walls, paintings of men and women who look very important and maybe a little bit bored. I go over to one of them and find a small plaque underneath. One of the school’s principals, this one serving from 1952 to 1969. There are fewer women than men, but I guess that shouldn’t come as a surprise.

  I look for the current principal, whose portrait is the last for obvious reasons. A tall, handsome man with salt-and-pepper hair. Dominic Bradley, it says. He’s been the principal for five years. At least now I know who to look for.

  I should have thought of drawing myself a map to the main office when I looked over the online version yesterday. The hallway stretches out in three directions, two of which span the eastern and western wings of the main building, while the third juts out straight ahead from the front door. I’m pretty sure the office is in this direction, so I start walking while my eyes soak in everything around me. I would never guess this was a school, at least not from the entrance. It looks more like a museum.

  It’s a relief to see a sign hanging over one room along the hall. Administration Office. That’s where I need to be. I don’t have a roster yet, so I have no idea which classes I’m taking or where to find them. This whole thing is so last minute.

  Phones are ringing off the hook, and staff members are hustling back and forth. Maybe ten or fifteen people are already waiting when I get there, and they all have a problem. “But my dad already called. I’m not taking Spanish with her. She’s a bitch, and she failed me last year because she fucking hates me.”

  My eyes go wide before I can stop them as the girl at the front of the line shouts at the lady behind the counter. Do people seriously talk to grown-ups that way around here?

  I guess so, because the staff member doesn’t even seem surprised. “Like I already told you, Jasmine, only so many Spanish teachers in the school teach it at that level. Short of hiring more staff to accommodate you, I’m not sure what you expect us to do. Your father understood that when he spoke to the principal.”

  “So what? What am I supposed to do? Sit there when I know she hates me?” Before the woman can answer, the girl sweeps an arm over the counter and knocks a cup of pens to the floor. “Screw this place. You’re lucky I don’t sue.”

  For what? Meanwhile, she’s already halfway down the hall, and I can still hear her shouting about the lawsuit that will end this entire school.

  It seems like everybody’s got problems like that. There’s a guy who can’t take physics because it interferes with football practice. There’s another who wants to take the same English class her best friend is taking, even though it would change her entire schedule. Everything seems pretty trivial, and every single person threatens a phone call from their parents.

  Who the hell are these kids? Mom would laugh in my face if I asked her to call because I didn’t like my Spanish teacher or I wanted to take English with my friend. And if she ever got a call from the office saying I cursed out one of the staff, I don’t even want to think about how she would react. It would make her look bad, which is the last thing she’d ever put up with.

  Finally, it’s my turn. I feel so bad for the woman behind the counter, and I grimace. “Sorry to bother you, but this is my first day. I don’t have my roster yet.”

  “Oh, finally. An easy one.” She flips through a bunch of papers and pulls out a thin folder. “Morgan Chambers, is it?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Welcome, Morgan. I hope you haven’t already gotten a bad opinion of this place.” Before I can reply, she slides the folder my way. “In there, you’ll find your roster and a calendar of activities, and I’ve included a map to help you get around. It’s easy to get lost around here, but you’ll figure it out in a few days. Everybody does.”

  “Thank you.” My first class is US history, starting in fifteen minutes.

  “Hayes!” she calls out to somebody in the hallway and waves them in over my shoulder. “He’s one of our student ambassadors. Hayes, would you mind showing Morgan to her first class? Maybe give her a small tour before class starts?”

  “You know me. Always glad to help.”

  His voice shouldn’t be familiar, but it stirs up my memory anyway. I look up from my roster to find a tall, muscular guy standing next to me.


  And when our eyes meet, I understand why he sounded familiar. It’s been two weeks, but he’s never been far from my thoughts.

  It’s the guy from the bridge.

  And judging by the way he’s staring at me with those wide, piercing eyes, he hasn’t forgotten either.

  4

  Oh, my God.

  He hasn’t moved since he recognized me. Neither have I. In my case, I’m too surprised. I never thought I would see him again.

  Him? I can’t tell. He doesn’t exactly seem happy to see me.

  “I’ll take it from here, Miss Collins.” He flashes a smile her way, and even though she’s probably twice his age, she laughs, almost like she’s flirting. He’s pretty charming when he wants to be.

  I follow him out into the hall, staring at the back of his head. Should I mention the bridge? I don’t think he was having one of his best moments when he was out there, so maybe I should let it go and pretend it never happened unless he brings it up.

  “So you go here.” He’s not so charming anymore, and I realize that’s an act he puts on for adults. He slides his hands into his pockets before looking me up and down. “I wouldn’t have guessed.” There’s something snarky in the way his mouth pulls upward at one corner. I know what he means. He doesn’t have to spell it out. I don’t belong here.

  “I’m a last-minute student. My mom—”

  “Nobody asked.” So we’re back to that, I see. “Anyway, I have history with you, so we can walk there together.”

  “Should I stop at my locker first?” They listed the locker number on my roster, and there’s a key taped to the inside of the folder that I guess I’m supposed to use to unlock it.

  “Why are you asking me? I’m supposed to show you to your classroom. That’s it.” We make a left at the end of the hall, at the big entrance area that’s now filled with students, and head to class. The noise is almost enough to give me a headache.

  “Hayes! How was your summer?” A girl with waist-length blond hair and a killer tan falls in step next to him, then wraps her arms around his and drops her head to his shoulder. She couldn’t get closer if she tried.