Evanescent - By Addison Moore Page 0,9
be genius. At least that way I could hold off Wes while I straightened out my feelings for Coop. I could easily have given myself to Wes at the lake Saturday night, but Cooper kept sliding his way into my mind, my heart—slippery as oil.
Carter waves to me from the dining hall with her blonde locks coifed to perfection. Her bright cherry-stained lips are wide with a smile.
“Look Jen—you should probably just stay out of my love life,” I warn before taking off. I seriously doubt the idea of a ‘purity ring’ will go over too well with Wes—he does have an extra limb dangling from his body that’s been trying to get my attention. I’ll have to figure this out on my own without intervention from Jen and her circa 1884 solutions.
The scent of maple oatmeal and bacon lies thick in the air as I pick up a plate and indulge in the glorious buffet that Austen House affords. Both breakfast and dinner are served in an opulent dining hall. The tablecloths lay stretched out in a pattern of black and orange with fall arrangements bursting from a cornucopia on each table.
Carter springs to life next to me. “Grayson Evans has totally got it out for you,” she hums in my ear, excited as if this tidbit of gossip concerned someone else entirely. The titillation factor alone has her reeling. “She says you’re after Coop and she’s going to kick your ass.”
“Sounds fascinating. Will brass knuckles be involved?” I pause at the fruit bar. Carter’s dark copper eyes spin like a kaleidoscope at the thought of me getting my ass kicked by Grayson. “Let me guess, she’s going to hang me upside down in the quad because she can’t get laid by the hottest looking guy on campus?”
My stomach bottoms out. Since when did Cooper usurp Wes as the god of Ephemeral—or is it my heart Coop’s ushered him from?
Her mouth rounds out as I realize my gaff.
“I meant football team, sorry—blonde moment. Wes is totally the hottest looking guy on campus. And, trust me, nobody is getting laid by Wes other than me.” My insides pinch when I say it. My body has been craving to welcome Wes into it for as long as I can remember.
“I got laid by Wes.” An unfriendly voice taunts from behind as Kresley makes her way past me. Her dark hair is pulled back, her eyes drawn to slits. She totes cosmetic perfection and, if that wasn’t enough for me to dislike her, she once owned Wesley’s heart.
Kresley Fisher. My entire body ignites with contempt at the thought of her touching Wes—my Wesley, the one I presume is hiding out in nuWesley’s body.
“Blow her off.” Carter pulls me out of line as bodies begin to bottleneck behind us.
I snatch up a plate of grapefruit with a Maraschino cherry dotting the top. Not my favorite breakfast, but I appreciate the cherry.
“So”—Carter starts off measured as we make our way to a table in the back—“homecoming is in two weeks, and I thought I’d ask Fletch. You think that’s okay? Or should I wait and see if he asks me?”
“It’s just a football game.” I shrug. “Just hang out with him and do your thing. You’re practically together anyway.” Now that Grayson is in full stalker mode with Coop, I don’t think Carter has any competition when it comes to my goofball brother.
“Just a football game?” She pants as though the entire concept has escaped me.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I forget the beer and tailgating?”
“Laken! There’s a formal at the country club after. It’s a day game—school is canceled and everything.”
“And everything?” I tease. “Sounds exciting.”
“It is. We need to go shopping before things gets picked over.” She leans in. “I hear Kresley had her dress hand beaded in Paris. Fallon says she looks ‘fucking hot.’” She makes a face.
“Good for her.” A spear of jealousy cuts through me—eviscerates me—leaves my guts spilling all over the floor because Wes once worshiped at her feet, probably kissed them, too. I want to look hot. Just the thought of Wes looking at Kresley, wanting her, kills me on an intimate level, and I feel like an ass for even thinking about Coop.
A dull ache settles in the pit of my stomach because some uncontrollable part of me cries out for Cooper Flanders, and I hate that uncontrollable part of me.
“Hey, what’s the matter?” Carter lays her hand over my wrist. She’s got the face of a