The Rebel of Raleigh High (Raleigh Rebels #1) - Callie Hart Page 0,53

are six beautiful women in that pool right now, and in about ten minutes none of them are gonna be wearing any clothes. Beautiful naked mermaid shit. Tell me you aren’t just dying to see that. Don’t you like tits?”

“I like tits just fine. But I have better things on the agenda.”

“What does that even mean? What’s better than tits? Hey, Zen!” Jake calls. “Your boy’s talking about leaving. I suggest you do something to capture his attention and do it fast!”

It’s Kacey that answers, not Zen. “Don’t worry. We have something in mind for the newest student at Raleigh High. It’d be rude not to give him a proper welcome, don’t you think, baby?”

Jake whoops, throwing his hands up in the air, spilling beer all over the place. “That’s my girl. Come on, Kay Kay. Let’s see what you got!”

I’ve never been a relationship guy. I’ve been around plenty of other guys in relationships, though, and as far as I can remember none of them have encouraged their girlfriends to get naked to impress another man. If I went to the trouble of committing to a girl, I’d destroy any motherfucker whose gaze lingered too long in her direction. This just feels gross on so many fucking levels.

“Watch, man,” Jake says, laughing. “Just fucking watch. These girls are dirty as fuck.”

Sure enough, Kacey and Zen are stroking and caressing each other, unfastening each other’s bikini tops. It happens all too quickly. One second, they’re nuzzling at each other, smiling, whispering into each other’s mouths, and then the next they’re kissing, their tongues lapping at each other, flicking each other’s lips. The water’s lapping around their bare tits, their hands roving over each other’s skin. Kacey gasps as Zen ducks down, taking her nipple in between her teeth. She licks and sucks at the dark, swollen bud of flesh, and Jake grabs hold of my arm, digging his fingers into the sleeve of my jacket.

“Fuuuuck, man. What did I tell you? They’re fucking animals.”

I look away, drinking the remnants of my beer and placing the empty bottle at my feet. “I’m out of here.”

“Fuck is wrong with you, Moretti?” Jake’s grip tightens, holding onto me as I try to stand. “Is your dick broken, or are you some kind of fucked up feminist?”

“I told you. I’m…not…interested.”

The other girls have all followed Kacey and Zen’s lead and are undressing each other, scraps of colorful material floating on the surface of the pool. They cavort in the water, naked, performing a highly sexual, highly intense charade just for us. Their eyes are all on me, hungry, inviting, daring…

I can’t see what’s happening, but I can guess. Zen sucks in a ragged breath, her shoulders stiffening as Kacey dips lower in the water; I’m assuming she’s touching her between her thighs, and Zen looks like she’s enjoying it just a little bit too much. Her head rocks back, and Kacey laughs, kissing her neck as she—

The lounger scrapes against the tiles as I push up and away.

My feet are moving.

My back is turned.

A cold, slick, oily feeling is twisting in my stomach.

Jake hollers something behind me, but I don’t turn around.

When I walk through the first door I can find back into the building, I’m met with a dozen cell phones, all being shoved into my face.

“Whoa! Hey, Alex! Alex, where the hell are you going? That’s the hottest shit I’ve ever seen, bro!”

I don’t know who says it. I cast around, searching the living room I find myself in, trying to find the owner of the voice, but there are too many lights shining in my face. Quickly, they veer away from me as the people gathered in the living room turn back to the windows that look out over the pool. They’re aiming their cameras at the scene taking place out there, and it’s pretty fucking obvious that they’re all recording.

Just…fucking…perfect.

16

SILVER

There's no cell reception at the cabin, which is partially why I love the place. There are no interruptions up here. Just me, my school assignments, my guitar, and my books. It's so damn peaceful. Whenever I come here, I leave behind the politics and bullshit of Raleigh. There are no judgmental, suspicious eyes, following me any time I move. At the cabin, I can breathe. I can be me, without having to worry about defending myself, protecting myself, trying to think three steps ahead at all times. It's ultimately freeing.

The Nova grumbled the entire way from Raleigh to Lake Cushman,