in Havoc, right? All I have to do is ask?” I keep my gaze on Oscar’s silver eyes as I snap back at him, hands curling into fists. “Tell me why you ran out on me after we slept together. I want to know.”
This time, he laughs at me.
I can count on one hand the number of times I have heard that motherfucker laugh.
“You piece of shit!” I call out as he backs up suddenly and turns, heading for the Camaro without bothering to answer me. “You can’t run forever, you fucking pussy!”
“Ball sack,” Hael corrects, and I punch him right in the pec. The effect is less silly and more … arousing than I expected. His muscles are like fucking rocks. “See you degenerates tomorrow then?”
Vic nods once, and then he, Aaron, and I watch as the other three members of Havoc take off in the Camaro.
“Why don’t we do the drive-in for dinner?” Vic asks, exhaling and then looking over at me. “Since it’s just us three tonight.”
A shiver races through me.
We’re not picking the girls up from Jennifer Lowell’s house until the morning.
That means … I’m going to be alone with Vic and Aaron, the two boys in Havoc that are the furthest apart, the most at odds. I’m also going to be operating under a whole new set of rules. Havoc Girl. I get to define what that means between me and each boy the same way they define their relationships with each other. Essentially, we’re a family where each pair of people decides how they want to behave together.
“Let’s do it,” Aaron says, turning to head toward the Bronco and then pausing like he’s just thought of something. He glances back at us, and Victor raises his eyebrows.
“Yeah? You want something?” he queries, his voice mild but laced with an edge of irritation underneath. He might’ve given his okay to the rest of us, but he’s not happy about it.
“Bernadette can ride with me tonight.” Aaron doesn’t waver in his statement nor does he ask; his words are not a request.
“Mm, okay, so,” Victor starts, lighting up a cigarette. Either he’s nervous, or he just likes a good smoke after a drive-by. No big deal. I don’t even consider the fact that Callum likely killed the guy he shot. My boys in black, I feel like they’re untouchable. “When I said you fuckers could work on your own shit, I didn’t mean you could boss me around. I’m still in charge, Fadler.” Vic nods at me with his chin. “Bernie can choose what she wants to do: ride on my bike or carpool with you.”
I stand there for a minute, feeling like my body is being pulled apart by two powerful magnets, one on each side, desperate for a piece.
My initial reaction is to flip a coin and let fate decide.
But I’ve got to be more than some limp-ass, dangling ball sack that crumples to pieces at a simple flick of a finger.
Since I rode here with Vic, and I want to know why Aaron’s staring at me the way he is, I make the decision and decide that I’m going to stick with it. No matter what.
“I’ll ride in the Bronco and we’ll meet you there?” I ask, and even though Vic keeps smoking his cigarette and acts like he doesn’t care, his shoulders stiffen up.
“Yep.” He flicks his smoke aside as I follow Aaron to the car.
“I have to say,” Aaron tells me as I climb in and shut the door behind me, my eyes flicking back to Victor and his motorcycle only once before my attention lands on Aaron and stays there. “You surprised the shit out of me, Bernie.” Aaron pulls his sweatshirt over his head and accidentally takes his shirt along for the ride.
I see full belly and chest and ink, all at once.
Aaron’s chest piece is of a girl and a boy kissing in the rain, a see-through umbrella above their heads that shows off the stormy sky. There are even holes in the umbrella, leaving the couple to be soaked by the storm.
Son of a bitch.
I close my eyes for a minute, and then force them open as Aaron tosses his hoodie into the backseat and pulls his tee back on.
“Surprised in a good way, I hope?” I ask as he starts the car and turns on the heater.
The way he looks over at me, with wavy chestnut hair falling over his forehead, the gold in his eyes