Dare Series Collection - Shantel Tessier Page 0,35

the gazebo. He’s got blond spiky hair and a set of soft brown eyes. His black long-sleeve t-shirt and dark faded jeans show off his large, muscular size.

“Hey, Bryan,” Becky greets him.

He offers us a Solo cup. “I brought you girls a drink.”

“No thanks,” I say, holding up the joint between my fingers.

But Becky takes a drink and then passes it to me. “Vodka,” she says.

“Okay, one drink.” Vodka is my favorite. My mother’s boyfriend always had it at the house, and when you’re in the mood to get drunk, you drink what is available.

“Becky, Christopher is looking for you. Something about you owing him a shot for some bet you guys made.” She rolls her eyes but jumps up and walks off with a wave of her hand, leaving me alone with the new stranger.

He takes her seat next to me. “Where’s Cole?”

“Why the hell would I know?” I ask, wishing the weed would kick in. So I lean back against the wood, relaxing.

“Isn’t he your boyfriend?”

“No,” I say quickly.

“That’s not what it looked like.”

I let out a sigh. “Why does everyone care what we were doing minutes ago?”

“Because I thought you would want to start your year out right by being on the arm of the hottest guy in school.”

I refrain from rolling my eyes. Cole may be a dick, but he doesn’t say corny lines like that. No. He just tries to blackmail you for murder. “And who is that?” I indulge him.

“Me.” He grabs the Solo cup from my hand and takes a drink of the vodka. He goes to hand it back to me but drops it.

I stand quickly, gasping as the cold liquid spills all over my lap.

“I’m so sorry,” He jumps up. And then his hands are on me. I go to move backward, but my knees hit the bench.

“It’s okay,” I say, but he pushes into me, causing me to fall back down onto my ass. My head even with the zipper on his jeans.

He stands over me, and he leans in and sniffs my hair. “What the …?”

“Bryan!”

His voice interrupts what I was about to say.

Bryan sighs heavily and turns around to face Cole but blocks me so I can’t get up from the bench.

“Just what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Cole demands.

“What you didn’t have the balls to do earlier,” Bryan answers, crossing his arms over his chest.

Cole gives me a quick once-over before his narrowed eyes go back to Bryan as he storms across the backyard toward us.

I look away from him. I don’t need him to save me. I reach up and shove Bryan out of my way. When I stand, Bryan turns to face me. “Let’s go.” He grabs my arm.

“I’m not …”

“Let her go!” Cole growls at him and yanks him forward. Bryan pulls me in the process, and we all fall down the two stairs at the entrance to the gazebo.

I roll onto my back as I look up and see Cole punch Bryan in the face.

“Austin? Are you okay?” Becky asks as she runs over to me.

“Fine,” I snap, getting up. She reaches up to pull the grass out of my hair, but I shake her off as I turn to face the guys.

The backyard starts to fill with people. Deke and Shane run out the back door.

Cole is straddling Bryan, punching him in the face. Bryan manages to block it and then land a punch to Cole’s chin, knocking him off.

Bryan goes to hit him while he’s down, but Cole lifts his right leg, kicking him in the stomach. Bryan stumbles back, and Cole jumps up in time to hit him in the face. Blood runs from Bryan’s mouth, and then Cole hits him again. Bryan stumbles back. Before he can recover, Cole hits him again. When Bryan falls to the ground this time, he doesn’t get back up.

People gather around the backyard with their phones out, recording the fight. Deke and Shane both just stand there, looking at their friend but waiting for I don’t know what. They let him beat Jeff almost to death. Maybe they don’t get in his way until the job is almost done. I shake my head as I walk past them toward the house. It’s time for me to go.

I’ve already got my phone out of my pocket and ordering an Uber when Becky comes up beside me. “I’m going home,” I tell her. “Wanna share an Uber?” I know she is just as