Ready For It (MacAteer Brothers #2) - M.L. Nystrom Page 0,53
“That’s so gross.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is.”
“No, it’s not.”
“You’re gonna make a big mess.”
Mattie gave an impish grin. “Yup. An’ I’m gonna enjoy doing it.”
The group made their way through the crowd back to the bleacher seats. The kids devoured their food, the adults chatted, and everyone cheered and stood when the team scored. If anyone noticed the sudden coolness between Owen and Melanie, no one remarked on it.
Chapter Sixteen
“Show us your tits.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Come on, Melanie. It’s not like you’re shy.”
“I just don’t want to.”
Robert and Archie had me trapped behind the bleachers on the other side of the stadium. Magnus stood close by, visibly mad his sister had crashed his party. Archie had said they had booze and invited me to come over. I knew Magnus had swiped a bottle from Daddy’s liquor cabinet. He’s been doing it for years and either had never been caught or Daddy didn’t care. I also knew the last thing he wanted was to have me around him and his friends, but Archie asked me if I wanted to hang out during the “lame ass” football game. A chance to be seen with the most popular upperclassmen? Social score!
Robert tipped the bottle back and took a swallow of the amber liquid. “You’re mature enough to drink, aren’t you? Not a little girl like Kelly Barlow?”
I stuck my nose in the air and tried not to show my fear. Kelly was younger than me even though we were both freshmen. “Of course I’m mature enough. Hand me the bottle.”
I took as small a sip of the booze as I could manage. It took all I had in me not to gag at the fire that burned down my throat.
Archie reached for the bottle. “What did you do with Kelly?”
Robert shrugged. “I took her out last week, and she cried when I felt up her tits. Pretty damn small. Not even a good mouthful yet.”
“Did you suck ’em?”
“Nah. She bawled like a fucking baby so much I didn’t even try to get her shirt off. Waste of fucking time. I bet she has old granny bras, anyway. How ’bout you, Mel? You got pretty bras?”
The liquor settled in my rebelling stomach. Every instinct I had screamed I should run, but I had to brazen it out. No way did I want Robert spreading around I was immature or too squeamish to date. “Yes, I have pretty bras, and no, you don’t get to see them.”
He laughed. “What? You’re not telling me you’re one of those gotta-put-a-ring-on-it girls, are you? Fuck that.”
He grabbed the bottle and took another healthy swallow. “I ain’t buyin’ ’til I tried it.”
My head swam. I glanced over at Magnus. He had his hand in his pocket and pulled out a weird-looking cigarette.
“Is that pot?” I blurted out.
He didn’t answer. His other hand produced a lighter, and he fired up the joint, sucking deep and holding his breath. He handed the cigarette to Robert, who did the same. The air smelled like sweet hay and dirty burning grass. I really wanted to run. But what would they say at school on Monday? They were seniors and practically ran the place. They could ruin the rest of my days with one well-placed sentence.
“Come on, Melanie. Don’t be a baby. Show us your tits.”
I stuck my nose even higher while locking my legs together to keep them from trembling. “You’ve seen tits before. You don’t need to see mine.”
“Is it Magsie that’s got you so frigid? He doesn’t care, do you, Mags?”
“Shut up, asshole, and quit calling me that!”
Robert laughed, and chills went down my spine at his tone. The atmosphere thickened with anticipation. Archie and I shared a glance, and I braced myself for whatever came next.
“You develop some brotherly love all of a sudden? Does it bother you we want to see your sister’s big, beautiful, bouncing breasts?”
Magnus took back the blunt and sucked another lungful. “I don’t give a shit about her or her breasts. She’s still my sister, and much as I loathe her, I don’t want to see any part of her.” He handed the smoldering cigarette to Archie. “Here. I’m leaving. Do what you want.”
Archie took the offering. “You really don’t care?”
“Not in the slightest.”
My brother turned and walked away, leaving me with his two best friends, one of whom weaved back and forth, drunk and high. Pain lanced my heart, stiletto sharp, with a quick stab. I had no words as he rounded the corner