Page 5 of Love Lies Bleeding

“Jake,” I supply.

“See you around, Jake.”

I’m not gonna let her leave without getting her number. “What should I call you?”

“Bye, Jake.”

Playing hard to get, is she? I can work with that. What this girl doesn’t know is that I’m incredibly stubborn and determined when I want something and I’ve just decided I want her.

“Bye, Blossom.”

I hear her chuckle as the door closes and I watch her walk down the street like she owns it, before turning with a smile and heading back to my dorm. Hunger rushes through my blood as I think over our interaction, remembering the sweet scent of honeysuckle on her skin. Somehow it’s hotter and more satisfying than sex with any of the nameless, faceless, one-night stands I’ve had recently. She didn’t cower or simper, which is what I’m used to. Girls don’t make me or Mac work for it. They just want to say they’ve fucked either of us. But this girl demanded more from me without even asking. She knows her own value and that’s the hottest thing ever.

“Jake, hey.”

I stop as Lorelei steps across my path, putting her hand on my chest in a possessive way that makes my skin crawl like an army of ants have descended. I lift her hand and let it drop to her side, but she’s undeterred. Her red lips tip up like I’ve just announced our engagement.

“What do you want, Lorelei?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest in a clear sign that I’m not interested.

She pulls at her top, shoving her tits in my face and I wonder if she realizes how unattractive it is to look so desperate. We’ve hooked up a few times and, honestly, I can barely remember it, and have no desire to repeat it but she’s not getting the hint at all.

“I’m having a party tonight. My parents are away and my baby sister wants to meet some of the other students. You should come, bring Hunter with you. I haven’t seen him yet, and some of the girls have been asking.”

“Hunter isn’t back yet.”

“Well, you should come alone. I’m sure I can find a way to keep you from getting lonely without your friend.”

“I’ll see. I have shit to do later.” I know saying no outright would just prolong this nightmare, but I have no intention of going and being pawed at all night. I’m just not in the mood. I have better things to do, like find out more about my pink-haired mystery girl.

“Oh, come on, my sister is stuck in a dorm with some total freaks. One even has pink hair. Surely you can come and help show her how friendly we all are. I’ve been dying to introduce you to my family.”

Uh, what the fuck? I’m not being introduced to anyone’s family. We’ve fucked, that’s all. Where the hell does this girl get the idea we’re a thing? But something she said does intrigue me and force me to keep my mouth shut about that little statement. There can’t be many freshmen with pink hair, and something tells me going to this little party will put me one step closer to my pink-haired mystery girl. “Sure, I’ll come.”

Lorelei jumps up and down and then throws her arms around me. “Oh, Jakey, I’m so happy.”

I unhook her arms from around my neck and hold her at arm’s length, stepping back to a safe distance.

Lorelei seems unfazed and completely unaware of my disinterest.

“It’s at my place. The pool is heated so bring your bathing shorts… or don’t.”

“I’ll see you later.”

“You sure will, Jakey.”

She gives me a suggestive wink and I wonder what the hell I’d ever been thinking to stick my dick in her. She’s like a praying mantis, only instead of wanting to eat me, she wants to trap me. Thank God I never fucked her without a condom. I wouldn’t put it past her to get pregnant and trap me that way. It’s funny to me because everyone assumes that, because I live with Hunter in the dorms and we’re best friends, I have money too. If they knew I didn’t have a pot of my own to piss in, they’d be very different. I’m only here because Hank McKenzie, Hunter’s dad, saw something in me, paid for my education, and gives me a generous allowance that I earned over the summer working for him. Sometimes I’m tempted to tell them all that I’m a nobody, that I’m a fraud but I’d never embarrass Hank or Hunter that way. Wanting this encounter over, I make to move around Lorelei.

I avoid the kiss she tries to force on me and sidestep her, walking off at a brisk pace determined to do everything I can to avoid her later and focus on showing Blossom that I’m not just some guy with a bad pick-up line.

3. Cherry

“Oh my God, this place is whacked!” I clutch Marianna’s arm as we step into what can only be described as a mansion. We push through the double front door into an entryway that is packed with people.

“It’s mad, right?” Marianna giggles. “It’s my stepdad’s place, really. My mom and I moved in last year when they got married.”

“So, your sister is here?”

Marianna shrugs. “Stepsister, I guess. Lorelei likes to call me her sister, but I think that’s more because she likes the idea of having someone she can boss around. You’ll see when you meet her. She’s a lot.”

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