Page 63 of Pretty Little Lies

I run my hand down my face to keep the blush that creeps up from being so obvious as I continue laughing. Why is jerking himself off so hot? Yeah, judge away, because it is. I wouldn’t mind watching that, actually.

“You’re disgusting,” Vivian solicits repulsively, scrunching her turned-up nose. “You belong with her.”

“Damn.” Reeve wraps his arm around my back and hip, hauling me closer to the hard side of his body. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me, Viv. But don’t lose too much sleep over how you have mediocre sex with Cairo because he can’t stand to stick his dick in you. I’ll buy you a vibrator as a wedding present.”

“Reeve,” Cairo growls through his teeth, and when Vivian leaps up to stand, probably to throw another fit of epic proportions, he doesn’t move. Instead, he peers up at her and snarls, “Sit the fuck down and shut up.”

“Watch the game, McQueen,” Reeve whispers in my ear, ignoring the possessive bitch that is Cairo’s girl and unraveling himself from me. “He’ll get upset if you don’t try to show an inkling about how he could get hurt out there.”

I take my first look at the field, observing how it’s just a normal game of football except…

“How is Torin playing if he doesn’t go to this school?”

Reeve chuckles, his hand falling to my upper thigh. “Dude on our crew goes here. And this team and Wildes have a history. The quarterback on the opposing team hates his guts, so they try to break his legs every time he’s on the field.”

“Why?” I find myself asking and locating him on the far side of the field, waiting for the ball to be hiked.

“Torin clothes-lined him last year…on accident.” I look over at Reeve, who’s wearing a shit-eating grin on his face. “Unfortunate.”

“Are you always assholes?”

“Only to other assholes.” His hazel eyes flick over to me as his thumb begins to mindlessly rub back and forth along the skin underneath my shorts. “Not pretty girls.”

I give him a sad smile, the most authentic thing I’ve given him since being around. “Oh, Reeve…you know this ends?—”

“Does it? What if I told you there was something more than all this?” He leans closer, and my breathing stops on a dime. That salty scent wafting around me, seeping into my skin and nostrils. “I like you. You’re pretty…and I don’t deserve you right now. But I sure as fuck want to, McQueen. And when we get married, you’re gonna be proud as fuck to be mine.”

TWENTY

bay

I guessthere are after-parties following big football games and Oceanview was off defending their pride against their rival school today. It didn’t take much from Reeve to convince me to go. I was already out, the girls were staying with a friend all day, and Dad was having a guys’ day with Juice and Levi—no girls allowed, which makes me believe they’re gonna sneak a beer for him.

But the yacht I’m standing on is like a floating house with a small pool on the back, plush white lounge chairs, and a full kitchen, along with three levels of way too much money and envy.

I would die and go to heaven if I lived on something like this.

What’s also interesting is that not only do I see rich society kids on this boat, but guys with leather goats and tattoos too. My skin prickles when we pass a bunch of dudes, all eyeing me up and down like the night in The Landings.

Reeve must notice because he laces his fingers with mine and brings my hand up to press a soft kiss to it. It’s supposed to soothe, but I can’t get the goosebumps that line my skin to dissipate. “No one is going to dare touch you here, McQueen. I’ll bet my life on it.”

I don’t answer him because I don’t have anything to say. What makes now different than before?

“If you’re looking for them, they’re dead.” My focus slides over to him, who’s stopped to stand in front of me, blocking off the small group of guys chugging beers. “Did you think I was going to allow that to fly? For another gang to believe they could traipse around The Landings and put hands on you?”

“Torin did.”

“That’s Torin,” he retorts, then adds, “That’s my boy. And, with that being said, he wouldn’t fucking dare hurt you because he’s fully aware of my plans.”

I must not look convinced when he steps closer, hazels pinned evenly on mine. He’s not fucking around, and he’s tried to tell me before.

“Those were Emilio’s men,” I mutter. “Does…he know?”

“Yes.” I release the exhale I was holding. “He lost his shit when he found out, super pissed at me, but he’ll get over it.”

My blood runs cold at how collectedly he just mentioned that. “What did I tell you about staying out of trouble?” I chide lightly, knowing the power Emilio wields and what he could do. “Do you have a death wish?”

“Several.”

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