Page 95 of Brutal Kingdom

“Is that what we’re calling it? I had a lapse of judgement, but you had no part in it?”

“The bet was my idea. But I had no idea how unhinged Jordanna was. I mean, I suspected all along that she wasn’t squeaky clean, but this latest plan she’s cooked up. I never saw it coming.”

I play along, not wanting her to suspect that I know more than she does at this point. “Nobody did.”

“I know. Right.”

I pretend to admit I was wrong about how I handled things. “And I wish I would’ve taken your warning more seriously than I did, but I allowed my ego to get in the way. I thought she was so blinded by her feelings for me, that I underestimated her capacity for deceit.”

“Women are good at hiding their true motives, Logan. That’s why you have me. I can see things guys miss all the time.”

“Mmm.” I finish the last bite of my pancakes, pushing the tray away. “Listen, I’d love to talk more about this, but I have to do something for my dad. I’ll be there tonight for the meeting.”

“Great, I’ll see you then.”

Jordanna’s steps falter when she sees me. She quickly gathers her composure and heads to her seat. I wish I could escape to the back of the room with her. We’ve been in this new relationship awkward phase before, and I’ve been wracking my brain with how to make it different. No games for starters, except for the ones we’re playing together.

We also need complete honesty between us, no matter how painful the truth may be. And sex. Filthy, bed shaking, back-breaking sex. We excel at that. It’s the honesty and truth part that needs a lot of work.

I’m watching her. I have no reason not to, having given up caring what Bella or anyone else thinks. My attention is drawn back to the front when Bella comes in. She offers no opening pleasantries and launches straight into today’s topic, which I gather is a continuation of something they’ve already discussed. How to raise money for the senior class charitable contribution. It’s a little late in the game to still be coming up with fall fundraising activities.

Bella’s “any ideas” question is rhetorical, because she doesn’t even wait long enough for people to answer before saying, “so the ski trip is the best suggestion, I say we-”

“I liked the idea about the carnival and dance.”

I straighten in my seat. Now that sounds fun, and like nothing we’ve ever done before. Bella seems to hate the idea, which is why I’m happy to say, “I second that suggestion.”

We get a few more voices in support. That’s too many for Bella to say no. She reluctantly agrees our first fundraiser is a carnival and winter formal. This’ll be one of the few times I won’t hate putting on a tux.

I fall into the crowd of people moving to the front of the room, maneuvering myself closer to Jordanna, letting my arm graze hers when I walk by. It’s because I’m looking at Bella that I don’t act on my impulse to pull Jordy in for a kiss.

When the room is completely empty, Bella says, “This is what we’re forced to deal with, carnivals and dances, because of that bitch.”

“Those fundraising ideas were Jordanna’s?” I like them even more.

“And you sided with her.”

“How was I supposed to know? This is the first meeting I’ve been to, and you never told me what you discussed before. I agreed with the first idea someone threw out there to get the conversation moving. It sounds like other people liked it too.”

“This is what we’d have to look forward to if the court rules in her favor.”

“But there’s no chance of that happening. Right?”

A range of emotions cross her face. Panic, anger, confidence. That last is the lie. She’s not confident in how this will play out at all. “Right.”

THIRTY-SEVEN

JORDANNA

He loves me. Logan said the words I never thought I wanted to hear from him again. I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it, and cry at the unfairness of it, but I was lost in the feeling of being consumed,ownedby him. That was a few days ago. The post orgasmic bliss had faded. Until he showed up at the planning meeting and barely touched me. Now my body is aflame, all types of thoughts going through my head. Do I risk this? Can I trust him? Does he trust me? When I think I’ve settled on an answer, the whole cycle of questions starts again.

Planning a future with Logan was not on my one, two, or ten-year plan, so why am I having so much trouble scratching his name off my list?

“That photo’s not gonna caption itself.”

I mutter a curse when my knee bangs against the underside of the table.

“Don’t sneak up on people like that.”

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