Page 14 of Brutal Kingdom

“Yep.”

“Sophie.” Why do I know that name? “Wait, the tv star?”

“Uh huh.”

I shake offwhateverthis weird feeling I’m having and say, “Wow. There’s really no limit to how far Logan will go to get what he wants.” Looking out over the bonfire, I ask, “Everyone thought what he did was okay?”

“No one knew what really happened. I mean, we knew there was a bet involved, because that’s always been Logan’s thing. Bartering the future VP slot at McKay Media, for one thing or another. But when the rumors started, I thought they were just that. Rumors from one of Noel’s frat buddies. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought something bigger than a sex tape had to have been at play. Because why else would Noel’s best friend Brett have moved away that summer?”

“Brett? Who the hell is that? I thought Sterling was Noel’s best friend.”

“Nope. Brett is. Or was. He transferred schools and his family locked up their house and moved, right before you got here.”

“Well, things seem to have come full circle. Logan won because of a bet over a girl, and lost for the same reason. I don’t know what the Kingsley Hollow snobs call it, but us normal folks call it karma, and he got exactly what he deserved for using women as pawns in his games.”

“I told you, Jordanna, he was different with you.”

Turning to face her, I grip her shoulders and say, “Please tell me you’renotstill fangirling over us.”

“Oh, bite me. I’m not some sappy weirdo. I’m just heavily invested because the two of you are a fascinating case study, in male female interaction post conflict and betrayal.”

I roll my eyes at that. “We’re not a case study, Kassidy.”

“Oh, but you are. More importantly, you’re my friend, and I’m here for you if you ever need anything. No matter what.”

“You say that like you think I’m up to something.”

“Well, we lived together for an entire semester and I never knew you were plotting and executing Logan’s fall from grace. So you could be.”

“Kass, if I were doing that this year, I’d tell you. If for no other reason than it’s hard keeping secrets from one of my best friends.”

“I’m one of your best friends?”

“Of course.”

She squeals, throwing her arms around me. “Jordanna, I know you’ve had the same two best friends since childhood. Thank you so much for bestowing me with the title. I’m honored. Let’s do shots.”

I laugh, letting her pull me to my feet and across the sand to get drinks. Kassidyisone of my best friends, and I hated deceiving her. Which I’m sort of doing now. I make the mistake of looking over to where Logan is sitting, wedged between Tabitha and Bella. The bitch queen sees me looking and drags her index finger across her throat in a cutting fashion, but to anyone watching it looks like she’s playing with her necklace. I’m not as subtle. I point both middle fingers at her then slowly rotate until I’m flipping her the bird.

I take the drink Kassidy’s holding, and we walk back to our seats. She tells me about her roommates as I watch people stagger in and out of the man-made lake. We both admit we’re sad we don’t live together, and she makes me promise that we’ll stick to a schedule for seeing each other no matter how busy we get with outside activities. Kassidy is volunteering at a halfway house for troubled teens, and I have the paper and chess with Pepper.

Lifting my camera to my face, I snap away, getting caught up in the magic of being young and carefree tonight. Tomorrow when reality crashes in, well, that’s another story.

SEVEN

LOGAN

In thirty-six hours, I’ll be stepping into Bella’s playground. I haven’t heard anything about the girls she’s selected, but I’m sure she’s gone above and beyond to find people who will put on a good show. They’ll likely be professional dancers or escorts. There’s no way she’d pass up the opportunity to try and blackmail me.

I check my phone again. I’m waiting for Simon to call me back. He was uncharacteristically hard to reach all summer. Our friendship reduced to a few one line texts throughout the work week. We promised each other we wouldn’t be those friends that drift apart because of work or life changes, so the message I left him was a reminder of that.

When the phone rings, I bark out, “About time you called me back asshole.”

“Damn, somebody’s all up in their feelings that they didn’t see me this summer.”

“Fuck you.”

“With a nice ass between us? I can probably spare a weekend. When did you have in mind?”

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