Page 113 of Beautiful Defiance

I will never tire of giving Seven oral. He makes me feel so good when he goes down on me, when he pounds into my sex, that I want to give back as much feel goods as he gives me.

The truck door opens. I slide off the seat and set my hand in his. We forget our fight temporarily and make our way inside the school and to the gym. Trace and Malice trail behind us with their dates. I recognize the girls. They’re cheerleaders. Seven’s court is made up of them and his teammates. They belong. I’m the outsider.

Pushing the thoughts and my doubts aside, I hand over my coat and my purse to the attendant.

While I give the attendant my information, Seven stands off to the side and looks me up and down, not being shy. Heat flashes in his eyes, and he scowls. I duck my head and hide my smile.

Poor guy. He wants me, but after the shit he gave me for being a disloyal girlfriend, he knows he’ll have to kiss up big time before I hop into bed with him again.

The attendant hands me my ticket, and I give it to Seven. He puts it in his jacket pocket.

“Where’s your EpiPen?”

“In my purse.”

“Hand it over, Leigh. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

My heart melts. Why am I having doubts when he cares enough to want to keep me safe? I ask the attendant for my purse. She hands it over. I find my EpiPen and give her back the purse.

Needing to touch and thank him for thinking of my well-being, I lean into Seven, slide my hand inside his jacket, and slip the EpiPen in the inner pocket. On the toes of my feet, I lock my lips on his. He kisses me back. We break up when the principal taps Seven on the shoulder.

“You’re the best,” I murmur on his mouth. “My world.”

His arms wrap around me. His warm breath coasts over my mouth. Ignoring everyone around us, the principal included, Seven’s mouth descends on mine, his answer buried in that kiss. I am his world too.

After what seems like minutes of a kiss that curls my toes, we pull apart, out of breath. His eyes glaze over with desire. Mine must look like that too.

For the rest of our time, we mingle and dance. Half-way through the dance, the principal calls Seven onstage to give a speech. He goes up onstage and invites his teammates up there with him. I watch by the refreshment table with a big grin on my face. I cannot stop smiling. He is so handsome, a vision of sexiness and endless energy and enthusiasm.

“First off, thank you to my teammates for a hell of a win. You guys are the bomb. BAMFs from another mother. I am proud to call you guys my brothers for life.”

“For life!” they holler.

“Second, let’s give a round of applause to Ginger and her cheerleaders for supporting us on the sidelines. You girls rock with your sexy-as-fuck moves.”

The principal lets Seven’s f-bomb slide, and the crowd notices. They whoop and holler their approval.

“Third, thank you, all of you, for showing up and cheering us on. We couldn’t have done it without you guys. Now, let’s party the rest of the fucking night away!”

On cue, the music blasts. It’s a fast beat worthy of a mosh pit. My head hurting from barely eating anything—I was a nervous wreck while Eleanor and Hannah fawned over my hair and makeup—I make my way to the bathroom.

A bloom of disappointment spreads across my chest. Did I expect Seven to include me in his speech? I shouldn’t. I tutored him, but Seven did the work. Still . . . I swallow past the lump in my throat. He could have mentioned hisgirlfriend.

Sitting in the stall of the bathroom, I reframe my thinking and square my shoulders. What am I thinking? I am my father’s child, raised by a criminal. A girl who stole a billionaire’s limited-edition sportscar. A girl who stole said billionaire’s sex tapes to use as leverage. I am not going to wallow in self-pity just because my hot boyfriend didn’t acknowledge my existence to a bunch of kids I couldn’t care less for.

High school is but one piece of my life, of our lives. No matter what happens, Seven chose to be with me. Had asked me to be his girl. Asked me to declare him as mine too. I also have my friends.

I can always count on Maddox, Rue, Red, Winslow, Shay, Miles, and Sorrow to be there for me. Like me, they don’t care what people think. They pave their own paths in life. Will forge their own futures. Those are the people who matter most, and not everyone else.

My mind made up to have fun and enjoy my time with Seven, I do my business, wash my hands, and walk straight into a nightmare.

Seven is in the hallway, swapping spit with Ginger. His mouth full on hers. Her arms wrapped tight around his neck. I see red. Hear the blood roar in my ears. I want to rip her hair out. I aim to kick him in his cheating balls. How could he? How the hell could he do this to me?

I march toward them.

Hear Seven’s voice in my head.All I ask is for you not to mouth off. We won the game, Leigh. Let’s celebrate, yeah?

He wants a girl who falls in line.

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