Page 20 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

I roll my eyes.

Me: Are you seriously holding our friendship hostage right now? What kind of a dick does that?!

Jeremy: It’s a simple question.

Me: … what do you want?

His response is immediate.

Jeremy: Introduce me to Elliot Carson personally… before the season starts. And maybe get him to sign something, but don’t tell him it’s for me.

My stomach jumps to my throat when I read Eli’s name. I slam myself back on my bed, groaning.

Me: Fine.

As if the world isn’t torturing me enough, the phone rings in my hand. Lee’s name mocks me from the screen.

“Hey, girl.” I sit up as I answer.

“Hiya, stranger. How’s life in Florida?”

I swallow. I doubt you wanna know. “Huh? Oh… things are fine here. Great. How’s everything with you? Jax still actin’ like a lost puppy lappin’ up your scraps?”

She laughs. “Jax is not a lost puppy, Becca. And he’s just fine. I was with him last night until he went home with Suzy Abbott, of all people. Can you believe that? I swear, I hate her.”

“You could always just let Jax take you home, which we both know is what he really wants. Then you wouldn’t need to worry about girls like Suzy Abbott.”

Lee sighs. “You know I can’t do that.”

“And why the hell not? That boy would worship you like a goddess.”

“It would complicate things.”

“Nothin’ complicated about it, sister. Strip him down and let those mechanic hands go to work on that sweet little body of yours.”

“Jax is my friend, Becca.”

Jax is a fool for her, and he always has been. Even back when she belonged to his best friend. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for a chance to be with her, and she knows it.

I nod even though she can’t see. “Just think of how friendly he’d be with your vagina.”

She snorts. “You are so dang crass.”

“So you always tell me.” I smile. Damn, I miss her.

“You seen any more of Eli down there at that fancy school?”

My stomach rolls with her question, but my veins heat. A flash of our earlier kiss blinds me, infusing my cheeks with the flush of my guilt. “Nope. Not really. Why would I have seen him?”

I smack my forehead, squeezing my eyes. Idiot.

She blows out a breath. “I guess you wouldn’t have. But I won’t lie, the thought of you givin’ him a good tongue lashin’ is mighty appealin’.”

I choke on my inhale, eyes watering as I try to stop the burning cough.

“You alright?”

“Yeah,” I rasp. I clear my throat, my hand rubbing my chest. “I’m fine.”

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