Page 54 of Counter Bet

“Em, you’re a genius,” she grins, and I feel bad for Jamie when she chuckles darkly like a villain in a movie. “I just won’t cover them up and let daddy see them. Jamie will be dead before sundown.”

Poor Jamie! Hailey’s father will go straight for the shotgun and ask questions later.

I laugh along with her. I love these rare moments when it’s just the two of us.

* * *

At seven in the evening, I stand waiting outside the abandoned warehouse, fidgeting nervously with my dress. I wasn’t sure what to put on, so I picked a midnight blue skater dress and paired it with black flats. I don’t own the kind of clothes they do, so I stand out regardless of what I wear.

Everyone knows where the warehouse is, but I’ve never been before. It’s notorious for attracting rough crowds, which should make me nervous, but I’m strangely excited.

I eventually see them turn a corner, walking toward me. They’re all here, which makes me even more nervous. April doesn’t like me and has made no secret of the fact. Nina has never spoken a word to me, and the others don’t seem to care either way.

“You showed up.” Dallas’ smile is big.

“Here I am.” I blush, cursing myself for being so awkward. It’s strange to feel unsure of myself. I’m at the top of the food chain at school, but I’m an outsider trying to fit in right now.

Ben leans in as he walks past. “Relax, princess.”

I ignore Steph’s knowing smirk as I watch him go. God, I can still feel his hands on my body and his tongue inside me.

“You skate?” I ask, quirking an eyebrow when I notice that they all carry skateboards.

Dallas nods. “I’ve only done it since I moved here. The others have skated since childhood. This is where they all met and became friends.”

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Here?” I take in the derelict building in front of us. It has seen better days. The paint is peeling off, there’s graffiti on the walls everywhere I look, and the windows are broken or missing entirely. I struggle to imagine young kids playing here.

She laughs at my incredulity. “There’s a skatepark inside the warehouse. It’s been here for years. Come on, you’ll see.”

I take it all in as I trail closely behind. The evening sunlight streams in through missing parts of the roof, reflecting off the wet puddles on the floor. I can hear music and people up ahead.

We enter a big open space. I turn in a circle, sweeping my eyes over the many different launch ramps, half pipes, and rails.

Ben hands me a skateboard and smirks when he sees the look on my face.

“You expect me to ride a skateboard?” I splutter, staring at it like it’s a foreign object from an unknown planet. The idea is absurd.

Nina drops a duffel bag on the floor next to me. I take in her short black bob and purple lipstick as she pulls out a helmet and hands it to me. Next up are shin and elbow pads. I stare at them too. I must look confused because Matt chuckles.

He walks up to me with his hands in his jean pockets and rocks back on his heels, eyes shining with amusement. I probably look foolish standing here with my hands leaden with stuff. “Do you need help with those?”

“Err?” I look to Dallas for help. She invited me here after all.

She winks, strapping on her own helmet.

Much help she is.

Ben stops in front of me, takes the helmet off my hands, and holds it up for me to see. “See this, princess? It’s called a helmet. It goes on your pretty head,” he quips, placing it unceremoniously on my head.

I give him my best ‘no shit’ look, but on the inside, I’m engaged in full-on warfare with the butterflies in my stomach. Especially when I get a whiff of his cologne.

He’s oblivious to my inner turmoil as he adjusts the strap, his brows furrowed in concentration. He’s got a smatter of freckles on his nose that I didn’t notice until now.

His eyes collide with mine for a brief second before he taps the helmet with his knuckles and winks. “You’re good to go, your highness. You just need to put on the shin and elbow pads.”

I look at the offending items in my arms. My mother would die of shock if she saw me out here.

I follow their lead and strap on the protective gear. I’m clumsy and awkward, but I get there in the end. “Okay, what now?” I ask when we make our way over to the ramps.

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