Page 88 of Cherry Beats

Love.

My face paled as I stared at the four pair of eyes glaring right back at me.

“Has she gone ghostly white?” Presley asked the guys casually.

“Yep,” they answered as one.

“She does that a lot.”

I pressed my lips together and brought my hands up to cover my face. This wasn’t the kind of girl I was. I had comebacks and snark. I had a joke for every occasion and a way to wiggle myself out of any situation with a cover- up of how I really felt, but right there and then, I knew that I couldn’t cover up anything.

It was clear to see.

They might not know for certain that I loved him, but a fool could see I was falling.

Falling hard.

Hoping it wouldn’t hurt in the end.

“What do you say we all get out of here?” Rhett suggested.

“I’m down,” Presley said behind me. “That shit in there makes me thirsty.”

“Me too.” That was Big D.

“Count us in,” Hawk answered for him and Coops.

I let my hands slide down my face, looking around at Presley who was perched on my shoulder still. “Won’t you get in trouble?”

“You’re so fucking adorable.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Iremembered how it felt to skip school or even a single class back in the day. I’d never been a goody two shoes, but I had an appreciation for boundaries and rules, probably because we didn’t have those at home, and I saw what that was doing to my younger brother Freddie… creating a goddamn monster. The nervous adrenaline sweats weren’t worth the hour’s freedom, so I usually chose to sit through the misery of History with Mr Baldock and his overgrown beard that always had remnants of his food in there.

This, however, was different, and seeing the way the guys’ eyes lit up the second they became the anarchists they wanted to be gave me a whole new appreciation for freedom and breaking the rules. Hawk and Coops were more comfortable out of the limelight and the pressure of press interviews. Big D melted into the leather seat in the back of the big limo we’d dived into, and Rhett and Presley, well… they were both looking at me.

Intensely.

Presley looked like he wanted to screw me with an audience.

Rhett looked… curious. As though he was studying something about me that the others couldn’t see.

Feeling uncomfortable with Rhett’s gaze, I reached over and grabbed Presley’s hand, squeezing it tight as I stared at Rhett.

“You can tell him to fuck off. He won’t be offended,” Presley said, loud enough for everyone in the back of the limo to hear. “That shit bag doesn’t get offended.”

My head snapped to Presley instantly, taking in his relaxed shoulders and his amused expression as he stared straight ahead at his bandmate. I leaned towards him and rested my head against his shoulder, focusing back on Rhett as I did.

“Lovebirds like you two don’t belong in this industry,” Rhett said, comfortable with his declaration.

“We’re not lovebirds. We’re fuck bunnies,” I hit back.

Presley huffed out a laugh and Rhett’s smile grew.

“I think I want you for myself.” Rhett groaned, trying to be seductive.

“Sorry, Rhett. I have really, really high standards.”

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