Giving It to the Bad Boy (13 page)

alcoholic. Said Reese spent most of his time at some tattoo place because his parents wanted nothing to do with him. Then the guy started saying he got his ass beat at home because he was worthless, and so on. I know he said more, but by then Reese had showed up. He found out what was happening and

beat the shit out of that kid.” Molly’s eyes widened, and she repeated it more slowly, like Kiera

didn’t quite grasp it. “He kicked his ass so badly that the kid never came back to school.”

Kiera covered her mouth and felt her own eyes widen. Was Molly implying he killed the kid?

Surely not. Molly must have seen the conclusion she came to because she shook her head adamantly.

“No, I don’t mean it like
that
. The kid was in the hospital for a few days, but then transferred. I heard he moved out of state to live with his grandparents or something. After that no one ever said

anything about Reese Trenton again, but can you blame them? I mean, even as a freshman he was big

and scary as hell.”

Yeah, Kiera remembered him very clearly. He had never looked like one of those awkward

teenagers with the gangly limbs and acne covered face. He didn’t have the muscle mass he had now,

but he had been toned and wore a perpetual scowl on his face, one that had kept people at a distance.

She would have never thought he was so hardened at such a young age because of where he came

from. Kiera wanted nothing more than to go to him and give him a hug, something he probably didn’t

get much of at home. They didn’t talk about him again, but he was constantly on her mind for the rest of the day.

Kiera and Molly spent the rest of the afternoon with Ian, talking about their relationship and

why they kept it from her. Kiera kept a smile on her face as their clear affection for one another was no longer hidden, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She wouldn’t deny it was a bit strange that her

two friends were together, but she was happy they found someone they trusted and could be happy

with. Kiera was optimistic that one day she would find that kind of happiness with someone that she

knew would care for her as much as she cared for them. These thoughts brought the image of Reese

back to her mind. She didn’t want to let herself go that deep, especially when things with them hadn’t been set in stone, and they were just getting to know each other. Yes, they had had some pretty intense moments together, but it wasn’t like he told her he wanted to be exclusive with only her, which she

admitted, only to herself, was exactly what she wanted.

****

Reese tossed the cards he didn’t want toward Leo, who was the dealer for this hand of poker.

Dr. Dre blasted through the speakers, and more and more people came to the party every hour. It was

going on midnight, and Harrison Jennings’ house was packed to capacity. Reese lifted his can to his

mouth and took a long drink of beer. It was warm and only his second one for the night. He had been

nursing it for the past hour, not really wanting to be here, but having no place else to hang out. His house was off limits, especially when his parents threw their own white trash party. The lowlifes

there took dirty and trashy to a whole new level.

“You gonna fucking play or what?” Chris, a guy who had graduated a few years before him,

tossed in a few dollars in the pot, then looked at him. Reese matched his bet and raised it before

calling. A chorus of shouts erupted when Reese laid down his flush, beating Chris’s straight. Reese

collected the fifty dollars currently in the pot. Chris gave him a nasty glare, but Reese didn’t give a fuck. His mind was currently on Kiera, as usual. He had tried texting her, but when he got word of the party it had already been late, and she hadn’t answered. He hadn’t seen her since the night at Kline’s, and despite the fact it had been a day made him feel like a fucking creeper. Already he missed her

like crazy, and he knew it was because she was the only person that made him want to open up

completely and not hide anything.

“I’m going to have a smoke. Play the next hand without me,” Reese said and stood up.

Chris still had a nasty glare in his eyes, but that could be the fact Reese had kicked his ass the

last three hands. If the guy wasn’t so damn cocky he might actually win a hand. He also was shit at

masking his features. Reese headed out the sliding backdoors and sat in a patio chair off to the side and away from the couples dry humping right by the door. He took out a cigarette and lit it. The first hit was always the best, even if it was a nasty fucking habit. He was doing better in cutting back, but times like this, when his thoughts were a jumbled mess and the stress was too high, he needed the

burst of nicotine in his system. He let his head fall back against the chair and closed his eyes. If he thought hard enough he could imagine a different world, one where it was just him without the shitty trials life often brought. He could see himself happy, far away from everything. Snapping his eyes

open because his thoughts were getting far too deep, he stared at the clear sky above him. It was vast and infinite, and nothing could touch it. Thinking about what he never had would only lead to

disappointment.

“Hey. I know you.” The slurred, female voice came from his right. Reese looked toward her

and saw a redhead weaving her way through the couples all but fucking in front of everyone. She held a regulation red Solo cup in her hand, and the clear alcohol in it sloshed over the side with each step.

It was clear she was drunker than shit, especially when she smiled at him in a way that he had seen

far too many times. It was a smile that he got when a girl wanted something from him.

“Doubtful.” He had never seen her, and whatever she wanted, which was most likely a quick

fuck, wasn’t something he was willing to give.

She stopped in front of him, weaved slightly, and gripped the edge of his chair for support.

Reese kept his gaze forward and took another drag of his cigarette. Maybe if he ignored her she’d

leave?

“Yeah, I do. I’ve seen you at some parties. I even asked who you were.” She trailed her finger

along his arm, and he shrugged her off. “Besides, you aren’t one to miss,” she said all breathy. “You certainly don’t seem like a senior, not with this kind of body or ink.” She started touching him again, and he flicked his cigarette away and made a move to stand, but she was quick, even drunk, or maybe

she just couldn’t stand upright any longer? He fell back against the chair when she planted her ass on his lap. Her breath smelled strongly of vodka, a scent that had bile rising to his throat because it was all too familiar. Reese gripped her upper arms to lift her off of him, but in a move he hadn’t expected she planted her mouth on his. Her tongue probed at the seam of his lips, and he turned his head.

Though he gripped her arms to push her away, she started giggling and wrapped her arms tightly

around his neck. Her grip was strong for being drunk, but he was stronger. Before he pushed her off

him a booming voice cut through the noise.

“What the fuck!” The anger-filled voice roared out and had Reese wrenching the girl away from

him. She started giggling and tried to come at him again, but he stood quickly, which had her

stumbling back. Chris came barreling toward him and stopped when he stood a foot from Reese.

Chris was a big guy, a wrestler in college, and from the aggression and testosterone that came from

him it was clear he wanted to start something with Reese. Chris looked between him and the redhead.

She kept giggling, and Reese gritted his teeth in irritation.

“What’s the problem?” Reese kept his voice pitched low, but didn’t hide the fact that if Chris

wanted to go there, then so be it. The asshole had been giving him fucked up looks all night.

Chris sneered and cracked his knuckles. “The problem,
brother
, is that you take all my fucking money with your shitty card playing, and then you fuck with my girlfriend.”

That had Reese lifting his eyebrows in surprise. He looked at the redhead. She clearly didn’t

care her boyfriend was a few feet away since she kept giving Reese a sultry look. He looked at Chris again. “First off, I am
not
your brother. Not that I owe you any kind of explanation, but maybe you should keep a shorter leash on your girlfriend since she came looking for me.”

And just like that the air changed. The outraged gasp that came from the redhead was ignored by

both of them. A muscle ticked beneath Chris’s jaw.

“And lastly, it isn’t my fault you can’t play poker.” A crowd was starting to grow in a circle

around them from their raised voices. “You don’t want to do this.” It was a subtle warning to Chris. It was his decision if he decided to take the suggestion. A few murmurs surrounded them, but Reese

only focused on the meathead in front of him. Chris hadn’t backed down, and didn’t appear to be

either, so it looked like things were about to get real. Despite the fact Reese wanted to just move on and not get things dirty, he was no stranger to throwing a few punches. Despite the rumors that had

been spread around school, Reese wasn’t the type of guy to start shit. He didn’t go around looking for trouble and throwing random punches, but when a threat presented itself he didn’t back done. Ever.

“Fight Music” by Eminem started playing, and Reese thought it was fitting for what was about

to go down. Chris rolled his neck on his shoulders. Yeah, clearly he wanted to do this, and Reese

wasn’t about to stop him, not with the anger he felt for his parents. He had warned him, but it was

clear Chris had just as much fury to burn off as he did. Well, so-fucking-be-it. “You sure you want to do this?” It was a courtesy question, one he knew Chris was scoff at, but still, Reese threw it out

there.

“Man, I’ve been waiting years to beat your ass. You walk in acting all tough and shit, and it

pisses me off every damn time. Someone needs to knock you down a few steps, and I plan on doing

that right now.” Chris threw off his jacket and tossed it to the redhead still behind Reese. “Melanie, get the fuck over here.” The girl scurried over to stand with the crowd, waiting to see a fight. “You’re a big motherfucker, but I can still take you,” Chris said and cracked his knuckles once more. He

started bouncing on the balls of his feet, like he was some kind of boxer in the ring. “You strut around like some kind of God, fucking all the chicks and starting all kinds of shit. I’m about to put an end to that shit.”

“If you were smart you’d take your chick and get back in the fucking house.”

Chris started laughing. “What are you, a fucking pussy now? Or maybe you’ve gone soft now

that you’re fucking Alex’s little sister?”

Reese clenched his fists together at the mention of Kiera. No way in hell this punk thought he

was going to get away with bringing her up. And how in the fuck did he even know about Kiera to

begin with?

“If you know what’s good for you, then shut the fuck up.” Reese felt his muscles tighten and

bunch, a familiar feeling when the fight mode clicked on inside of him. This situation was all too real for him, and times like this he relished a good beat-down.

“Man, I’m not afraid. You want to fuck geeky little girls, that’s your own business, but when

you start messing with my woman, it’s on.”

Reese gritted his teeth. “I don’t give two-shits about your chick, but don’t you ever fucking talk

about her.” By the look on Chris’s face he didn’t need to elaborate that he was referring to Kiera.

“Reese-Motherfucking-Trenton.” Chris started laughing again and turned in a circle to address

the audience. “I want each and every one of you to see the downfall of this asshole.” Camera phones

snapped picture after picture, and there was no doubt that videos were being recorded as well. Chris turned back to him and snarled. “Bring your white trash ass on over here and let’s start this.”

Well, here we go.

Chris charged forward and slammed his body into Reese’s, but he was prepared. He took the

force and steadied himself. Chris stumbled back and swung. His actions were fast and sloppy, a result of him drinking all night and his anger. Reese ducked and brought his fist up, clipping Chris under the chin. He stumbled back, blood immediately spilling from his mouth. He turned his head and spit out a mouthful of blood. They grappled before Chris got the upper hand and slammed Reese against the

side of the house. The brick scrapped against the back of his arms, but his blood was pumping within his veins, and adrenalin coursed through him. Reese was pumped, and he was too far gone to feel any

kind of pain. Reese grinned as Chris tried to get a punch in. The struggle was half the fun, half the rush of the fight. Chris swung again, and Reese ducked right before he was hit. The sound of flesh

slamming into brick made a sickening noise. Chris howled in pain and stumbled back, cradling his

wounded hand to his chest. Everyone started chanting, something loud and rhythmic. It was meant to

get them worked up, and it was doing the fucking job. Chris came at him again, and Reese pushed him

back. The fury on Chris’s voice was tangible, and he pushed his pain back and rushed Reese again,

swinging in a blind rage. The little bastard was fast even injured, and Reese moved out of the way

again before Chris could punch him. In the next move Chris’s fist connected with the side of his face.

The punch kicked Reese’s head back, and blood instantly filled his mouth. His vision blurred

momentarily. Reese shook his head and spit out the blood. Chris had a crazed expression in his eyes, and Reese knew it wasn’t just anger and alcohol that fueled him. The guy was higher than hell.