Never His Girl: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Pointe Book 2)
Never His Girl: Chapter 17

WEST

Fucking hell.

So, this is what it feels like to be ghosted.

Guess I understand the panicked texts and phone calls that flood my phone after a girl’s given it up, and then I ignore her ass.

Joss lets out a sigh from where she’s sprawled out beside Dane on his bed. Sterling’s deep in thought in the armchair, and I’ve been pacing for the last thirty minutes.

We took the win this morning, so there’s another massive celebration going on at a nearby frat house, but I haven’t even considered leaving this hotel room. My brothers and Joss, being my only support through all this, are holed up here with me. To make it up to them for being such a drag, I bought up most of the snacks and soda from the vending machine down the hall. They hadn’t signed up to be my advisors, but slipped into those roles without complaint.

“I don’t understand,” Joss finally says. “The room, the flowers… I mean, it should’ve worked. Hell, it would’ve probably even worked on me if it’d been the right guy,” she jokes.

Dane’s brow quirks with intrigue, probably taking notes for whenever he finally gets up the nerve to make a move.

If he ever makes a move.

It feels like my heart’s in my gut now, though. Not only because of the obvious air of doubt in Joss’s voice, but also because of what desperation had me confessing to Southside last night. There was this look in her eyes, though, making her distrust abundantly clear. While I’ve been far from an angel when it comes to her, I needed her to know I’d never cut that deep. I’d never get her completely open to me like she was last weekend, then exploit the shit out of that moment.

Damn, I’m a dick, but that’s beneath even me.

So, when I realized nothing I was saying last night was working, I spilled my guts, despite having every intention to keep the info about Parker to myself.

Now, what if Southside spills? Not like she has reason to be loyal toward me after all I’ve done.

“And she spoke when you woke up in her room today?” Sterling asks.

I shrug, still distracted by the possibility of having shot myself in my own damn foot.

“We said good morning,” I share. “Then, she left to shower and I ordered us room service for breakfast.”

“Did you guys talk while you ate?” Joss wants to know.

“A little, but not much.”

She’s mulling over my answer and I hate this has me so on edge.

“Other than that, nothing seemed off?” Dane asks.

I peer up at him while I pace, shrugging again. “Dude, I don’t fucking know! Next time I’ll make sure to write the shit down in my diary,” I snap.

A surge of air fills my lungs and I remember that they’re doing me a favor. They’re here to help and I’m in no position to be an ass right now. So, I start again, keeping my cool this time.

“Mostly, I guess it was just awkward waking up naked beside someone you’re not entirely sure doesn’t hate you, but—’

“Wait a second,” Joss cuts in. She sits up and pops a brow at me, smiling. “I thought you said there was no sex.”

There’s a curious accusation in her tone that I don’t miss. I’m also aware of the fact that I’ve just said too much. Again. Which has me thinking I’m starting to develop my mother’s condition: word vomit.

Good job, asshat.

“Joss, just… don’t start. Please,” I say with a sigh.

My discomfort has her smiling bigger now. “You can’t just leave us hanging, West. You left something out. Something major,” she teases, resting on her fist while eyeing me.

“Honestly? I kind of wanna hear this, too,” Sterling jumps in. “I mean, if you two weren’t getting it on, but you were naked, something sure as hell went down.”

“Did she go down?” Dane guesses.

“No… you went down! Didn’t you, West!?!?” Joss cuts in with a gasp. I can hear the amusement in her voice and I kind of fucking hate her right now.

I’m shaking my head as I turn to gaze out the window, avoiding any and all eye contact. This is about to get real fun. Only, in reverse.

“That’s it isn’t it?!?!” she squeals. “Mr. Bigshot, QB-1 broke his own cardinal rule!”

“Settle down,” Dane cuts in, coming to my defense. “Not possible. We all know West is strictly a receiver, not a giver, in the oral department.”

Annoyed, I’m chewing the side of my lip like it’s a steak, and when I fail to deny Joss’s accusation, Dane’s traitorous ass turns on me, too.

“Then again, Southside does kind of have your punk ass whipped,” he says.

“Was it uncomfortable?” Joss starts. “Did you like it? Oooh! Did she like it?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I mumble, not answering a single one of her dumb ass questions. Not out loud anyway.

They’re not wrong; I’d never done that for a girl. Not before last night. Of course, I’ve wondered if I got it right, but then I stop doubting when I remember how hard she came, and then how fast she fell asleep afterward. For a newb, I’m pretty sure I killed that shit.

Who ever said porn is useless?

There wasn’t much thought that went into it beforehand. Timing felt right, she seemed down for whatever, so I went with it. Only, I hadn’t anticipated she’d jet back to South Cypress right after taking pics at the game. At least, that’s what Pandora’s reporting. Her friend with the red hair popped up at the hotel, helped Southside load up her things, then they took off.

I mean, I didn’t expect her to completely soften toward me in one night, but damn. Not even a ‘see you later, asshole’ before she hightailed it home?

It dawns on me that I’m practically pining over her when I start scrolling through Pandora’s pics again, checking to see if any were taken of her carrying at least one dozen of the roses I bought. When I realize she’s only seen with her suitcase, it guts me a little.

The only thing better about this time is that she didn’t call that dick, Ricky, to come to her rescue. That’s something, I guess.

What the hell is wrong with me? Girl’s got me acting like such a fucking pussy.

Suddenly, the urge hits me to crush beer cans on my forehead, lift weights, barbecue or some shit that’ll reassert my masculinity. Can’t have her turning me soft. I’m the guy who crushes those guys.

“Let’s lay off him,” Sterling speaks up, cutting into the laugh Joss and Dane are having at my expense.

With my back still to the room, I smile a little. I’d give any one of them at least this hard a time if the tables were turned and they know it.

“All right, all right,” Dane interjects, catching his breath to speak. “So, we see luxurious hotel rooms, flowers, and mediocre head don’t work with this girl. So, what’s next on the list?”

“Mediocre?” I scoff. “She damn-near woke the neighbors screaming my name, so let’s get that shit straight.”

“Ew! TMI!” Joss screeches.

“Well, whatever the case, we need a new approach,” is Sterling’s take.

We’re all quiet for a moment, thinking.

“I’m not so sure about that.”

I glance toward Dane from over my shoulder. “Meaning?”

He shrugs before explaining. “You came on strong, told her the truth—”

“Part of the truth,” Joss amends, which has Dane rolling his eyes.

“Well, part of the truth, but you proved your point. Now, I think you should fall back. Continue giving her space so she knows you respect that these things take time. But while you wait, keep showing up to walk her to class, keep showing her you’re trying, and just let nature take its course. At the very least, she has to be a little less pissed at you than when this all began. I mean, right?”

His question has me shrugging. “Hell if I know,” I say. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

No one responds and I go back to staring out the window, like Southside’s lost dog.

Fuck this.

“We partying or not?” I ask, breaking the silence. “We won today. That deserves a celebration.”

Dane’s face lights up. “Fuck yeah it does.”

He and Joss are off the bed the next second, and I swear Sterling has one shoe on before I even finish my sentence.

I’m not exactly in the mood for a crowd, for being the center of attention, but I sure as hell don’t want to sit here wondering if I just got played. It’s not outside the realm of possibility that Southside simply wants me to feel this shit—used, uncertain, sort of insecure—but I won’t let it consume me.

We’re one step closer to the championship win and I won’t let anything bring me down from this well-earned high.

At least… that’s what I’ll let people think, anyway.

Shit.

Karma really is a heartless bitch, ain’t she?

@QweenPandora: Dare I say the king is back?

Based on these images taken from tonight’s party, The Golden Boys are enjoying every second of this latest victory. Only, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that one Golden, in particular, has been keeping the fangirls at bay. Sure, he danced, he drank, he was the life of the party, but not once was he spotted behaving like he’s single, if you know what I mean. Either there’s a secret rekindling to a certain twosome that’s slipped past me, or… someone’s hoping like hell to prove he’s a changed man.

Only time will tell, I suppose.

In other news, MrSilver and PrettyBoyD MORE than made up for the girls KingMidas passed up on tonight. Wonder how VirginVixen feels about watching her “bestie” get super familiar with the female student body tonight. Or, should I say bodies, plural?

Things are certainly heating up, folks. Keep an eye out for the next update.

Later, Peeps.

—P

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