‘She doesn’t know. She told me a college guy asked her out and she turned him down.’
I hear Chase’s voice from behind AJ ‘Woah. Escribano turned down a frat boy? That’s wack. Somethin’s up with that. I win, by the way.’
I roll my eyes. AJ laughs, ignores Chase, and, putting his hands at my waist, lifts me up onto the edge of the table, so my legs are dangling down. He positions himself between my thighs. At first, his kiss is restrained, until I kiss him back. Barely a month ago, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of kissing a man in public. Now I’m full-on making out with my boyfriend, in a semi-public place, in full view of a packed-out saloon bar, and not caring if anybody is watching.
Only, a minute later, when I open my eyes for a brief moment between kisses, it appears somebodyiswatching.
I break our kiss. ‘Jesus,’ I mutter, turning my head away.
‘What’s up?’ AJ asks.
He hasn’t noticed the college senior in a varsity jacket, holding up his phone and filming us in one hand, a beer bottle in the other, barely two meters from us, with an inane, borderline malicious, grin on his face. His blond hair is slicked back, and he’s wearing a red and white Canyon U varsity jacket and jeans.
‘Well, well, lookie here, Hollie,’ Doug says.
‘What the fuck, man?’ AJ snaps when he sees him. ‘Get your fucking camera out our faces.’
‘It’s my stepbrother,’ I whisper to AJ. ‘He’s Evelyn’s son.’
AJ shifts position.
‘Little X-rated, wouldn’t you say, Hollie?’ Doug sneers, lowering his phone. ‘I mean, like, get a fucking room, huh?’
AJ flinches, goes to move. I pin him between my thighs. ‘Just ignore it,’ I say under my breath. ‘He’s really not worth the argument.’
AJ’s expression darkens. ‘Fuck off, man,’ he says to Doug.
Doug’s eyes are on me. ‘Does your Daddy know you’re out here?’
‘Does your mother know?’ I clap back.
‘I’ll tell her I came out here on a reconnaissance mission. Once I show her this video, I don’t think it’s me she’ll be worrying about.’
I shake my head. ‘Go ahead,’ I say. ‘I don’t care.’
The smile creeps back onto his face. ‘Lately, your daddy’s been cryin’ ’bout the fact you never visit. Guess I just figured out why.’
He switches off his phone and pockets it. I don’t move. Chase steps in front of me, and for the first time in my life, I’m grateful for his presence.
‘Yo. Frat punk. When my friend tells you to fuck off, it means you take your sorry ass out the building. I suggest you get the fuck outta this bar, before things get ugly.’
‘Ugly like your face?’ Doug claps back immaturely.
‘No. Ugly like your momma getting fucked in the ass by the county sheriff night after night.’
Doug’s eyes go wide. Chase bears down on him. He never was one to hold back. I bite my lip. Doug takes his beer and backs off.
Chase and AJ bump fists.
‘Want me to make sure he leaves Rapture?’ Chase asks me.
‘Forget him. I really don’t care.’
‘You worried ’bout the video?’ AJ asks.
I let out a shaky breath. Doug has disappeared into the crowd.
‘I never thought he’d come out here,’ I say.