Rebels at Sterling Prep: Ace (Rebels at Sterling Prep Duets #1), page 31
Coming to a stop at her locker, I pin her against it with my hips.
“Jesus, Ace,” she groans when my length presses against her hip. “You really should have let me—” I cut her words off with my lips, taking the only thing I’ll allow for myself right now.
“Well, I guess this explains the rejection of our ride to school this morning,” a familiar voice says behind me.
“Fuck off. We’re busy,” I grunt as I kiss along Remi’s jaw.
“How the fuck did you make this happen, bro? You got some tricks we don’t know about, because I don’t know about this one here but I sure could use some pus—ow,” Conner complains, I can only assume as Cole hits him.
“Shut the fuck up. Remi doesn't need to know anything about your cock.”
“Hey, you were the one who brought it up. If she’s thinking about how much bigger it is than Ace’s then it’s your fault, not mine.”
“Will the two of you shut the fuck up? We talked—”
“Yeah, right,” Conner snorts, but we all ignore him.
“We talked and—”
“He told me the truth,” Remi interjects. “Ace wasn’t the one who played the tape. But don’t worry, I’ll make him pay for ever thinking he could record it in the first place.” Running her hands up my chest she stops when she gets to my nipple and twists it hard.
“Ow, Princess.”
“Payback,” she smiles sweetly. “Plenty more where that came from. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to get to class.”
She grabs her books from her locker before turning to look at me once again.
“I think that’s your cue to walk her to class, bro. See if you can sweet talk her into giving you your balls back on the way, eh?”
We all ignore Conner and walk away.
Remi might hold my hand and walk beside me like she belongs there, but I can tell that she’s still got reservations about this, about going public so soon. I guess when you’re used to being at the center of the school gossip, whether you deserve it or not, it can get a little tiring.
“We’re almost at her classroom door when Michaela flounces into the hallway, wearing her usual cheer uniform. Her steps falter when her eyes land on the two of us together. Her face goes beet red as she takes in our joined hands.
“Someone looks pleased to see us,” Remi mutters under her breath.
“She’s going to be even more pleased when she realizes what’s coming her way.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Not decided yet. It’s going to be painful for her, though.”
“Ace, you can’t hurt—”
“I don’t mean physically, Princess. What does she care about most?”
“Her popularity.”
“Exactly. That’s what we’re going to hit. We just need to find the right ammunition. It shouldn’t be hard, she’s not exactly an angel.”
“You got that right.”
“Michaela, how lovely to see you,” I announce, putting a little extra pep into my voice.
Her top lip curls up as she once again looks between us.
“You two can’t actually be for real?” she spits.
“We’re a hell of a lot more real than your eyelashes.”
Michaela’s mouth opens and closes like a fish.
“What’s wrong? You didn’t get your way and now you’re going to sulk? Oh, boo hoo, why don’t you run home to my daddy and tell him all about it. I’m sure he can buy you a new custom car to make you feel better.”
Dismissing Michaela, Remi turns to me and runs her hands up my chest until they link behind my head. “Thanks for walking me to class.”
“You’re welcome, Princess. I’ll see you later.”
With Michaela still watching, I sweep my tongue into Remi’s mouth. She eagerly joins in to give our one-woman audience a show.
After a few seconds, Michaela lets out a huff and disappears into the classroom. Remi chuckles against me. “I think she got the message,” she says when I pull back enough for her to be able to talk.
“Hmm… me too. Do you have any idea how badly I need you right now?” I whisper in her ear. She shudders against me. I’m so close to throwing caution to the wind and dragging her back to my bike to spend the day in bed with her.
“It’s your own doing, Ace. You could have been perfectly satisfied this morning.”
“It doesn't matter. I’d still want you all over again.”
“Mr. Jagger,” a deep voice booms down the hallway. “Please put Miss Tanner down and get to class. You’d like to graduate this year, right?”
Rolling my eyes at Remi, I take a step back, although not before I rearrange myself in the hope of not giving whichever teacher is walking toward us the pleasure of knowing just how much I don’t need to be sitting in a classroom right now.
“I’ll see you later, Princess.”
She nods, an innocent smile playing at her lips as she watches me walk away.
“Come on, Remi. Your education awaits.”
She enters the classroom while the teacher waits for her to do so, but his eyes don’t leave me. He’s probably wondering what the hell Remi is thinking, just like everyone else in this school.
I give her teacher a salute and walk off down the hallway to my own class, which, naturally, I’m now late for.
The day drags, and it doesn’t get any better when I find Remi waiting at my bike after our last class to tell me she’s been summoned home by her mother. She didn’t say it, but I got the feeling that maybe word had already got back to Sarah about the two of us. No doubt courtesy of Michaela.
“I can come with you. Try and charm her.”
“As much as I appreciate the offer, I’m not sure your smooth talk is going to get us very far.”
“I don’t know,” I say with a shrug. “It worked pretty well with her daughter.”
Her eyes widen in mock horror. “So you’re telling me all those confessions last night were just lines to get in my panties?”
“Confessions? What’s my big brother been confessing? I’m not sure any priest in the world has enough time to hear his sins.”
“Fuck off, Conner.”
“Bro, you’re leaning against my car. What the fuck do you want me to do? Stick my fingers in my ears as I wait for you to fuck off?”
I push from his car to end his argument.
“You know that every word I said last night was the truth, right?” I whisper to Remi so my douche of a brother can’t hear.
“I do. Just let me handle my mom. Go home and plot your revenge on the cheer bitch.”
“Can I see you after?”
“I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea. If Mom’s pissed, the last thing she’s going to want is you sneaking in the house.”
“You could sneak out,” I suggest. “Then we can be as loud as we want in the pool house.”
“Let’s see how it goes with Mom first.”
I expect her to follow me onto my bike when I climb on, but instead she stands at the side, looking conflicted.
“Come on, Princess. What are you waiting for?”
“I think it’s probably best if I…” She gestures to Conner’s car, and my heart sinks.
“Really?”
“Just until I’ve talked to Mom.”
“Fine,” I grumble. “Call me when you’re done.”
I wait for her to get into the car before gunning my engine and leaving that fucking school behind.
With Conner giving Remi a ride home and Cole at practice, I walk into what I think is an empty kitchen until Ellen pokes her head out of the pantry.
“Have you had a good day?” she asks.
“Great,” I say sarcastically. The fact that I’m sitting here alone with the housekeeper just about sums it up. I should be with my girl.
“Why the long face? You having a hard time after what happened?”
I smirk, amused that she thinks anyone would dare give me a hard time. “Nah, it’s not like that. I spent last night with Remi. Things are good.”
“Oh?” Her lips curve knowingly.
“Things aren’t always as they seem.”
“I know that. It’s just that things seemed pretty bad.”
I can’t really argue with that.
“I didn’t play that tape, Ellen.”
“I believe you, and so does Remi, it seems. So what’s the issue?”
“I need to make it up to her. I ruined her eighteenth birthday. She deserves better than that.” I let out a deep sigh. “I’m pretty sure I’ve lost my job.” If nothing else, my little rendezvous with Bruce was warning enough, even if I am yet to hear it from the horse's mouth. But I keep putting off that little visit. I’m amazed he’s not forced the issue and had one of his goons drag me in, if I’m honest. Something is going on there, and it sure doesn't help me sleep at night. “I’ve got no money to do anything and ugh… I don’t know. Sorry, this isn’t your issue.”
“No, but I may have a solution.”
“Oh?” I sit forward, intrigued as to what she’s got to say.
“My brother owns an auto shop on the outskirts of town. He’s looking for some help. Just labor here and there. It’s hard, dirty work. But it’s work, and he pays well. Do you want his number?”
“How about the address? I’ll go there now,” I say, pushing from the chair. There’s no time like the present to try to get my life in order and prove to both Remi and Sarah that I’m serious.
“Sure.” Ellen shuffles off and grabs a piece of paper before scribbling the address down. “And about your other issue with regards to her birthday. I’ve got an idea. Leave it with me though.” She winks and heads back toward the pantry.
“T-Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Ace. Everyone needs a little help now and then.”
After a quick stop in the pool house to change, I jump back on my bike and head in the direction of the garage in the hope of a fresh start with a job that’s less likely to end with me in prison. Or dead.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Remi
“Crap,” I mumble as Conner pulls up alongside my house.
“Problem?” he asks.
“Yeah, my dad is here.” I’ve managed to mostly avoid him up until now, but I know he’s still out for Ace’s blood after what happened.
“You need me to come run interference with them?”
“No,” I sigh. “I need to handle this on my own.” I go to climb out, but Conner’s voice gives me pause.
“Listen, what I said before, about you and my brother... I was wrong.” Shame washes over him. “I guess part of me was jealous.”
“Jealous?” My brows knit.
“Yeah. It’s Ace. He’s the worst of us... shit, I don’t mean it like that. I just mean... there was a girl, back in the Heights. A girl I…” He trails off. “It’s a long story, but I guess I didn’t expect to move here and watch my brother fall in love.”
“Ace doesn’t love me.” The words are out before I can stop them.
Conner smirks. “If that’s what you think, then you’re dumber than I thought. I know my brother, and I’ve never seen him the way he is with you, ever. You’re changing him, Remi.”
“I...”
“Cat got your tongue?” He chuckles.
“I should go.”
“But me and you, we’re good, right?”
“Yeah, we’re good.” Shouldering the door, I climb out and traipse toward the house. Being ambushed by my mom is bad enough, but my dad? That’s a whole other headache I don’t want to deal with.
“Remi, is that you?” she calls the second I step inside. “We’re in the living room.”
I shake my head with disbelief. We rarely use the living room, but of course Mom would want to do this in there. Even now, appearances are still everything to her.
Grabbing a juice carton from the refrigerator, I make my way down the hall. The second I enter the room, I can tell it’s bad.
“How was school, sweetheart?” Mom asks.
“It was okay, I guess.”
“I had an interesting chat with Michaela earlier,” Dad says through pursed lips.
“Really?” I balk. “That’s how you’re going to start this? Can’t you even try and pretend you heard it from someone else, anyone else?” Betrayal coils around my heart.
I wish I didn’t know how me and Dad got to this point, but the sad fact is, I do.
Michaela drove herself between us and refused to budge.
And he let it happen.
“Your sister—”
“She is not my sister.” Anger vibrates inside my chest. “When are you going to wake up and realize that Michaela hates me?”
“Now wait a second, young lady.” The vein in Dad’s head pulsates. “I realize Michaela can be difficult sometimes, but you don’t make it easy for her to—”
“I don’t make it easy? Me?” My jaw hangs open.
“Remi,” Mom rushes out. “Why don’t we all just calm down?” She shoots my dad a scathing look.
“Oh for the love of God, Sarah, wake up and see what is happening here. That thug is corrupting our daughter.”
“Thug? How dare you call Ace a—”
“He filmed you having... sex, Remi.” Disgust clings to every word. “It’s a good thing you were eighteen, or I’d be pursuing sex offence charges.”
“Sex offence charges...” I murmur with disbelief. “So that’s how it's going to be now? You don’t give a crap about my life until I make some bad choices and then you decide to actually show up and be a father.”
“So you admit your relationship with the Jagger boy is a bad choice?”
My eyes narrow. “You know that’s not what I mean. Stop putting words into my mouth. Me and Ace have smoothed things over.”
“He took your virginity and recorded it, Remi. For God’s sake, have some self-respect.”
“Enough.” Mom leaps up, tears clinging to her eyelashes. “That’s enough.”
I fold my arms over my waist and let out a little huff of exasperation.
“Tell her, Sarah,” Dad says. “Tell her we don’t want her to see that boy anymore.”
“What part of ‘I’m eighteen now’ don’t you understand, Dad? What I do with my life and who I do it with is my decision.”
“Remi, please,” Mom begs.
“Seriously, you’re taking his side? You know how Michaela treats me at school—”
“What on Earth is she talking about, Sarah?”
“Like you don’t know, Dad,” I grumble.
“It’s nothing, Paul. Just girls being girls.”
My eyes bug out, disbelief coursing through my veins. “Mom?”
I’ve never bothered to tell Dad about Michaela’s hate campaign against me, but I assumed Mom had at least broached it with him.
“This is pointless.” I throw up my hands, done with this conversation. “I’m not going to quit seeing Ace. He says he didn’t play that recording at the party, and I believe him.”
“Are you listening to this, Sarah?” Dad scoffs. “That boy is nothing but trouble, Remi. I refuse to sit by and watch him ruin your life.”
I leap up, my chest heaving. “That’s rich coming from you, Dad. You swanned off with your new family and left us behind like we were nothing. You fucking ruined my life, and I’m done. I’m so done.”
Mom calls after me, but I’m out of the house before she can catch up. I take off running toward the beach, indignation burning through me.
Pulling my cell out of my pocket, I dial Ace’s number but it rings out.
Remi: Call me when you can.
I swipe at the tears falling. I don’t want to cry, not over this.
Not over him.
But I can’t believe what just happened.
My relationship with my father has always been tenuous, ever since he upped and left. But he’s never made me feel more worthless than he did just now.
I glance back, spotting him and Mom on the terrace, searching for me, but I don’t stop, following the beach toward school. Dialing Hadley’s number instead, I barely manage to greet her as an ugly sob rips from my lungs.
“Remi?”
“C-can I come hang out at yours?”
“Girl, of course. You don’t have to ask, you know that. Is everything okay?”
“No,” I confess, all the pain and rejection of the last four years swelling inside me. “But it will be.”
I'm done with my father.
Done pretending we mean anything to each other.
Done playing happy family to abate his guilt.
As far as I’m concerned, Michaela is welcome to him.
“I’ve got Twizzlers, Swedish Fish, Nerds, or Jolly Ranchers.” Hadley glances back at me.
“You have a problem.” My brow rises as I suppress a smirk.
“So what? I like a little sugar fix now and again.” She bites the ends off a Twizzler.
“I’ll take a box of Ranchers.” She throws me one and I catch it, tearing it open.
Hadley’s room at Sterling Prep is like every other dorm room here: big, spacious, and worth every cent of its ridiculous price tag. Each student gets an en suite room in one of three dorm buildings situated in the grounds behind the main buildings. Then small groups share a communal kitchen and games room. Right now, as I stretch out in her queen-sized bed, I almost envy her.
“So what did you say?” she asks.
“I should have told him to go fuck himself.”
“Jesus, Remi.” She presses her lips together. “Why don’t you say it how it really is?”
I’m distracted by the vibration of my cell. Ace’s name flashes across my screen and relief floods me.
Ace: Got held up. You need me to come get you?
Remi: Held up where?
Ace: Don’t you trust me, Princess?
“Let me guess, your knight-in-inked-armor?” Hadley smirks and I flip her off.
