Authors: April Brookshire
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
“I do not see any beauty in self-restraint.”
-Mary
MacLane
GIANNA
It was so fun teasing Caleb about double-dating with Cece and Dante. The last double-dating experience was enough for me. I wouldn’t want to do that again, even with friends.
Josh had
n’t bothered me since the guys had a
talk
with him. Although, he did show up pretty banged up the next day at school. I almost felt guilty.
Thursday
afternoon I went up to my room to do some math homework. Caleb plopped down on my bed. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?
Homework. You should try it,” I joked.
“I already did mine,” he
informed me smugly.
I
was surprised. “You did? When?”
“Study hall
.”
“I have study hall too, but I can
’t finish it that quickly,” I told him. “I bet you get horrible grades rushing like that.”
“You shouldn’t assume things.
” He looked slightly annoyed with me. “I’ve never gotten anything below a ‘B’ in my life.”
“So, you’re a juvenile delinquent, who got expelled from two different high schools, but you
’re also an honor student?”
“Ye
p.”
His palm running down my back and over my bottom almost distracted me.
“Do you also work as a janitor and solve impossible math problems in your spare time?”
“Ha, ha, ha,” he
faked humor. “I saw that movie, Miss
Bring It On
.”
I
gave him a dirty look. “I’m not a cheerleader anymore, remember? Plus, I like that movie.”
“You would,” he
teased.
“Can you go find something else to do? Isn’t there a shed somewhere you need to burn down for fun?”
His palm landed hard on my behind. “Fine, since my girlfriend isn’t going to give me any attention, I’m out of here. I’ll be in my room. You can find me there when you start to miss me.” He got off the bed and I couldn’t help but watch him leave until the door closed behind him.
I
forced myself to stay in my room and finish my homework. Since I started it in study hall, I was done only thirty minutes later. Taking my time, I checked my email and sat on my bed playing with my phone. I was
not
going to rush over to Caleb’s room like some sort of lovesick girl. But, dammit, I did miss him. I waited a whole ten more minutes before knocking on his door.
“Come in!” Caleb yell
ed. He shut a notebook and shoved it under his pillow.
“What was that?” I ask
ed, intrigued.
“Nothing
. Miss me already?”
“No
pe,” I denied, locking his door.
He raised
one pierced eyebrow. “Why are you locking the door? Are you here to molest me?”
“Shut up,” I
said, pushing him onto his back so I could lie on top of him. Hungry for him, I initiated the kiss. Not that he seemed to mind in the least bit. Wanting to see more of him, I started to yank off his shirt when there was a knock on the door.
“Caleb,
I can’t find Gianna! Did she come home yet?” Oh shit, my mom was home early from work!
Seeing the panic on my face,
Caleb’s chest rumbled from the laughter he held back. “Um, no, Julie! She was going over a friend’s house.”
“Okay
, Caleb. Dinner will be ready in an hour, so make sure to wash up!” my mom called through the door. He made a face at that. My mom must’ve thought he was one dirty boy.
“I have everything I’m hungry for right here,” Caleb
growled in a sexy voice while squeezing my butt.
“Nice line,” I
said sarcastically. “But what if I hadn’t locked the door and my mom had walked in?”
“Then we would’ve had to politely ask her to leave so we could finish,” he
kidded, thrusting against me.
“You are so bad
.” I lifted up the front of his shirt to suck on both of his pierced nipples. He groaned, grinding his hips into mine. Reaching down between our bodies, I grabbed his crotch through his pants.
He jumped at the contact.
“Now who’s bad? With your mother downstairs, Gianna? Shame on you!”
“So
spank me.” I suggested. Before I could react, he maneuvered us so he sat at the edge of the bed with me draped facedown over his lap. “I was kidding, Caleb!”
“It’s too late to take it back now.
I’ve already accepted your offer. So take your punishment like a big girl.”
He
smacked my ass. I started laughing so hard I had to hold a hand over my mouth to muffle it. I didn’t want to try explaining this to my mom, especially the part about it kinda turning me on.
After a few hits, Caleb propped
me upright on the bed next to him. “Now, if you didn’t learn your lesson, I’ll be more than happy to punish you again.”
I straddle
d him on the bed and we began making out again. This time I took his shirt all the way off so I could run my hands up and down his chest and abs. He removed my shirt and I started unbuttoning his pants.
“What are you doing?” he mumbled against my skin
.
“Getting in your pants,” I
told him. I was dying to see if he really did have a tattoo somewhere under there. If he did, I planned to lick it. Maybe I was the bad one, but my guy was so freaking hot. After I unzipped his pants, he put his hands over mine to stop me.
“What?” I
huffed, frustrated.
“I am not fucki
ng you with your mom downstairs.”
“Oh
, baby, you say the sweetest things,” I crooned sarcastically. “Seriously, Caleb, you need to watch a few chick flicks to learn what
not
to say to girls.”
“My apologies, Gianna darling. I
do not wish to make love to you with your mother downstairs. How was that?”
That
was a smart-ass.
“Whatever!” I
announced while climbing off him. “You’re lame and boring. I was planning something involving my tongue down there, but if you’re too scared. . . .” I trailed off with a shrug. Putting my shirt back on, I left.
CALEB
What a tease she was. She wasn’t serious about that, was she?
Damn
!
After dinner, Gianna and I pretend
ed we were going to the library to study. My dad gave me a hard, knowing look while Julie asked us what time we’d be home. That woman was dense, lost in her la-la land of hanging curtains and pie-making.
We
went for a drive to a nearby park. Going for a walk, we found a bench and sat down. Gianna leaned her head against my shoulder. How weird it was to just be with a girl like this.
“So, do you want to spend the weekend at my mom’s place with me?” I ask
ed, trying to remember what my mom said she had going on this weekend.
She squeez
ed my hand, cuddling closer. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
She brought her head up at my abrupt tone. “I’m going camping up in the mountains.”
“When were you going to tell me this?”
“Before I left tomorrow,” she explained, looking as guilty as she should.
What the hell was going on?
“Who are you going with?”
“The crew,” she
said slowly.
I was beginning to see where this was going.
“Does that include Jared?”
“Of course
it does, he’s part of the crew.” When she tried burrowing into me again, I inched away.
“So, you
’re telling me that my girlfriend is going to be alone for a whole weekend with some dude who has the hots for her?” I tried to keep my voice down so the guys playing a game of basketball close by wouldn’t hear.
She look
ed even guiltier. “Well, when you put it that way, I guess it sounds kind of bad.”
“It sounds really bad to my ears,” I
said. “That’s okay. I’ll just go out partying with Dante.”
“Are you trying to make me jealous?” she
asked, sitting up straighter.
“No, but since my girlfriend will be busy on a camping trip with
a bunch of
other dudes
, I feel like I’m entitled to a night with my best friend.”
“Cece
will be there too,” she pointed out.
“Oh, so sorry, my bad.
You each only have a few guys to yourselves,” I said sarcastically.
“You know it’s not like that!” she
yelled. “You could come, you know.”
“Yeah, you invite me as an afterthought.
No, that’s okay, I’ll pass.”
Gianna moved closer.
“No really, I want you to come. And you can bring Dante, since Cece will be there!”
“I’ll think about it,” I
told her, upset that she’d been planning on ditching me to hang out with Jared and the crew. She could keep her damn charity invite.
Since the mood
was ruined, I grabbed her by the hand and took her home.
Should I go with her?
It seemed like a sort of bitch move, to tag along with my girlfriend and her friends. Of course, Taye would be there and I was friends with him. Also, if I brought Dante, I could just call it doing a favor for a friend, since Cece would be there and he wanted to get to know her better.
Who was
I kidding? If I went, it’d be to keep Jared away my girlfriend.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
“. . . Beauty is jealous, and illy bears the presence of a rival.”
-Thomas Jefferson
GIANNA
At school on Friday I
was feeling guilty about the whole camping thing. I’d never felt the need to explain myself when I was with Josh. He didn’t even know Jared, Cece and the rest of the crew. I was with Josh for a long time but he never got to know the real me like Caleb had. It was almost as if Josh had only been a boyfriend in name and Caleb was the real thing.
We’
d had this camping trip planned for weeks now. We wanted to go before the weather turned cold. For the past few weekends we’d had club appearances and battles scheduled. This weekend was the perfect opportunity to finally go. With how unpredictable weather was in Colorado, maybe even our last opportunity until late next spring.
I hadn’t thought it’d
bother Caleb I was going camping with the crew, since he knew they were my friends. But I guess I could see his point when it came to Jared. I wouldn’t have wanted him going on a trip with a girl who wanted him as more than a friend. When I realized it bothered him, I did the right thing and I invited him along. Shouldn’t that have counted for something? Cece and I told the guys they couldn’t bring girls so it would be me breaking the rule.
And what
did Caleb say to my invitation? That he’d
think about it
. I could tell he was still upset with me. He’d been moody all day at school. I actually did want him to come camping with us now. I didn’t want to seem like the clingy girlfriend and tell him, though. I actually thought it’d be nice to cuddle next to him in front of a campfire.
Still barely talking to me on the ride home from school, Caleb hadn’t given me his answer
yet. Sitting in his car outside my house, I asked, “So are you coming with us?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment t
hen turned his head to tell me, “No.”
I
was actually surprised. I’d thought he’d say yes but was making me suffer. “Oh, okay. What do you plan to do all weekend?”
“I’m sure I can find something to occupy my time, Gianna. I did manage to have a life before you came along,” he
said sarcastically.
Ouch
.
Oh, I
saw how it was. He was going to play games and pay me back for hurting his feelings and probably bruising his massive ego in the process. He was pissed about me going on a trip with my friends so he was lashing out.
Opening the door and
holding my backpack, I jumped out of his car. “Well, have fun having a life this weekend. I know I will.” I slammed the car door as hard as I could, wishing it would damage his precious Camaro.
Running
into the house and up to my room, I grabbed the bag I’d packed last night. Downstairs in the garage was my own precious vehicle. I’d missed driving my Jeep. I got in and started it, waiting for the garage door to open.
Caleb knock
ed on the window. I pushed the button and asked rudely as it rolled down, “What?”
“Don’t I get a kiss goodbye?”
He stood there arrogantly but my feelings were hurt now also.
“No, you don’t.”
“What are you being so bitchy about?” he asked, gripping the open window.
Oh hell no. He did
not
just call me bitchy. “I don’t like your attitude, Caleb.”
“Too bad. And
, Gianna?”
“Yeah?” I ask
ed, matching his arrogance.
“Don’t worry. I won’t be doing anything this weekend
you aren’t doing.” With that parting remark, he turned around and walked back into the house.
What the
fuck
was that supposed to mean?
I squeal
ed out of the driveway.
Motherfucker
!
He just said that to make me worry all weekend about what he
was up to. He wouldn’t really go hang out with girls, would he?
Motherfucker
!
Yes
, he would. The whole way to pick up Jared and Cece, I stewed about what my boyfriend may or may not be doing over the weekend.
CALEB
I’d let her think about that! After Gianna took off, I went up to my room. For sure I’d be crashing at my mom’s for the next couple days. I wouldn’t sit here like a bitch waiting for my girlfriend to come home from camping with douchebag Jared.
The whole way
down to Denver, I brooded about Jared spending the weekend trying to steal my girlfriend. I thought about changing direction and going on the damn camping trip, but it’d make me feel so fucking whipped. Tagging along with my girlfriend and her friends would turn me into every pansy-ass boyfriend I’d ever made fun of. I had more pride than that. I didn’t care if Taye was there and I didn’t care if Gianna said Dante could come too. All I knew was Jared better keep his grubby hands to himself.
Tense and worn out, w
hen I arrived at the apartment, I crashed on my bed. Waking up later it was already dark, so I checked the time, nine o’clock. The night was just beginning. I grabbed my phone and read through my missed calls and texts.
Nothing from Gianna. She must be too busy with
loser Jared and her friends, probably acting like a bunch of
Fame
wannabes. Stupid breakers.
I did
have a text from my friend, Hailey, though. I hadn’t seen her in forever.
Hailey:
How’s it going, player? When are we going to cause some trouble together?
Hailey wa
s like my female counterpart. We’d been friends since middle school where we’d bonded over many a detention together. Hailey was the cool kind of girl that was just one of the guys. It didn’t hurt that she was pretty hot, too. We’d fooled around a little freshman year, but nothing serious. She was a female player herself and never dated one guy for long. I texted her back.
Me:
I don’t know. How about tonight? I’ll call Dante and see what he’s up for.
Calling
Dante’s number, I didn’t get an answer, so I left a message for him to call me back. Soon after I hung up, my phone rang and Hailey’s name flashed on the screen.
“What up
, girl?”
“Ugh, I’m bored a
nd you need to find me some fun.”
She sounded so put out, I laughed.
“Since when is it my job to entertain you?”
“Since
always. Where the fuck have you been, Caleb?”
“I moved up to Broomfield to live with my dad,” I
told her.
“Wow, sucks for you.
Are you up there now?”
“No, I’m stay
ing at my mom’s for the weekend.”
“Good, come pic
k me up at my house,” she demanded.
I figure
d I had nothing better to do. “Sure, I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
GIANNA
I was surprised Dante came on the camping grip. He and Taye were cousins, so it made sense he’d be invited. Dante probably came to try and get with Cece. After setting up the tents and getting a campfire started, we were all sitting around drinking and talking. A couple of the guys were trying out a new moves, which was hilarious because they were tipsy and getting dirty in the process.
Cece and I sat on a log together.
“So, Cece, what do you think of Dante?”
She
glanced over at Dante and said, “I think he’s cute, why?”
“Because I hear
d he has a crush on you,” I drawled, waiting for her reaction.
Cece perk
ed up, getting excited. “Really, who told you that, Caleb?” Hearing his name made me miss him more than I already did.
“
Yep, he said Dante wanted me to put in a good word with you.”
“
Consider the good word put in,” Cece responded, ditching me to go sit by Dante. The girl didn’t have a shy bone in her body.
With Cece gone
, Jared took her spot. “How’s it going, Gigi?”
I gave him a fake, sweet smile. “Jared, w
hy don’t you just ask what you really want to know?”
“Fine, are you still dating that loser?”
Scowling at him, I answered in the same rude tone, “Yes, I’m still dating
Caleb
.”
“Why isn’t he
here with you then?” Jared asked, pretending to look around.
“We don’t have to spend every minute together. We can have separate lives
, too.” Taking a drink out of my beer, I acted unconcerned.
“Uh-huh,” Jared
said knowingly. “So, you invited him and he didn’t want to come?”
“It wasn’t like that. I sort of sprung it on him at the last minute.”
“If you were my girl, I’d want to be here with you, no matter how last minute the invite was.” Why didn’t he go find some other girl to date? Jared was hot and pretty girls were always flirting with him when we went to battles.
After Jared
walked away, I drank some more and started feeling sorry for myself. I really missed Caleb. A part of me wanted to leave the camping trip early to be with him. Wouldn’t that seem kind of desperate, though?
Why hadn’t
he wanted to come? What was he doing right now? He better not have been doing what he threatened to do and went out where there were a bunch of girls. I hated girls! They were all dirty whores after my boyfriend. I was going to drive myself crazy thinking about it.
CALEB
I wo
ke up on Saturday around one o’clock in the afternoon at my mom’s apartment. She’d had to go into work today to finish up a project. Otherwise she would’ve probably been questioning me right now about why I slept on the couch. I didn’t want to have to explain that Hailey was sleeping in my room. She knew Hailey and I were just friends, but she also thought Hailey was a bad friend for me to have.
From a parent’s point-of-view, she
was right. Hailey wasn’t the kind of girl any mom would want her teenage son to hang out with. Although, I wasn’t exactly a
good kid
myself. Sitting up on the couch, I rubbed a hand over my face, thinking about how Hailey got us kicked out of a club last night.
After she
’d gotten into a fight with some girl, she’d cussed out the bouncer who broke it up. He’d ended up carrying her out of the place and depositing her on the sidewalk outside. I’d finally got her drunk-ass calmed down and brought her here to sleep it off. As entertaining as it always was, it was hard work hanging out with someone like her.
Needing to use the bathroom, I
passed by my room and peeked inside. She was still asleep face down on my bed. Shit, there was drool on my pillow. That was going in a dumpster.
As I
walked back into the living room, there was a knock on the front door. No one asked to be buzzed up so it was probably a neighbor. Going over to the couch, I picked up my jeans from last night, pulling them up as I went to answer the door.
It was a pleasant surprise to find Gianna on the other side of the door.
“Hey, how’d you get up here?”
“
Surprise! I couldn’t remember your exact apartment number, but someone buzzed me up,” she explained, looking sheepish.
S
he threw her arms around me, putting her head on my chest. “I missed you, Caleb. I know I’m the biggest loser ever, leaving the camping trip early to see my boyfriend, but I couldn’t help it. Being away from you sucked so bad. Especially with the way we left things. I don’t want to fight with you. I’m sorry for being a bitch.”
Enjoying having her in my arms again,
I kissed the top of her head. “I missed you too, princess, and I’m sorry for being a jackass.” She peeked up at me with a smile and I stroked one blushing cheek.
“So, what’
d you do last night? Were you totally bored without me?” she teased, leaning into my hand.
Crap
. How did I answer that question? I didn’t actually do anything wrong. At least I didn’t think so. Boyfriends were allowed to have female friends, right? To be safe, I’d better not mention Hailey. She’d probably be passed out for a while longer and I could get Gianna out of here quickly.
“Nothing much, j
ust hung out with Dante.”
She
tensed up at my words. “You hung out with Dante?”
“Yeah,” I said,
leaning down to kiss her.
She turned her head to avoid my lips.
“Last night?”
“Yeah,” I repeated
slowly.
“Dante, Taye’s cousin?” she asked, sounding weird.