The Heart Series: Complete Boxed Set (89 page)

“How about this one?” B asked holding up a hideous dress. I was surprised we were even related, her taste in fashion left a lot to be desired but this one was just nasty, I was seriously questioning whether was she actually blind.

“B, please, you are killing me, if you want to look fabulous at this party tonight then this dress is not the answer. Put it back on the rail. Come on, we need to head somewhere that is less hooker chic.”

“God, Elijah, you are such a bitch.” She scowled and pouted at the same time, giving her the fish lips look that seemed to be all the craze.

“I wear my bitch tag well.” I stuck my tongue out and grabbed her by the arm, we were off somewhere more dignified where the majority of the fabric wasn’t 99% nylon and could go up in flames within seconds of striking a match.

Two streets up I found the perfect boutique, it had a mixture of new and retro dresses. Within seconds, I found a sexy little number for B. It was black and showed off just a hint of her ample chest but highlighted her long legs to perfection, even she was impressed, and this girl normally took hours of convincing.

“Hmm, I like the dress, but it could be a little lower in the chest—” she mused, smoothing down the material attempting to push up her breasts.

“Seriously a lady only reveals so much skin, either boobs or legs.” Did she not know the basic rules of fashion? But then again this was B.

“What if I want both?”

Oh sweet lord, always wanting more, some things never change.

“Please, B, have a little class for once, you don’t have to have those boobs out every freaking day.” They were more on display than bloody Big Ben. I was tired of averting my eyes every time she moved.

“I don’t—”

What planet was she on? “Trust me, you do, I’m the one who has to look at them.”

She scowled at my complaint. “Well, any other guy wouldn’t be complaining.”

I had to take the more abrupt approach if I were ever to get her to see sense. “Don’t you want to find Prince Charming? Well, you’re not going to if the guys eyes are super glued to your chest!”

“I like the attention they give me,” she protested, staring at herself in the mirror pushing out her breasts, to emphasise them further.

“I know you are an attention whore.” She really was, she craved it wherever she went. Unless all eyes were on her, she was not a happy bunny.

“Takes one to know one,” she retorted, sticking out her tongue.

“Purlease, at least I do it with class.” Which was not a word I would associate with B. I gave her the puppy dog eyes. I wanted her to try something new to take a step up from the trashy chic style she currently sported.

“Okay, okay, I’ll buy the dress, just get off my back.” She held up her hands in defeat and I grinned.

“See I knew my persuasive ways would wear you down in the end.” I always had a way of talking people ’round to my way of thinking.

“You are the queen of nagging.”

Yeah, I’d give her that.

“Girl, you got off lightly and you know it. Now let’s find some shoes and then we’re off to get ready, my favourite part.” I clapped my hands excitedly, but I was too ecstatic to care. Brianne rolled her eyes at my overly enthusiastic ways.

“Elijah, we have like three hours till the party, there’s plenty of time for that.”

“But you know that I . . .”

“How about we hit up Starbucks? They just hired a new guy, and I am in love.”

Now that had my attention.

“Sexy guy?” Sexy guys and shopping were always something guaranteed to stop me mid-sentence.

“Hello, do I do any other?” She was right of course. I’d yet to see her with an ugly guy; she was particularly choosy in that way. I’d had some major crushes on the long list of guys she had banged. Of course she’d told me every detail, being two years older she was way more experienced than I was, but the age gap never seemed to bother us, we were like twins, we did everything together. Even as a baby she looked after me. My mother had captured lots of photographs of Brianne caught in motherly poses, happily tending to me. As we grew, the bond between us formed, and to this day she was the only best friend I would ever need. My social circle was small. I had a few friends in Sixth Form at school to hang out with, but at home, B was the one I spent the majority of my time with.

“Well okay, I suppose,” I huffed, but hell she knew I would jump at any chance to perv on any sexy guys.

“Like you need much persuading, oh and you’re buying.” She smirked and shot me a wink.

“Eh, how is that? I’ve paid the last few times.” She really was a cheapskate when it came to paying her way, blowing most of her own money the moment she was paid.

“E, you made me buy the dress, my budget has totally gone. You have to pay for my cappuccino, because you know this bitch is not happy if she doesn’t get her caffeine fix.”

Never a truer word spoken.

“Hmmm don’t I know it, one look says it all.” She was a complete nightmare when she didn’t get her coffee. I’d been witness to it on more than one occasion. When she had her bear head on it was fair to say I kept my distance until the whole thing blew over.

“Don’t make me unleash the venom,” she replied almost in an evil way, knowing I’d do anything to avoid that.

“Please keep your poisonous tongue to yourself,” I almost begged.

“Oh and I want a brownie.”

My eyes widened at her greedy demands. “Anything else, Your Majesty?”

“Nothing yet but will think of something later.” She winked, and I knew she’d keep to her word.

“Queen B, don’t you live up to your name.” I snorted.

“You got that right, now grab the door, Her Royal Majesty has to make an entrance.”

Oh she was taking the piss now.

I swung open the door giving B a shove, she scowled as she tripped slightly, sending daggers my way. I laughed hard at her until I looked up to see a vision of beauty standing before me.

“Holy shit, is he real or am I hallucinating?” I was practically drooling at the guy stood before me. If I continued any longer they’d have to put up a wet floor sign beside me.

“Nope, that’s the guy I was telling you about,” B replied nudging me.

“I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven . . .”

“Hey, hands off, he’s mine.” B shoved me hard, but I barely moved an inch.

“Pffttt, dream on, sister, all bets are off until we find out what team he bats for.”

Let him be gay, let him be gay.

“I think that would be Team B,” she replied, smoothing down her clothing.

“Did you just pull your top down?” Oh so it was going down like that.

“Might have.” She winked, her wicked smile only confirming her very intention.

“Well, bitch, bring it on.” I was not about to sit back and take this lying down, I was bringing it, all guns blazing.

Brianne’s eyes flashed to mine. “Bitch is going to, don’t worry.”

I cracked my knuckles, my eyes never leaving hers. “Okay, show me what you got while I observe from afar.” I made to walk off to pick the perfect table with the best view to witness B in action.

“Errr, aren’t you forgetting something?” She held out her hand and motioned with her fingers.

“What?” I asked innocently, knowing fine well what she meant.

“Err, the money to pay for the drinks.”

I grabbed the wallet from my back pocket, I was surprised she hadn’t already swiped it. “Ugh here and I want the change, oh and get me a cookie.”

“Now watch my moves.” She grinned wildly, and I rolled my eyes.

“I’m counting on you being shot down.”

I was hoping she was about to be shot down.

“Like anyone would say no to these.” She hitched her boobs up like they weren’t almost mountainous and I scowled, but if he was batting for my team then they’d be as much use as a chocolate kettle.

I watched as she strutted over. Did she think this was some kind of catwalk? The guy in question was brunette, his hair was messy in a sexy rocked out of bed look and all six foot of him was hard muscle. Why he was working here was beyond me, but I’d happily spend hours watching him make coffee after coffee. His face lit up and his eyes widened as B walked over. She always did draw attention wherever she went, at five foot nine, long blonde flowing hair and a body that was curvaceous going in and out at all the right places, she was most guys’ dream date. Once she worked her charm along with those sparkling green eyes most guys had no chance, they were gone and boy, did she thrive on that kind of power.

Fuck.

But his eyes never dropped down, even when she did that cute little wiggle of hers. Seriously she was shameless. I could hear her fake laughter five tables back as she stood twirling her hair. She was predictable, if anything. I admitted defeat and turned to look out the window. Oh well another one bites the dust.

She came scurrying over a short while later, eyes bright wearing that same shit-eating smile she wore every time she had a guy eating out of the palm of her hand.

“So . . .?” I asked, waiting for the last piece of hope to die away.

She grinned wildly and instantly my hope died. “Oh he’s interested alright, he was shamelessly flirting with me.”

Lucky bitch.

But why the hell was I getting all hung up this guy for? Oh because he was hot, and B would rub it in my face at every available opportunity.

“Sit down and give me all the gossip.”

I wanted to know everything.

She gave me that cat that got the cream look while sipping on her cappuccino, deliberately making me wait longer. I narrowed my eyes in a non-impressed way and she grinned, quickly wiping away the foam from her lips. “Well he’s really into sports, he’s training to be a Physiotherapist. I said to him that he could give me a rub down any day and it just kind of went from there.”

“Wow Physio, brains and beauty.”

I was impressed, and hell yeah, I wanted a rubdown too.

“Hey, hands off he’s mine,” B snapped.

God, she was greedy.

“Okay, B, you’ve just met him, hardly staking your claim already.” Talk about overreacting, it wasn’t the ‘I licked it so I own it’ rule that we always applied to food.

“He’s not into guys, E, trust me, he took my number. I invited him to the party later on, he has some sports training, but we might be meeting up tomorrow.”

Fuck.

The only confirmation I needed.

“Damn girl, you work quick.” She never did stand on ceremony when it came to getting what she wanted. I should learn to take notes.

“Well, when a girl likes what she sees she grabs it with both hands,” she chimed, gloating for England. She always had a way of rubbing it in, the bitch.

“Oh I’m sure you’ll do just that, bet he has buns of steel.”

I was certain of it.

“He has, I caught a glimpse when he bent down. I almost dived over the counter to touch them.” She chuckled.

“Down girl, I’m sure there will be plenty time for that.” Though if the lust present in her eyes was anything to go by, I was certain he wouldn’t have to wait long, she would have his clothes ripped off in two seconds flat.

“Oh I’ll make sure.” She shot me a wink, and I rolled my eyes. I knew that would be more than a certainty.

“So where is the party tonight and who the hell is going?” I was only asking to see if there was anyone potentially worth getting excited about.

“Well it’s Jessica’s party,” she answered hesitantly, gauging the instant look of disgust on my face.

“Ugh . . .”

I hated her with a passion. She was the bitchy blonde that seemed to think she ruled the Sixth Form drama class I was enrolled in. Up until her arrival, school was my escapism. I was slowly working my way towards enrolling at the D and B School of Musical Theatre. They had very high standards and places were limited, so I made sure I enrolled in anything theatre wise in my area, no matter how small the role. It was experience and added another string to my bow in building a portfolio that would help me to succeed in getting a place. But since Jessica had arrived all that changed. I hated how clique-y everyone was with her, within a few short months she had managed to manipulate people into joining her gang. She hated me with a passion, and I did whatever I could to fuel that rage. I was never one to be part of the bitchy cool kids’ gang, I was quite happy to shine on my own.

“Oh don’t start, E,” B warned, giving me that look of disapproval.

“Well you know we don’t get along, I might not come now—”

“You bloody well are,” she shrieked, almost bursting my ear drums.

Oh no she didn’t.

“Just go with Cammie,” I offered. She was the one informally handing out all the invites being in Jessica’s social circle, but this was one party I was desperate to skip.

“I need my sparring partner, you know I can’t stay long in their company, even if I have to drag you.” The look she gave me was a no nonsense, but she had to be dreaming if she thought that was going to persuade me differently.