Forever Golden: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Prep Book 3) by Rachel Jonas (beach books TXT) 📕

hair, I do a complete three-sixty before thinking to check her closet, the bathroom. Maybe she heard something and got spooked and the first thing she thought to do was hide. However, when I check those places, no longer being careful about keeping the noise down, I find nothing.

Instinct has me checking her window, but it’s locked. Next, I go to the back door and snatch it open. There, in the snow, I spot two sets of fresh footprints.

“Someone’s been here,” I whisper into the phone. “I’m going out to see where they went.”

“Like hell you are! Stay in the fucking house, Southside.”

The stern tone he’s taken with me means nothing, because… where the fuck is Scarlett?

“I’m going. I have to.” I stare out across the yard, getting up the nerve as the weight of the gun in my hand becomes ten times heavier.

“Just stay where you are,” West argues.

“I can’t. If she’s out there, I have to at least check.”

With no time left to hesitate, I slide both feet halfway inside whatever sneakers were left by the door, then make my way out into the freezing cold. It hits my bare legs where my shorts stop, feeling like razor blades slicing through my skin.

Focusing on the tracks, I follow them to where they stop at the side door of the garage. This is when I notice there’s an orange extension cord connected to the receptacle box, and then wedged beneath the weatherstrip. I know it wasn’t like this the last time I checked. At any rate, it’ll be pitch black inside, so I lower the phone from my ear and turn on its flashlight. God only knows what I’ll find when I open this door, but I brave it anyway.

I kind of have to.

Chapter 22

BLUE

“Blue!” Scar screams.

“Shit!” That little gem came from Shane.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me, Scarlett! I thought someone took you!” Before she can spot it, I hide the gun behind my back.

She doesn’t answer as her face reddens and she scrambles to find her clothes. I’m not sure if I’m more angry or relieved to find that those footprints were just my dumb-ass sister sneaking around with Shane.

Again.

Luckily, they were hidden behind a stack of boxes, so I’m not assaulted by images of his junk while he pulls up his pants. They even set up a heater to keep warm while they… did their business, which means they put thought into this. Planned it. Guess that explains the extension cord underneath the door.

Realizing the only thing to fear here is the contagious stupidity, I discreetly tuck the hidden gun in the back of my shorts.

“I want you both inside. Now!” I say sternly, glaring at them because are you fucking kidding me? Again?

Crunching snow beneath my feet, I take my frost-bitten ass back inside and put the gun away before heading to the living room.

“I’m pulling up,” West says through the speaker, reminding me I have him on the line. With my sister giving me the shock of a lifetime, for the second time in my lifetime, I’d forgotten.

“Unlocking the door now. Just let yourself in.”

We hang up then and I unlatch the door before dropping back down on the couch and shooting Ricky a text.

Blue: You up?

Ricky: Yeah, I’m still out. Everything good?

Blue: Not exactly. You should get over here. We have a problem.

Ricky: What is it?

Blue: Your brother’s here…

Ricky: Shit. I’m on my way.

I throw my phone down on the couch and I’m seething with anger when the two offenders finally waltz in through the back door. Not even ten seconds later, West comes in through the front.

“Sit,” I snap, aiming the words right at Scar and Shane.

They do as their told, settling beside one another on the carpet. West doesn’t say a word as he lowers to the cushion beside me, warming my freezing cold thigh when he sits close. Shortly after that, there’s a knock at the door and I don’t need to ask who it is.

“Come in.”

West peers up after I speak, looking to see who else decided to join this impromptu powwow. When Ricky walks in I take note that there’s slightly less disdain in either’s eyes when they meet one another’s gazes. But then, as if I haven’t had enough shocks tonight… they nod at each other? As in, they kind of greet each other?

What the hell is that about? When did they start being cordial?

While thoroughly weirded out by whatever these two have going on, I’ve got bigger fish to fry. My gaze whips back to Scar and Shane.

“What the hell were you two thinking? You’re fifteen years old!”

“And you were, what, sixteen when you and Ricky started screwing? What’s the difference? Where do you think I even got the idea to go to the garage? I used to hear you guys out there all the time!” she yells, clearly trying to make this as awkward for me as it is for her.

Really, Scar? In front of West? Thanks.

I ignore the personal jab and stay focused.

“The difference is, I didn’t have a big sister ready and waiting to beat my ass over it! I didn’t have someone looking out for me, telling me to slow the fuck down, but you do,” I remind her. “So, slow the fuck down, Scarlett!”

“You think you’re so perfect,” she hisses, crossing both arms over her chest.

I don’t even justify that with a response. She knows it’s a lie. No one will admit their flaws more readily than I will.

“You gave me your word you two were done with this,” I remind her. “When did a promise between us stop meaning something? What changed?”

She breathes deep and eyes Shane before speaking.

“What changed is… he’s leaving,” she reveals. “He just told me tonight.”

I don’t miss how her voice breaks a little while getting those words out.

Now, I’m wondering if I was wrong. Maybe Shane’s distance wasn’t that he was into someone else, but rather that he was starting to pull