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

thinking that, I don’t know… maybe we moved too fast and I wasn’t as ready to settle down with him as I thought.”

Lexi’s expression softens a bit more, now that I’m no longer treating her like a stranger.

“Well, have you told him that?”

I shrug. “How do you tell a guy you’re not sure you still want to be with him?”

Lexi glances over at their table again, then back at me. “Beats me. I don’t do relationships, but I’m pretty blunt about shit. So, I’d say just tell him and see what happens.”

She’s giving the best advice she knows how to give and, whether it’s good advice or not, I feel guilty that she’s trying to help. Seeing as how this whole thing is total B.S.

“Maybe,” I sigh. “Right now, I just want to get through the rest of this week without being tarred and feathered.”

She laughs. “Well, what did you expect? Don’t you know betraying the king is an act of treason?”

I smile at her. “Sure wish this relationship had come with a warning. If it had, I might not have even bothered.”

She’s about to respond, but her expression goes blank. I follow her gaze and it leads straight to West as he strolls this way. Even knowing exactly what his next move is about to be, I’m not quite sure I’m ready to play along.

Here goes, I guess.

He drops down into the seat across from me and meets my gaze with a chilled look in his eyes. I, on the other hand, have zero feeling on my face whatsoever.

“What?” I snap, pretending I’m talking to Mike. It helps when trying to come across as being genuinely unimpressed right now.

“Are we gonna talk? I texted and called all night, and every time I’ve gotten close to you today, you pretend you have somewhere more important to be.”

“I did have someplace important to be, West. It’s called class.”

His jaw tenses with frustration. “Here we go again. More of the same bitch-fest I’ve been getting for the past two weeks,” he groans. “Just fucking tell me if we’re done, so we can both move the fuck on.”

I feel Lexi’s stare as she wonders what I’ll say to that, wonders how West and I went from being so solid, to this.

“Just… I can’t do this. Not in front of everyone.”

I stand then, leaving West at the table with no more clarity than he walked over here with.

“So, I’m just supposed to fucking wait for you? That’s what you think?” he shouts as I storm away.

I don’t look back, don’t respond, just burst through the lunchroom doors and head toward my locker to wait for the bell to ring. My heart’s still racing after that last outburst, but it’s getting easier to pretend. Not once has anyone questioned whether we’re just putting on a show, because why would we? We’re painting a picture where West’s getting walked on like a cheap rug, and I look like a monster.

I make it about halfway to my locker before my phone sounds off. I pause to read West’s text, having to fight a smile as I scroll.

West: Pretty sure Lexi growled at me when you left.

Blue: Probably. I’ve been super skeptical of her lately, but I’m actually starting to think she’s on the level.

West: Maybe. Anyway, is it weird that all this fake fighting is turning me on?

Blue: Yes, it’s weird, but so are you.

West: Fair answer. Send nudes anyway.

Another laugh slips out.

Blue: PTSD won’t let me. The last time I did that, the pic ended up in the hands of some creepy old guy. Maybe you’ve met him?

West: Shit. Forgot about that.

An idea hits me and I’m so close to telling myself it’s too risky, but I’m so, so weak when it comes to him.

Blue: Well, are you busy tonight?

West: I have a thing, but I can work around it. Why?

Blue: Locker room. Twenty minutes after practice ends.

@QweenPandora: As we all watch the demise of everyone’s fav couple, you’d expect to see PrincessParker gloating from the window of her gilded tower, but she’s been far too busy. With what, you ask? Packing boxes.

Yes, you heard right. She—along with her parentals—have been spotted hauling load after load to a moving truck, all while PrincessP looks like her entire world’s crumbled around her.

On second thought, maybe it has.

Not only will she spend the remainder of senior year at an all-girls school halfway across the country, she lost the guy, lost her friends, and lost her scholarship.

Perhaps NewGirl should be taking notes. It’s a long way down when you fall from the king’s good graces.

Later, Peeps.

—P

Chapter 38

WEST

Having damp hair in the freezing cold isn’t the smartest thing, but an invitation for shower sex with Southside seems worth the pneumonia risk.

I’m too spent to even head inside, hence the reason I’ve been sitting in my car, staring at the cinderblock walls of the parking structure for the past ten minutes.

My phone buzzes and I look down, seeing an ‘I love you’ text from Southside that I return quickly. For a moment, I’m reliving tonight’s hookup and it dulls the sting of having to hide behind this bullshit smokescreen we’ve built. This week alone, I’ve been approached by ten girls offering to help ‘take my mind off things’. I play into it, giving them false hope that I’ll come find them when I’m ready, but it’s all part of the lie.

West: Make it home okay?

Blue: I did. Mike cooked again.

West: You eat this time?

Blue: Nope. I don’t believe in fraternizing with the enemy.

At first, I was completely on her side with this whole “boycott Mike” mission she’s on, but I’m starting to think she’s hurting herself as much as she’s hurting him. If anyone knows what dicks fathers can be, it’s me, but I also like to think I know when someone’s genuinely making an effort. And Mike seems to be.

West: Maybe try for Scar. Pretty sure she misses you guys eating as a family. Might be good