The Bad Girl: A High School Bully Romance (Westbrook Three Book 2) Read online

  I fight to keep my expression flat as relief floods me. It shouldn’t matter to me. I shouldn’t care if or who Aidan dates, but I do.

  “Can we please be civil? Or, at the very least, friendly. For Violet’s sake.”

  Ugh. Violet does want us to get along. This girl will never be my friend, but I suppose I can play nice. For now.

  I sigh, gesturing for her to sit next to me. Her face lights up as she takes a seat, making me regret my decision already.

  “I have to say,” she begins, leaning in as her voice lowers, “Saturday was the dullest date I’ve ever been on. I had no idea Aidan would be so boring.”

  I shift, giving her my full attention. If she wants to spill the tea about Aidan to get on my good side, who am I to stop her?

  My dad looks up from his laptop as I plop down in the chair across from his desk, his brow creasing with worry when I let out a frustrated sigh. He’s seemed livelier and less stressed the past couple of months. It makes me wonder if he’s finally started dating again. The man fell apart after my mother died. We both did. Day by day, month by month, year by year, we’ve slowly put ourselves back together. But there are still little chips missing, pieces of ourselves we can never recover. It’s hard to feel whole when something or someone who was such a big part of your life is lost to you forever.

  “What’s wrong, Little Dove?”

  The nickname my mother gave me causes my heart to warm, and my mouth spreads into a sad smile. When I was six years old, I asked her why she called me Little Dove. I didn’t want to be a bird because they were too delicate, I wanted to be something strong, like a lioness.

  She said, “Doves represent peace, my love. And I never feel more at peace than I do when I’m with you.”

  “I just need a break from this town and the people in it,” I answer my dad.

  When we first moved to this town, I resented my father for bringing me here. I was determined to hate it forever. Then I met Aidan. He forced me out of my shell, and it slowly started to feel like home. Until our friendship ended, and I realized it wasn’t this place that felt like home, it was him.

  It took a while for Westbrook to feel tolerable again. If it weren’t for Thatcher and Cole, I’m not sure I would’ve survived the past three years. With my feelings getting stirred up with Aidan again, all I want to do is run as far away from this place—and him—as possible.

  My dad sits up straighter, closing his laptop to give me his full attention. “Did something happen?”

  Yes, something horrible. I kissed the one boy I have no business kissing. Now, I can’t stop thinking about him.

  But I can’t tell my dad that. Even if he’d be thrilled at the prospect of me and Aidan. My father has always been a big fan of his. Like everyone else in this town.

  “No, but I could use a vacation.” My lie sounds more believable mixed with some truth. “Since I screwed up and will be in summer school this year, we won’t even get a chance to take one.”

  Finding out that I have to attend summer school in order to graduate with my class next year really sucked. I was so pissed at myself.

  It’s not because I’m not smart enough, though I certainly feel like a dumbass. The only saving grace is knowing Violet will be suffering the halls of WHS with me. The little saint is voluntarily going because she wants to finish high school a year early.

  “Well,” my dad starts, “I’m taking the investors to the site of the new hotel in South Carolina the week after next. You’re welcome to join us. You can relax on the beach and do some shopping. I’d like for you to see the place anyway. Plus, it’s the end of the year. I’m sure you won’t miss that much at school.”

  My dad should probably tell me I don’t deserve a break instead of encouraging me to skip school, but he always goes way too easy on me. It’s almost like he feels guilty I don’t have a mom anymore. So, he lets me get away with everything. Sometimes I wish he would act a little more like a parent. That life was more normal. Family dinners around the kitchen table and the whole deal.

  “Yeah…okay.” I shrug, coming to my feet. “That sounds really nice actually.”

  It’s been years since I’ve gone with my dad on a business trip, but it’s not like there’s anything better for me to do. Violet and Thatcher are wrapped up in each other, and Cole has been spending all his free time talking to some mystery girl. Besides, I’d rather be anywhere but here right now.

  He stands, rounding his desk to give me a hug. “And you’re sure everything is good?”

  His question makes his hold on me seem suffocating, and I wiggle out of his arms. “Yep, perfect.”

  He studies me with a tilt of his head as I slowly back away, grinning like an idiot so he won’t see the truth.

  Chapter Five

  Present

  ARWEN

  After I finish the last touches on Violet’s eyeshadow, I put the brush down and stand back to admire my handiwork. “Perfect,” I declare.

  She looks in the mirror and smiles before turning to me. “Ugh. Thank you! Okay. I guess I should get dressed now huh?” She nervously laughs, and I nod at her before heading out to the living room.

  Violet’s little brother squeals as I catch him, pulling him into my arms and kissing his sweet little face. Austin is like a living, breathing doll with his golden hair and round blue eyes. He couldn’t look more like Violet if she had spit him out herself.

  He runs to his mother when I put him down, and she gives me a beaming smile. Josie is the type of woman who radiates warmth and love. It must be where her daughter gets it.

  When Violet asked me to come over after school, I was thrilled. She told me soon after it was to help her get ready for her first date with Thatcher. I may not be what most people consider a girly girl, but I love getting her all gussied up. And I love that she wanted me here; I adore it here. Her quaint home is so inviting, full of family and love. It’s the complete opposite of what I’m used to—big, empty, quiet.

  The first time she invited me over to have dinner with her family, I was so nervous. It was the first time I’d sat down for a family dinner since my mother died. Not to say I never eat with my dad, we just don’t sit at the table and there’s usually very little conversation involved.

  My thoughts are interrupted by Saint’s mom.

  “Is Violet nervous about tonight?” she asks me, being careful to keep her voice low so Violet doesn’t hear.

  “Well, she’s taking a while to get dressed, so, if I was the betting type, my money would be on yes. I’d wager Thatcher is ten times more nervous, though,” I joke.

  Thatcher’s never taken a girl out on an actual date before. Violet is the first—and only—girl he’s ever had any real feelings for, and the dumbass spent two years fighting them. After the way he behaved, he’s lucky Violet wants anything to do with him.

  “Oh,” she says, waving my statement away with her hand. “Please. What would he have to be nervous about? It’s no wonder Vi is so smitten with him. He seems like a sweet kid. And he’s so cute. They did not make ‘em like that back in my day, I’ll tell you that much.”

  “I can hear you, you know,” Violet’s dad calls from the kitchen.

  “Pipe down in there and mind your own business, Daniel.” Josie winks at me as she laughs, while her husband grumbles in the kitchen. “So, Violet told me she met you through Thatcher. Have you been friends with him for a long time?”

  It’s still strange to think about how Violet and I ended up becoming friends. When Cole asked me to take her home from a party she had gone to with Aidan, I was happy to help. I wanted to get her away from Aidan as much as Thatcher did, only for my own selfish reasons. The last thing I expected was to hit it off so well with Violet. By the end of the night, I utterly adored her. She’s the most genuine person I’ve ever met.

  I nod. “I’ve been friends with Thatcher since we were thirteen. He was one of the first friends I made when we moved here from Denver.”

  Aidan was the very
first friend I made at Westbrook. Before Thatcher and Cole. Though no one really knows that. The few people who had seen us together those first couple of months of eighth grade year have all either forgotten or pretend it never happened. As far as they’re concerned, their precious golden boy would never be associated with someone like me.

  “He’s a good guy, right? I don’t need to worry about my daughter with him?”

  Nervous energy courses through my veins as she peers into my eyes. If this were anyone else, I wouldn’t hesitate to ease their concerns. It’s not that Thatcher’s a bad guy. He’s just a little broken. And sometimes broken people make a mess of everything they touch. Take it from someone who’s been chipped and frayed around the edges for most of her life. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. I know Thatcher would never intentionally hurt Violet, but I can’t promise that loving him won’t hurt at times.

  “Mom,” Violet whines as she finally makes an appearance in the living room. “Please tell me you aren’t interrogating Arwen again.”

  Violet is a lethal combination of sexy and cute with the thrift store bowling shirt thrown over her skin-tight tank top, her hair and makeup flawless thanks to me.

  Josie gasps, her eyes going all glossy as she looks at her daughter. Emotions clog my throat as I watch her hug Violet, fussing over how beautiful she looks.

  The last time my mom was around for one of my firsts was when I learned to ride a bike without training wheels.

  What I wouldn’t give to have one more moment like this with her.

  It’s nearly one in the morning when my phone dings with a text message, pulling me from a suspended sleep state. After I sent Violet off on her date, I came home and watched movies on my couch alone. My dad had to work, and Cole was in a mood. So, I spent my night with Edward Cullen. About an hour ago, I finally dragged my ass to bed. But my restless mind wouldn’t shut off.

  I blindly reach for my phone, squinting my eyes against the bright light of my screen as I open the text.

  Cole: We have a problem. I need your help.

  The next message that comes through is a pin with his location. I know the neighborhood, which means he’s likely at some party. Groaning, I throw the covers off and hop out of bed. It’s been a while since I’ve had to go rescue one or both of the boys in the middle of the night. Whatever is waiting for me can’t be good.

  Me: On my way

  I yank on some jeans and pull my hair into a ponytail before slipping on a pair of Converse and my leather jacket. My dad’s BMW is parked next to my Pontiac GTO, which lets me know he made it home sometime after I went upstairs to bed. The roar of my baby’s engine is likely loud enough to wake him, but he’s a heavy sleeper, and I’m out the driveway a few seconds later without getting busted.

  My gut is filled with worry as I head through town. The last time I got a text like this from Cole in the middle of the night, Thatcher had been on a full-blown bender. But this can’t be about him. Violet had called me five minutes after eleven to tell me all about their date. According to her, everything went perfectly fine.

  When I get to the house, I shoot Cole a text. There’s no way I’m going inside without even knowing who lives here. He comes rushing from the front door a few seconds later, making it to my car by the time I get out of it.

  “What the fuck is going on?” I ask him.

  He runs a hand through his hair, his vibrant eyes cautious. “I fucked up. It’s all my fault. You have to help me get Thatch out of here before he beats the shit out of someone else.”

  My heart takes a nosedive. “What do you mean someone else?”

  “Fuck, Ari. It’s bad. He texted me needing a place to crash because his parents are in town. I don’t know what I was thinking, telling him to meet me at Shane Donavan’s house.”

  “Wait, wait…what?” I squeal. “What the fuck were you doing at Shane Donavan’s house? That asshole hates us.”

  “That’s not important right now. What matters is he beat the ever loving shit out of Joey.”

  My stomach churns, and I punch Cole in the arm. This is bad. Really, really, bad. Thatcher’s history with the Roberts family isn’t great. Joey hates Thatcher for what we did to his older sister, Brandi. We had taken her down along with all her friends, exposing them for the vile humans they are. Then we took their place at the top of the food chain at Westbrook High.

  Joey’s a piece of shit just like his big sister. The little fucker practically attacked Violet in the parking lot Monday morning. The only reason Thatcher didn’t whoop his ass then is because Violet begged him not to, arguing that Joey wasn’t worth getting into trouble for.

  Only, she had no idea how right she was.

  Joey’s father is also Thatcher’s father’s biggest client. When he finds out that Thatcher has given his son a beating, there will be hell to pay.

  “How could you let this happen?” I yell. “You know Thatcher’s dad always gets him all worked up.”

  Thatcher has a lot of pent up anger, especially toward his father. He can be a little explosive, going from Bruce to the Hulk in the blink of an eye.

  Cole rubs his arm as he shrugs, his features heavy with guilt. “It all happened so fast. The motherfucker basically called Violet a whore. It’s like he was baiting Thatch.”

  “Fuck,” I whisper-shout. The last thing I want is for Thatcher to be in trouble, but I can’t say I’m sorry Joey finally got the ass whooping he deserves. “And how the hell did you end up here? Why the hell would you bring him to another party?”

  “I couldn’t take him home with me like that. My mom would freak out if she saw Thatch’s knuckles all busted up. I thought I’d bring him here, wait until my mom went to bed, and let him have a few drinks to calm down. But, I can’t. He’s…”

  Cole sounds defeated and tired as his words trail off, and I almost feel bad for giving him such a hard time. I know how challenging it can be to deal with Thatcher when he gets in one of his…moods. Cole has never been able to handle it, always calling me to the rescue.

  “Where is he?” I ask.

  Cole leads me inside the house where an intoxicated Thatcher is sitting on a couch with a bottle of whiskey in his hand.

  He barely acknowledges me as I sit next to him, his glare briefly sliding to me before returning to the guy across the room. “If that asshole over there looks at me sideways one more time—”

  “See what I mean?” Cole says, throwing his hands up in agitation. “He’s looking for trouble at this point, and he won’t listen to reason.”

  Thatcher cuts his eyes to Cole, flipping him off. “Did you really have to call Ari?”

  “Apparently he did,” I counter, smacking him in the back of the head to gain his attention. “What the fuck are you doing, Thatch? Are you really planning to sit here and drink until you find someone else to fight with? It might make you feel better for a minute, but it won’t fix anything. You’re only making shit worse for yourself.”

  His hard glare softens as he sighs, his head falling back. “I fucked up. Violet is going to hate me. I got one night to see what it would be like to have her. Now it’s over before it even really began.”

  My eyes land on Cole as he stops pacing, his posture rigid as he meets my gaze. We’ve both been pushing for Thatcher to go after Violet since he first laid eyes on her. But things are different now. If Violet breaks up with Thatcher, we could lose her too.

  “Stop being so dramatic,” I tell Thatcher, his brow furrowing with anger. “Violet really cares about you. She isn’t going to go running the second things aren’t perfect. Newsflash, she knew exactly who she was agreeing to date. You showed her your worst for two years, and she still saw the good in you.”

  “I don’t want to lose her, Ari,” he says quietly.

  “Then stop acting like a dumbass. You need to get the fuck out of here before you do anything else idiotic. And you need to talk to her. She needs to hear what happened from you before she hears it somewhere else.”

>   He nods as I grab the bottle from his hand, my chest tightening at the sight of his busted knuckles.

  “Jesus, your hands look rough,” I add.

  A slow sinister smile spreads across his face. “You should see the other guy.”

  Chapter Six

  Present

  AIDAN

  Violet bolts out the classroom door the second the bell rings. She barely looked at me during chemistry. Which I’m guessing is because of Thatcher. Everyone is talking about the fact that the two of them are now officially dating. A few of my teammates saw them all over each other at the bowling alley Friday night.

  Violet is talking to Arwen down the hall by the time I reach my locker, and their conversation looks tense. I wonder if they’re talking about the fight Thatcher got into after his date with Violet. Apparently, he beat the dude pretty badly. It amazes me that Violet would want anything to do with someone like him.

  My gaze subconsciously moves to Arwen, my blood heating with the memory of her curvy body molded to mine. She’s wearing a pair of ripped jeans with fishnets peeking out and a cropped Guns N’ Roses tee. It’s sexy as hell.

  Her gray eyes flicker to mine as Violet scurries away. It’s the first time she’s made eye contact with me since our kiss the night of the benefit. Not that I was expecting or hoping for anything different.

  My pulse races when she begins to walk toward me, her lips spreading into a wicked grin, like a predator stalking down her prey. I turn to my locker, fumbling with the lock as I rush to get it open. By the time I throw my book inside, she’s at my back.

  “Violet is with Thatcher now. Which I’m sure you’ve already heard. And he would not appreciate you eyeball fucking her.”

  I sigh, slamming my locker as I turn to face her. “She’s not who I was focused on.”

  I’m not sure why I’m baiting her again. For years, I was so hurt that I let her say and do whatever without putting up much of a fight. But it feels like something has shifted between us. I noticed that night at Sal’s and again at the benefit.