Good grief. I’m starting to miss his old girlfriend Hayley. At least she’d let him finish a conversation.

I down whatever’s left in the cup and place it on the coffee table. “I give up. Text me tomorrow if you’re serious about tutoring.”

I stalk off before he can stop me, not that he will. Hell, I highly doubt he’ll even remember I was here tonight.

I’m fishing in my purse for my phone when a familiar voice drawls, “That’s the ugliest sweater I’ve ever seen in my life. Do everyone a favor and get stronger glasses.”

Bianca.

The newest member of the varsity cheerleading squad and the youngest Covington spawn.

Squaring my shoulders, I utter, “Wow. Look at you. Your brothers finally let you out of your cage.”

Unsupervised no less…which is awfully brave if you ask me. Not only is the girl ridiculously gorgeous, she has a reputation for being a troublemaker.

On second thought, given the wide berth all the guys in the vicinity are giving her…I can only assume word spread that she’s off limits.

Bianca doesn’t really seem to mind it, though. “Yup. Cole doesn’t give a shit what I do tonight.”

Not surprising. RHA’s golden boy with the golden arm won the first game of the season a few hours ago. Chances are he’s partying so hard he doesn’t even know his name.

I’m about to ask who’s looking out for him, since I know his older brother Jace isn’t here tonight, but then she says, “If you’re looking for the quarterback who barely acknowledges your existence these days, I last saw him making out with his girlfriend, Casey, in the hot tub.”

Her statement shouldn’t feel like she rammed an ice pick into my chest and twisted it. Yet…

Twist, twist, twist.

The look on my face must give me away, because she tosses her head back and laughs. “God, you make it too easy.” She brings her cup to her lips. “Pro tip? Get some thicker skin, girl. The world is full of assholes.”

“I guess that would explain why so many attend RHA.”

“Damn straight. High school is where they’re bred.” She peers at me for a moment too long. “Speaking of assholes, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while now.”

It’s safe to say I’m surprised. “What?”

Her expression turns thoughtful. “Why do you like my brother? And just so we’re clear, I don’t mean that in a ‘you can do so much better than him’ type of way, because let’s be honest, you can’t. But I’m genuinely curious as to why you’d knowingly waste your feelings on someone who will never return them?”

Bianca’s a bitch with a capital B, but she also has a point…sort of.

“I don’t have feelings for him.”

Not exactly. It’s just…Cole Covington has always fascinated me. But not in the same way he does every other girl at school.

I can’t explain it, but I feel like there’s more to him than what’s on the surface.

Maybe it’s because he studies people the same way I do.

As if he’s on the outside looking in.

Which is crazy considering he’s the most good-looking, most popular, and most talented quarterback on the planet…but still.

No matter how many times he proves me wrong, I can’t help but think his true colors aren’t as one-dimensional or superficial as he wants everyone to believe.

He’s not an empty black hole on the inside.

“I don’t know,” I whisper. “Sometimes you’re just—”

“Drawn to someone who’s all wrong for you?” she interjects, and I can’t help but notice her stare is pinned to something across the room.

I follow her gaze to where Oakley and Morgan are still making out on the couch.

Oh, boy. I really hope it’s Morgan she’s pining over, because her brothers would never allow her and Oakley to be a thing.

Not only is Bianca a sophomore…he’s Jace and Cole’s best friend.

Plus, he’s not exactly Mr. Stable.

He lives in the Covington guesthouse because he had an affair with his stepmom—an affair his dad still doesn’t know about—and she’s knocked up.

Fortunately, it’s her husband’s and not Oak’s, but according to my best friend, her aunt really did a number on Oakley and broke his heart.

Poor thing is just trying to put the pieces back together.

And by the looks of it, he’s enlisting Morgan’s help with that tonight…which isn’t sitting well with baby Covington.

It’s awful seeing someone you feel this weird gravitational pull toward making out with someone else.

“Boys suck,” I declare, offering her some support. “You’re beautiful and—”

“What? Are you trying to get into my pants because my brother won’t let you into his?” Eyes trained on me now, she snorts. “Trust me, there’s not enough alcohol or desperation in the world to let you eat my pussy tonight. Like my brother, I also have standards.” She smiles smugly. “Dime piece or better, sweetie. Unfortunately for you, you’re about five cents too short.”

Wow…yeah. Fuck her.

Some people are just rotten to the core.

“It’s a real shame God wasted such beauty on a wicked witch like you.” I brush past her, but pause when it occurs to me. “You said Cole doesn’t give a shit about you being here.”

Her lips twist into a scowl. “Yeah, and?”

I hold up my cell. “I was just about to call Dylan—you know, Jace’s girlfriend. I wasn’t going to mention you were here, but—”

“Fine, you win. Meet me in the bathroom in five.”

I blink. “Wait, what? Why?”

“Why do you think?”

My eyes widen in shock at her innuendo and she bites back a smirk. “Jesus. You should see your face right now. No wonder Cole loves fucking with you.” Pulling her compact out of her purse, she applies some lip gloss and sighs. “Here’s tip number two of the night. If you’re going to go through the trouble of threatening someone, make sure you at least get something good out of it.” Appearing satisfied, she flutters her fingers in a dainty wave and winks. “My cunt turns into a pumpkin at midnight, so I suggest you find me before then if you change your mind.”

I can’t tell if she seriously propositioned me or if she’s screwing with me. Not that it matters, it’s still a hard pass.

Even if I was into girls, she’d be so far down my list of acceptable choices, I’d probably die of old age before I got to her.

My phone vibrates, and my grim mood dissipates when I see Dylan’s name flash across the screen.

I answer on the first ring. “Great minds think alike. I was just about to call you.”

Dylan says something, but the music is so loud I can’t hear her. “Wait, hold on.”

Thinking quick, I hustle up the staircase. Evidently the bedrooms on the second floor are used for couples who want to bang, but I manage to find an empty one at the end of the hall.

“Sorry.” Not bothering to turn on the light, I plop down on the still made bed. “I had to go upstairs so I could hear you. What were you saying?”