“Because he’s racing me and I know how he’s going to drive trying to beat me.”
She lets out an exasperated groan, “Come on, Col, don’t do this…”
“Don’t do what?”
“Girls ride with you all the time!” she exclaims. “Besides, Bo’s not some rando asshole. He’s my friend.”
“Bullshit, he’s your friend!” I hiss, towering over her.
Friend…I don’t know whether to laugh or punch someone. The thought of Bowen Garrison watching a romcom with Evie or listening to her fret about Carly Buchignani, who plays for St. Iggy, looks like a linebacker, and throws the fastest pitches in the state, sounds ridiculous. Has he even been to one of her games?
He would only do that kind of shit if…
“I don’t need your permission,” she states with conviction, “I’m riding with Bo.”
“The fuck you are,” I invade her space even more.
When I glance over the roof of the car, I realize Bowen is watching us intently. He tips his chin up, peering at me as he sucks on his cigarette. The louder my voice gets, the more it draws him in like a moth to a flame. The last thing I need right now is him wandering over here to see what’s going on.
I let out an irritated groan. Since when does Evie describe Bowen as her friend? Hannah is her friend, Hildy is her best friend, and Bowen is neither.
Then it dawns on me. Maybe this is what he’s been doing since last fall…
“He’s not bad, Col,” Evie softens her voice, “why do you hate him so much?”
I tighten my jaw, “Because I know him, Evie. And you should, too, by now. I know the kind of shit he does and who he does it with.”
She narrows her eyes, but there’s hint of disappointment in them, “And there’s no possible way he could be interested in someone like me.”
Shit…
“Don’t you fucking do that, Evie,” I grit my teeth, “you know exactly what I mean. He does what he wants, when he wants, and doesn’t care who gets in his way.”
“Like you?” she glares back at me.
I just stare at Evie, because she knows me, and she’s right. And fuck Bowen.
I’m standing here trying to convince her why she shouldn’t give him the time of day, and it’s because of what happened two months ago in the pole building right behind his car. And I can’t say shit because it would mean I’d have to tell her about the last real conversation I had with Bowen, when I was sitting on a rodent-infested couch behind a back hoe getting my dick sucked by some girl from Hellbranch.
●●●
Everyone else is at the other end of the building with three coolers worth of beer and a few handles of whiskey. Any suspicious noises are easily drowned out by the bass pumping through the speakers on the workbench and the distant hum of a snowmobile somewhere out in the fields. Out of nowhere, a tall girl with dark hair appears from behind the John Deere back hoe with Bowen on her heels.
When she sees me, she immediately freezes in surprise and raises her hands apologetically before turning around. But instead of leaving, Bowen blocks her path and nods to the couch.
She glances between us with apprehension, but Bowen steps past her with indifference, “Col doesn’t mind.”
The blonde Hellbranch girl between my knees startles and her eyes go wide. But before she can lift her head too high, I grasp the back of her neck and push her back down, massaging the center of her shoulders until she relaxes again.
Bowen collapses onto the tattered cushion next to me, so close that his arm bumps mine. I don’t know why he’s over here, it’s more commonplace for him to bend a girl—or two—over a folding table and fuck her in front of 15 people holding Solo cups. He likes to be center stage.
He peers into my lap, “Well, she’s just as cute as a button,” he comments before swinging one arm behind his head and beckoning for the tall girl.
She looks slightly unnerved at first, but complies, stepping up to the couch and sinking down in front of him. She must not know Bowen very well. But she doesn’t waste any time in tearing open his jeans and going at his dick like it’s a goddamn Rocket Pop.
Once she gets to work, Bowen turns to me, “Is Evie here?”
Are you fucking kidding me right now?
Bro seriously has zero chill.
“No,” I mumble, sucking in a breath as Hellbranch Girl slowly deep throats me.
“She was talking about Evanescence the other day,” he stares down at Tall Girl as she runs her tongue up his dick and closes her mouth around his tip, “that’s her favorite band, right?” It doesn’t seem to bother him when I don’t respond. “They’ll be here this summer, do you think I should take her?”
At that, Tall Girl glances up at Bowen. He catches the affront in her eyes and pushes her face back down. She clearly doesn’t know him if she thinks any of this involves feelings or will continue past tonight. I just try to ignore him, watching Hellbranch Girl as she wags her tongue back and forth under my shaft.
I run my fingers through her wavy hair, “You like taking me deep?” She looks up at me with her blue eyes, rimmed with sharp black liner, and moans in response. “You going to be nice and swallow because you’re my little fuck doll tonight?” She nods, eager to please. “Yeah, you are,” I smirk.
I suddenly realize Bowen’s staring at the side of my head like he’s waiting for a response.
I glare at him in my periphery, “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Evie—” he breathes, letting his head fall back and closing his eyes, “should I take her to Evanescence?”
Shut the hell up about Evanescence. I don’t fucking care about Evanescence.
“No,” I mumble, staring down at Hellbranch Girl while she swirls her tongue around my tip.
