“My ex-boyfriend is a dick, and I would like him to regret the things he has said to me. You are my best bet for that.”

He leaned down into me, and I took the opportunity to bring my lips to his. He was frozen, a statue, as I kissed him, and I almost pulled away in embarrassment until he finally moved, kissing me back.

It was so soft, so gentle, that I couldn’t believe it was Kye kissing me. I had assumed it would be rough, painful almost, but the hesitation to his lips shocked me.

I wound my hands into his hair, pulling him closer. He hesitated before his tongue ran along my lips. My body started to melt against him, but he didn’t seem to mind as he pulled me in closer, nearly holding me up as my legs slowly gave out. I could feel every swipe of his tongue to my toes, the heat burning through me so fast, but I needed more. I was almost crawling up him now, clinging to his body like my life depended on it.

We stayed like that for another second until he pulled away. “Wait,” I said on instinct, wanting more.

“Do you like an audience?” he asked with a quiet laugh.

Reality snapped back, and I glanced around. “Damn,” I breathed. I had just made out with Kye in front of everyone.

Worse, I liked it. Judging by how turned on I was now, I really liked it.

Heat crept into my face, and he noticed. “Oh, come on. Don’t shy away now. You meant to do this, now own up to it,” he said. There wasn’t warmth in his tone, and a new fear churned in my stomach that I had just pissed off the one guy that I should definitely not piss off.

He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket but stopped before he could light it. I followed his eyes, turning around to see Dean staring at us, mouth open, the shock on his face making me smile.

At least I got the satisfaction of seeing that.

“Hey, what’s up?” Kye said, throwing an arm over me, each move so casual and comfortable, like this was completely normal for us. Like we really had been dating.

I leaned hard against him, my legs still not recovering. “Do you guys know Kye?”

Anger, or something more like hatred, flashed over Dean’s face. I didn’t actually know who knew Kye and who didn’t. He came around the parties enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if they knew him, but Dean hadn’t gone to our high school, and Kye kept to himself so often that Dean could easily not know him from any other strange guy that comes around.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” he seethed. “We take one small break and this is what you go find? Some bottom of the fucking barrel loser?”

“You said it didn’t matter who I was with and the same for you. Haven’t you slept with half my old house at this point?” I asked.

“Daisy, I didn’t do anything like that.”

“But you slept with Sydney,” I said, already knowing it was true.

“I told you before we even broke up that it might happen.”

Kye pulled away from me but stayed close. He fidgeted with the cigarette now, and I really hoped he wouldn’t light it until I left.

“Hold on, you told her before you broke up that you were going to fuck her friends? And you’re calling me a loser?” Kye asked, nearly laughing.

“Shut up. No, I told her it might happen.” Dean turned back to me. “You know I couldn’t promise anything.”

“And neither could I, so you can’t be mad that I’m with him now.”

“Yes, I can. I know your dad wouldn’t be happy about this either.” Dean came closer now, his friends right behind him, but Kye didn’t move.

“Aww, poor guy,” Kye mocked. “Are you just mad she already found someone that fucks her better? Or that there’s really no use for you now?”

I pinched at his side, knowing that if he pushed it more, Dean would start a fight.

Dean’s face turned a deep red now.

“Daisy, do you know what your reputation will be after word gets out that you’re with him? Especially after me? Everyone is going to think you’re a slut.”

“You better stop while you’re ahead, Dean. We’re going to the party. If you want to keep calling her that and start a fight, just let me know. I’m here whenever.” He waved his hand around. “Until then, Daze and I are going to have some fun.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me along with him. It wasn’t kind or gentle. It definitely wasn’t romantic, but I still smiled as he dragged me with him. “Then maybe head home early to have more fun. She can’t seem to get enough,” Kye added with a wink as we walked by. “Something about football players’ dicks being as useless as their brains? Probably one too many concussions and kicks to the groin.”

One of Dean’s football friends stepped in front of us, and Kye stopped, pulling me a little more behind him and dropping his hand from me. I almost wrapped my arms around his waist but thought better of it. This entire interaction was going to my head as the hottest thing to happen to me in months, maybe years, while he was pissed off that I bothered him.

“Can I help you?” Kye asked.

“You can’t say that shit to us,” one of Dean’s friends said.

“I can say whatever the fuck I want if he’s going to threaten her or call her names. I really don’t think anyone is going to stop me.”

Dean and his friends looked back at each other, but Kye didn’t move. The calm scowl across his face left an open invitation for them, but no one took it. I didn’t know if I should back up or lean in.

My mouth had dropped open at some point, not knowing what to do. I expected Kye could scare them off, but he was going above and beyond what I planned. The easy way he dropped right into defending me wasn’t helping me find this any less attractive.

He took us a few more steps past them, and then he spun me. I gasped as he made one fluid motion and I was up in his arms, my legs locking around him to gain some stabilization.

“Bye, Dean,” he said, grinning as he stepped into the house. I leaned down, finding his lips again. I was too turned on to care if he was mad.

We made it to a bedroom, and excitement shot through me, until he literally threw me down onto a bed.

“I agreed to pissing off one boyfriend, not trying to convince an entire party that I’m here with the damn prom queen.”

“I just thought —” I stumbled over my words, trying to get up and face him. “I thought that was enjoyable.”

“For who? You? Didn’t realize you got off on jumping—what was it that Dean said…” He grinned, but it wasn’t friendly. “Oh, that’s right, a bottom-of-the-barrel loser. I have to go,” he said, pulling out the cigarette and lighting it this time. “I’m assuming you can get yourself out of here. Or do I have to be here for that, too?”

“No, I’ll figure it out. Thank you.”

He stopped at the door, the light flooding into the room and leaving him an outline of black.

“Did you really choose to jump me because I can scare Dean?”

I nodded before I could answer. As much as I wished it wasn’t, my body was still on fire, aching for him to come closer again. “Yes,” I said. 

He nodded, taking a long drag of the cigarette before disappearing into the crowd.

FOURKYE

There wasn’t much that surprised me anymore. I got used to life handing me the most ridiculous things, and I learned to deal with them as they came. But Daisy Wells, of all people, jumping me last night and kissing me was one of the biggest surprises of my life.

Another girl might not have been as much of a surprise. There were plenty over the years that literally threw themselves at me. The perfect prom queen even approaching me felt ridiculous, but kissing me?

I wasn’t a fan of touching anyone, but over the years, I’d learned to handle the feelings that went with it. Sometimes it was pure disgust, my body going cold and clammy, my stomach rolling like I might puke.