Beware of Bad Boy(42)

Cece leaned forward from the backseat. “No, we know we can’t always win. As long as we do sometimes, we’re satisfied. Plus it’s just fun to compete.”

“So, did you have fun Caleb?” Jared sat next to me up front since Gianna had turned down the spot.

“Yep, you guys were awesome. Plus, I got like three chicks numbers,” I bragged. With the radio off, I could hear Gianna mumble something under her breath from the backseat.

Some of the crew and their girls beat us to Cece and Jared’s house. I would’ve invited one of the girls I met tonight, but I didn’t want to be distracted from keeping an eye on Gianna and Jared.

The party was small, less than thirty people total. Gianna and Cece had been shut in the room for quite a while. Anxiety was clawing at me as I sat on the couch talking to Taye. I tried to pay attention to what he was telling me about his college plans for the following fall, but I was too agitated about Gianna’s own plans for tonight to listen.

When the girls finally came out of the room, changed from their earlier outfits, Cece wore a pink dress with a flared skirt and Gianna had changed into that damn black dress she’d bought earlier this week. Gianna spotted me staring at her and winked impishly. It couldn’t help visualizing what she was most likely wearing beneath the dress. It turned me on simply imagining it.

She wasn’t really going through with this, was she? No, she definitely wasn’t. That was why I was here, watching her every move. Jared wouldn’t get the chance to touch her. As if to mock my determination, Jared came up to her and casually put his arm around her shoulders. He probably thought he had a shot because they kissed last Saturday. Well, I’d kissed her several times since then.

Leaning down, Jared whispered into her ear and Gianna nodded. Coming to some sort of agreement, they walked out of the room together and back down the hallway where she’d just been with Cece. But it wasn’t Cece’s bedroom they went into. Oh hell no.



GIANNA



Way less confident than I hoped, I’d come out of Cece’s room wearing my slutty black dress. I’d feel better about the whole Caleb situation once I’d gotten a little payback. Coming into the living room, I’d rejoiced at the dark look in Caleb’s eyes. Just to annoy him, I winked. Are you worried, master player? Caleb’s broody expression turned broodier when Jared put his arm around me.

“You look hot,” he whispered in my ear, making me shiver. “Can we go somewhere to talk about what happened last weekend?”

This was working out better than I’d planned. Nodding my head in agreement, I let him take my hand and lead me to his bedroom. Pretending Caleb didn’t exist, I never glanced back. Jared sat on the foot of his bed, gently pulling me down next to him

“I’m just going to get straight to the point, Gigi. I’ve liked you for a long time and I want to be more than just your friend.”

Caleb’s face flickered through my mind for a brief second. “I like you too Jared, but I don’t want to lose you as a friend.”

“You won’t. No matter what happens,” he promised before kissing me softly.

I returned his kiss like before, feeling unsure and thinking my plan may end up blowing up in my face. Without breaking the kiss, Jared maneuvered us so we were lying back on the bed on our sides. Jared had skills and kissing him was nice, but not as explosive as kissing Caleb, which only fueled me to put more into kissing Jared. He placed his hand on my bare thigh and moved my leg up over his. The position made me feel vulnerable, but I trusted him. His warm lips moved across my neck.

The door slamming open, letting in the light from the hallway like a spotlight, came as shock. Jared yanked his head up and I peeked around to see Caleb standing there like he was about to kill someone.





CHAPTER SIXTEEN



“You can take no credit for beauty at sixteen.

But if you are beautiful at sixty,

it will be your soul’s own doing.

-Marie Stopes



CALEB



I debated for about one minute whether or not to follow them down the hallway. Was Gianna planning on giving her virginity to Jared right now? Maybe so, and that was enough for me. I followed them to what I figured was Jared’s room, the sly fucker.

Standing outside the closed door, my fists were clenched and I felt pumped like I was about to get in a fight. After all we’d shared over the past week, Gianna was going to fuck some other dude? It didn’t matter how long she’d known Jared, it wasn’t happening. Thinking I might have to break it down, I swung the unlocked door open with more force than I needed to.

On the bed making out, Gianna’s leg was propped up over Jared’s hip. He had one hand on her thigh, stroking the smooth skin. Jared’s head whipped up and Gianna’s eyes slowly met mine. Coming closer, I pushed Gianna’s leg off of him.