“Holy God,” Tessa said, and looked around us. A few students still remained, standing in clusters, unable to stop staring. Standing on her tiptoes, she peered into the bed of the truck, reached in, and turned to the onlookers. “Hey, brainless fucks. How ’bout you stop staring before I stab you in the eye with this tire iron here.” She held it up and waved it with intent to use, and despite my mortification over what’d happened with my truck I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my mouth. Tessa was formidable. A true frightening warrior in plaid shorts. With a grunt she tossed it back into the bed and picked up the towel Brax had discarded. “Douchebags,” she mumbled. “I swear I hate people. I’ll help you finish up this damn mess. So Brax. He was pissed I take it.”
“Yeah, seemed like it.” I wrung out the towel. “I hope he doesn’t do anything stupid. Putting something like this before his scholarship would be lunacy. It’s not worth it.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” she glanced at me. “But honey, I think you’re worth more to him than anything. Including his scholarship.”
I sighed. “I just don’t want him to get into trouble.”
“Well, trust him, Liv. He didn’t get this far by being an idiot, right? Besides,” she grinned. “He has a reputation to uphold. Can’t go fuckin’ that up now, can he?”
I gave the tailgate a final wipe and grinned at her. “You’re the best.”
Tessa grinned. “I know. Now let’s get this done before I have to hurt some lookie-loos.”
“You’re so brutal,” I teased.
“I got your back, chica. Don’t you forget it.”
I never would.
I finished out my day of classes without seeing Brax. He’d sent me one text saying he’d meet me after work. He didn’t mention Kelsy, and I didn’t ask. I’d save it for later. I endured several stares as the day progressed, and when I slid into my desk in astronomy, Steven was there, waiting. His already-shaggy brown hair flipped over his ears, his head lowered to his notes. When he saw me, his head lifted and he leaned toward me.
“I just heard. Man, are you okay?” His brown eyes studied me, wide and concerned.
I eased his mind. “Yeah, I had some help washing it all off.”
“Pretty harsh words,” he said. “Do you know who did it?”
I shrugged. “I have an idea.” I dug in my bag for my comp book.
“Does it have anything to do with that guy you’re dating?” He regarded me closely.
“What do you mean?”
Steven busied himself shuffling papers. “I don’t know. He’s got a rep you know.” He gave me a hooded look. “A lot of girls like him. Maybe one’s jealous?”
I nodded. “Could be. But it’s over now, so I guess I won’t worry about it.”
He squeezed my shoulder. “Well, next time text me if something happens and I’ll come help you take care of it.”
I couldn’t help but smile at Steven then. “I sure will.”
The rest of the day passed pretty fast. I knew my truck pics—along with me scrubbing the words Gutter Fuck off of it—had gone viral via InstaGram. I thought the circulation had started and ended at Winston. Until my little brother Seth called me during my fifteen minute break at the observatory. I’d just finished setting up the mega-pieces of a celestial puzzle for the children’s exhibit when I stepped into the employee’s break room and checked for a message from Brax. Instead, a missed call from my brother. So I called him back.
“Hey, little bro. What’s up—”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
I sagged against the wooden window sill and closed my eyes. “Please tell me you kept quiet about it. It’s been handled.”
“Has it? Really? ’Cause I heard another little rumor. One that includes a certain douchebag attending the same college as you.”
Seth’s voice sounded years wiser than his ripe old age of sixteen. Usually a sweet guy, quick to horse around, his character did a complete rotation when it came to two women in particular: our mom, and me. He was that guy you did not breathe an indecent word to about his mother or sister. It simply didn’t work for him. “Does Mom and Jilly know? Kyle or Jace?”
“Not yet.” Seth sighed into the phone, and I could envision the dimple sink into his cheek as he frowned. “Who’s the guy with the ink?”
My heart leaped. “Just … a friend. He was helping me.”
“You’re a terrible liar, sis. Who is he?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “He’s … really nice, Seth. I trust him. Please don’t tell them yet.”