Never His Girl: Dark High School Bully Romance (Kings of Cypress Pointe Book 2)

WEST

Beneath my hoodie, dark lyrics that match my mood bleed through my earbuds, drowning out the nonstop chatter. We’re two hours into a two and a half-hour bus ride from Cypress Prep to the campus of Cristoph Mercer University. We’ll have the evening to chill, then tomorrow brings us one step closer to D-Day.

The game I have so much riding on this season.

Already, my attention isn’t where it should be. It’s focused toward the front seat of the bus, where a blonde ponytail bobs with every movement of the bumpy road.

She came. Despite how things went down last time, she’s back on this bus with all the assholes who’ve made her life a living hell lately. Myself included. But I’m not just keeping eyes on her for my usual reasons. This time, I’m also making sure no one gives her shit. Mouthing off to her will be the death of any dickhead who tries it.

She turns, meeting my gaze as if she’s heard my thoughts, and my breath quickens. The moment she realizes I caught her, her head whips forward again. It kills me inside knowing how close we came to having something normal, but I’ve said it from the start. Normal was never in the cards for us. She’s fucked up, I’m sure as hell fucked up, but that can’t be all there is, right?

I shift my gaze out the window, taking in the scenery outside—farmland, silos, and the occasional gas station/convenience store.

The university’s pretty far out from everything, but that’s a bit misleading. You’d think being in the middle of nowhere would make it tame and boring, but one thing CMU is not is tame. Some of the wildest parties in the state are held here, which is why my teammates and I have made this lengthy drive on more than one occasion.

I’m tired and ready to stretch my legs. My knees have been pressed against the back of this seat since we first left the lot, which has me looking forward to checking into my suite. Mom always insists that the three of us have our own space, so she calls ahead to make sure whatever hotel the team’s booked can accommodate the upgrade.

It’s pretentious as hell, but makes her feel better about not making the games. She claims our father can’t get along without her, but I’ve always wondered if it’s got more to do with her being afraid to take her eyes off him for even a weekend. Deep down, she has to know that asshole would be in someone else’s bed before she could even set her suitcases down.

The last thirty minutes pass quickly, and I’m beyond grateful when the bus pulls up in front of the hotel. This area definitely has the feel of your average college town—coffee shops, internet cafes, and artisan restaurants on every other corner.

There’s a mad-dash toward the door as soon as the driver opens it, and the coaches keep order in the parking lot until everyone’s off, and we’re ready to head inside.

My brothers are at either side of me now with Joss trailing a bit behind, wearing one of Dane’s oversized hoodies like it’s her own. I’ve still got eyes on Southside, and it seems like most have gotten the hint and are keeping their distance from her. As well as keeping whatever sick-ass comments they have to themselves. The amount of threatening I had to do to make this happen is insane but worth it.

Girl deserves some peace. And it was on me to make sure that happened for her.

“All right, file inside,” Coach instructs.

We mostly do what we’re told, but not nearly as orderly as he had in mind, I’m sure. The sliding doors open and we pour inside, but Dane, Sterling and I don’t follow the crowd. Coach approaches the counter to get the rest of the team squared away, while we check into our suites apart from everyone else.

“Good afternoon,” the front-desk attendant greets us. “How can I help you gentlemen.”

“Just checking in. Last name’s Golden.”

She types away and then looks up with a polite smile. “Two executive suites and one honeymoon suite?” she confirms.

“Uh…”

She laughs quietly when her response confuses me.

“Sorry, I should explain, dear. There was a mix-up on your reservation, so we had to switch one of your rooms to a honeymoon suite. Don’t worry, though. You’re not being charged extra, since this was our mistake.”

“Then, I guess that’s us.” I flash a smile before she turns back toward her screen.

“If you’re okay with the upgrade, it looks like you three are all set,” she beams, handing over six keycards—two for each of us. One set has a red heart printed in the corner, setting them apart as those granting access to the honeymoon suite, I figured.

I take those and my brothers grab the others, but as I turn to leave the counter, I lay eyes on Southside, trying her best to disappear while waiting for her room assignment. She doesn’t look pitiful by any means, but I know it’s all a front.

She’s hurt, probably a little broken, and… just deserves a fucking break.

“Vivian,” I say, reading the attendant’s nametag when I turn and face her again. “Do you have any other suites available this weekend? I know it’s short notice, but I’d appreciate you checking.”

She doesn’t hesitate to click away at the keyboard, but looks up with remorse in her gaze.

“Unfortunately, I don’t, but like I said, you won’t be charged for your upgrade,” she explains again, misunderstanding the reason I’ve asked.

“It isn’t that, I just—”

My gaze shifts back to Southside and I’m only in thought for a moment before I come up with a solution.

“Could you do me a favor?” I ask, hitting Vivian with another smile. “Would you mind giving these to that girl over near the door? The blonde with the pink hoodie?”

Vivian’s confused, so I do something I haven’t done anywhere near enough of in my lifetime. I tell the truth.

“Thing is, I messed up pretty badly with her, and I’m trying to make things right without pushing too hard,” I explain. “Can I convince you to give her my keys, so she can take my suite instead of wherever she’s been assigned?”

Hesitant, Vivian first glances at the keycards I’m holding, and then her gaze shifts up toward me again. She eventually takes the cards, but I don’t miss that her eyes are glistening more than they were a moment ago.

“Wow,” she breathes. “That’s very sweet of you.”

Now, if only I could get Southside to see it that way.

“I appreciate your help.”

“My pleasure. I was young once,” she adds with a smile. “Can I get you a different room? We have a few doubles still open if you’d like one.”

I pass a look toward Sterling and he’s already shaking his head, which draws a laugh out of me.

“I appreciate the offer, but that won’t be necessary,” I say, before slapping my hand to Sterling’s shoulder. “I think my brother has room for me.”

“Fuck you. You’re taking the floor,” he mumbles under his breath.

“Then, you gentlemen have a wonderful weekend,” Vivian pipes. “And I don’t know what you did, young man, but don’t give up trying to fix it. Seems like this girl’s pretty special to you.”

She winks and we leave the counter, two of us bound for the same room, apparently.

I catch Joss’s smile and shake my head, knowing she’s overheard and is about to spout some sappy shit.

“Very nice touch,” she says with a grin. “All you’re missing now are flowers.” Next thing I know, she plucks a brochure for a floral delivery service off the rack beside us and shoves it into my hand.

After that, I instruct them all to fall back, while I discreetly observe whether my plan is somehow about to backfire in my face. But, luckily, when Vivian gestures for Southside to approach the counter and hands her the keys to the room I just gave up, she doesn’t seem suspicious.

As a guy who never cared about shit like this before, I sure as hell care about it now.

I know I haven’t given you any reason to trust me, Southside, but damn… I’m trying.