Twisted Sins: A Dark High School Romance (Twisted Pine Academy Book 2) Page 5

  "If you don't like football, how did Braden get into it?"

  "Friends. He saw other boys playing it and didn't want to be left out. As he got older, he noticed football players got attention from girls. Seeing that made him want to be the best. And he's succeeded. He's the best player at Twisted Pine."

  We arrive at the car and get inside. Brock checks his phone again before starting the engine.

  "Did you hear anything?" I ask. "From your agent?"

  "No." He clears his throat. "I didn't think I would on a Friday night."

  "Maybe you should go see him tomorrow. Drive up to LA."

  He glances at me as he drives. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"

  "No. I just know how anxious you are to find out something. I thought maybe it'd help if you met with your agent."

  "Anything he'd say in person could be said over the phone. He'd contact me if he heard something."

  "Maybe you need a new agent. Doesn't sound like this guy is doing much."

  "He's rising up the ranks. I need to stick with him so I'm there when he's at the top. He's a go-getter. He gets himself in front of the right people and manages to impress them."

  "He didn't impress me."

  "He doesn't need to. You can't benefit him."

  He checks his phone again as he drives.

  "What else do you know about the people at Twisted Pine?" I ask. "Besides Peyton?"

  "You'd have to ask Braden or Trystan. I'm not that involved in the school. I only know what the boys tell me."

  "But you knew about Peyton."

  "Because she caused a scandal. And the resignation of the principal."

  "And you both had the same agent? That's weird."

  "Marilyn had many clients. All very successful. And many of her clients were on family shows, like Peyton and I were on."

  "You mean that show about the minister?"

  "Yes. It was by far my least favorite role but it made me millions. I'm still making money from that."

  Years ago, Brock was on a TV show where he played a minister with a ton of kids, like six or seven. It was on when I was a baby so I've only seen it in reruns. It was so syrupy sweet I couldn't watch more than a few minutes of it, but other people loved it. It was one of the most popular shows on TV at the time.

  "What show was Peyton on?" I ask.

  "Several. She started acting when she was five. She was on some children's shows, and when she was older she was in films, mostly family movies and a few limited release christian films, shown mainly at churches."

  I laugh. "Peyton was in christian movies? Let me guess. She played the virgin teenager struggling to decide if she should have sex with her boyfriend?"

  "Actually, yes, I believe that was one of them. I only know that because Marilyn had the script on her desk and I read through it while I was waiting for her to arrive for a meeting."

  We get to the house and he parks in the driveway.

  "I'll be in my office," he says as we go in the house.

  Walking to my room, my anger returns as I realize I'm stuck in the house on a Friday night while everyone else is out having fun.

  I miss you, I text Jackson. He should be done with the game by now but he's probably out with the team.

  Where are you? he texts back.

  Home. Brock made us leave because Braden got hurt.

  My phone rings with Burt's name on the screen.

  "Hey," I answer. "Aren't you with the team?"

  "Yeah, but I went to my car so we could talk. What happened to Braden?"

  "A player from the other team slammed into him. Braden fell and hurt his knee."

  "Did he return to the game?"

  "No. He couldn't. So Brock made us leave."

  "He wouldn't even stay behind with his injured son? What an ass."

  "I know. Trystan stayed there with him. I'm guessing they'll be home soon."

  "They won't. They'll go to the parties."

  "Braden won't. He looked like he was in a lot of pain."

  "Pain is the norm when you play football. You just have to ignore it."

  "You're in pain? Like right now?"

  "There's always something that hurts. Tonight a guy slammed into my shoulder. I thought I tore something but it seems better now."

  "You should go home and ice it."

  "I can't. I need to show up at the parties. Same with Braden. You go where your teammates go, and if they're at the parties, you show up."

  "You should've seen Braden. He was so pissed. He claims the guy hit him on purpose. You think he did?"

  "No. If it was intentional the ref would've called a penalty. Running into a guy on the field happens all the time. Guys get hurt. It's part of the game." He pauses. "How bad was his knee?"

  "I don't know. They took him away and said he needed to put ice on it."

  "If it just needs some ice, it's not that bad. I'm sure he'll play in the next game."

  "Did you guys win?"

  "Yeah. It was a blowout, just like yours."

  "You saw the score?"

  "We keep track of all the scores on Friday nights. Twisted Pine has five minutes left but they're up 35 to nothing."

  "Then they only got one more touchdown since Braden left. I guess he really is the reason they win."

  "He's not. The team was probably just distracted after he left, worried Braden's out for the season. They lost focus and didn't score as much. I gotta get back to the party but what's the plan for tonight?"

  "I'm stuck here. Brock grounded me for hitting Kristen. I'd sneak out but he keeps checking my room to see if I'm here. I swear he's obsessed with keeping me home. It's like he knows about us and doesn't want me seeing you."

  "Did he say something?"

  "No, but why else would he want to lock me up in my room?"

  "Are you sure he doesn't know?"

  "I don't think so. He'd say something if he did. And he'd literally lock me in my room. Like put bars on the doors and windows so I couldn't leave."

  "We should do something so that doesn't happen."

  "Like what?"

  "Let me figure it out. For now, just get Brock out of the house so I can see you. I've still got Mick fixing the recordings from the security cameras so you don't have to worry about that. You just have to get rid of Brock so he's not checking on you."

  "How am I going to get rid of him?"

  Music blares in the background.

  "I'm back at the party. Can't talk. I'll text you later. Let me know what happens."

  I toss my phone on the bed and try to think of a way to get rid of Brock. It's getting late. He's not going to go anywhere this late. And he said he needed to do stuff in his office, whatever that means.

  I'll just have to see Jackson some other night. But I really want to see him sooner than that. I need him. He's the only person who makes me feel better, and right now, I feel like shit. It's been a really bad day and being alone in this room makes me miss my mom.

  I need to see him. I can't wait until tomorrow.

  Glancing over at the couch, an idea pops in my head. I slowly smile.

  Getting out my phone, I find her number. Brock gave it to me after we had dinner that night.

  She picks up on the first ring. "I'm busy. What do you want?"

  "Hey, Liv. It's Rumor. I need a favor."

  Chapter Six

  "I don't do favors," Liv says, popping her gum. "If you want something it'll cost you."

  "You want money? Doesn't your mom give you a huge allowance?"

  "Yeah, but she tracks what I spend it on. I want money that's all mine."

  I sigh. "How much?"

  "Depends on what you're asking me to do."

  "I want you to get Brock to come there tonight. He said he wasn't going to see your mom this weekend because you wanted to do stuff with her. Tell your mom you changed your plans and that she can have Brock over. Tell her he can come there tonight."

  "I don't want him here."

  "And I don
't want him HERE, which is why this is a favor. It's just for one night. You can send him back here tomorrow."

  "What's tonight? You having your boyfriend over? Wait—doesn't he live in New York?"

  "We broke up, which is why I want to go out tonight. I don't want to sit in my room, feeling sad about the breakup. There's a party I want to go to but I can't because I'm grounded."

  "Grounded?" She laughs. "Aren't you a little old for that?"

  "Will you do this or not?"

  "What'd you do? To get grounded?"

  "Punched a girl at school." I pause. "The principal's daughter."

  "Shit, that's bad." She laughs again. "Even I wouldn't do that."

  "I didn't know she was the principal's daughter. Liv, I really need your help with this. I'm begging you. Will you do it?"

  "Five hundred."

  "Dollars?"

  "No, cents," she says sarcastically. "Of course dollars. And I want it in cash."

  "That's a lot of money just to tell your mom she can have Brock over."

  "You know I hate him, right?"

  I sigh. "Fine. Five hundred. How do I get it to you?"

  "Put it in an envelope and give it to Brock. Tell him it's for me."

  "He'll open it. He'll think it's something bad."

  "Like what?"

  "I don't know. But I know I can't trust Brock not to open it."

  "Then mail it, but I want it for overnight delivery."

  "I don't have a car. I can't get to a post office."

  "That's your problem, not mine. Get the money to me tomorrow or we don't have a deal."

  "If I mail it tomorrow, you won't have it until Monday."

  "You're really getting on my nerves. I told you when I want it. Now make it happen or Brock stays there tonight."

  "Yeah, fine. I'll do it. But I want him to leave soon so hurry up."

  She doesn't respond, and when I look at my phone I see she hung up.

  "Little brat," I mutter.

  Where am I going to get five hundred dollars this time of night? I should've gone to an ATM this week and withdrawn some cash from my account. But I didn't think I'd need it. I can't believe that little monster is making me pay a fee for doing me a favor. She already has money and her mom will buy her whatever she wants.

  "Rumor?" Brock knocks on my door.

  I go and open the door. "What do you need?"

  "Morgan just called and invited me over. I know it's late but I was thinking I'd go up there tonight instead of waiting until the morning."

  "I thought she was going to spend time with Liv."

  "Apparently Livia made plans with some friends so she won't be around this weekend."

  "You're going there for the whole weekend?"

  "I'd like to. Morgan doesn't get many weekends at home. This may be it for awhile."

  "You should go. You didn't get much time with her when she was here."

  "Will you be okay by yourself?"

  "Yeah, totally." I yawn. "I'm really tired. I was thinking I'd just go to bed."

  "I'll go pack my bag." He turns to leave, then turns back. "You're still grounded. I don't want you leaving the house this weekend."

  "I know. I'll just be here studying. Even if I wanted to go out, I couldn't. I can't drive."

  He smiles. "I'm starting to see that as a benefit. Easier to keep track of you."

  "You better get going. It's getting late."

  He leaves, and I wait to hear his shoes going up the stairs. When I hear his bedroom door close, I race to his office and over to his desk. I open the top drawer and see a stack of hundred dollar bills. I take five, with a plan to replace them before he gets home on Sunday. I race back to my room and find a small box, stuff the money in it, then wrap it in printer paper, which is all I have for gift wrap.

  Ten minutes later, Brock is back downstairs, a brown leather travel bag slung over his shoulder.

  "I think I got everything," he says, finding me in the kitchen. "If you need meals made this weekend, send Ana a text. She has tomorrow off but she'll come over if you need her."

  He makes her work on her day off? Just to cook? Or to fulfill his sexual needs? I wonder what their arrangement is and when it started. And how much he pays her to be "on-call" to meet his needs.

  "Oh. Before you go." I walk up to him. "Could you give this to Liv?" I hand him the wrapped box.

  "What's this?"

  "Just a little gift. She really liked these earrings I showed her that night we had dinner. I decided to wrap them up and give them to her."

  He smiles. "That was nice of you."

  "It's nothing big. I got the earrings at a little shop in Brooklyn. They were cheap and too dangly for me. I'd rather give them to someone who will wear them."

  "I've never seen Livia where dangly earrings. She usually doesn't even wear earrings."

  "She might now. It's a new school year. She might be trying a new look. Just give them to her. If she decides she doesn't want them, she can throw them out. I don't need them back."

  He slips the box in his pocket. "I'll call you tomorrow and let you know my plans. I assume I'll stay through Sunday unless Morgan is called away for work. Could you tell the boys?"

  "Sure. I probably won't see them tonight but I'll text them and let them know."

  When he finally leaves, I call up Liv.

  "Now what?" she answers.

  "He just left. The money is in an earring box. I wrapped it so he wouldn't open it. Pretend you like the earrings, or just don't act like you hate them. Can you do that?"

  "Yeah. Whatever. Five hundred, right?"

  "Yes, in cash."

  "Nice doing business with you, Sis."

  "Sis?"

  "That's what you'll be if my mom is stupid enough to marry Brock."

  "I'd be your cousin. I'm his niece."

  "That's right. I keep forgetting your parents are dead."

  "My mom is, not my dad. My dad's in rehab somewhere. Liv, I have to go. Thanks again for helping me."

  "Anytime. But next time it'll cost you more."

  "Why?"

  "Inflation. And because you lied. I hate liars. I do it myself but I don't put up with people doing it to me."

  "I wasn't lying."

  "Bullshit. You wouldn't pay that much to go to a party. You're going to see a boy. A boy Brock doesn't like. And you're gonna have sex."

  "Liv, I really need to go. Talk to you later."

  "Use protection," she says with a laugh.

  If I didn't know how old she was, I'd swear she's in her twenties. She's far too mature for her age. And I hate how she's so good at picking up on stuff. How did she know I was lying? Am I a bad liar or is she just really good at detecting lies?

  Back in my room, I text Jackson. Okay he's gone.

  A few moments later, he texts back. For how long?

  All night. He went to his girlfriend's house in LA.

  What about Braden and Trystan?

  I'm guessing they're heading to a party. When will you be home?

  In a few minutes. Cops broke up the party.

  My heart races, knowing I get to see him soon. Should I head over?

  Not yet. I'll text you when I'm home.

  Someone knocks on my door. "Rumor! You in there?"

  It's Trystan.

  "Hold on." I open the door and choke on his cologne. "Did you just shower in cologne?" I say, coughing.

  "Did Dad really leave?" he asks, coming in my room.

  "Yeah. His girlfriend called and asked him to drive up there."

  "Is he gone all weekend?"

  "Not sure. Depends on if his girlfriend has to work."

  "Get dressed. We're leaving in five minutes."

  "I'm not leaving. I can't. I'm grounded."

  He laughs. "Like you're really going to listen to my dad?" Trystan goes in my closet and takes out a short white dress. "Wear this. Party's on the beach behind Kade's house."

  "You're not telling me what to wear!" I yank the dr
ess from him and put it back in the closet. "And I'm not going to the party. I'm tired and I don't feel well."

  "You're sick?" He stands in front of me, his arms crossed. "You don't look sick."

  "I have girl issues," I say, hoping that'll make him uncomfortable enough to scare him away.

  "So shove a tampon in and let's go."

  I roll my eyes. "You're so disgusting. Just go without me. I'm staying here."

  "Is she ready?" Braden appears at the door, his knee wrapped in a bandage.

  "Hey." I go up to him. "How's the knee?"

  "Good enough to play. I'm still pissed Coach wouldn't let me back in the game."

  "Weren't you in pain?"

  "I'm always in pain. It's part of playing football."

  "She says she's not coming," Trystan says.

  "Why not?" Braden asks me. "Dad's not here."

  "She's got her period." Trystan laughs.

  I smack him. "Shut-up!"

  "That's why you're not going?" Braden asks. "Seriously?"

  "I'm tired, okay? It's been a long week. I just want to go to bed."

  "This is one of the biggest parties of the year," Braden says. "You miss it and everyone will be talking about you, making up stories about why you're not there."

  "Just tell them I'm grounded."

  "After you just punched the principal's daughter? They know anyone who does that wouldn't stay home because they're grounded."

  "Then tell them I'm sick."

  "They just saw you at the game. They know you're not sick."

  "Tell them whatever you want. I don't care. I'm not going."

  "You going out with someone else?" Trystan asks in a suspicious tone.

  "Who would I go out with? The only people I know will be at the party."

  "She was hanging out with Shayla," Braden says, staring at me.

  "The maid's kid?" Trystan says to Braden. "When was this?"

  "Last week. They were at that taco place. I had to go pick her up because Shayla took off."

  "Only because your friends trashed a house and she had to go clean it," I say.

  "Is that what you're doing?" Trystan asks. "Going out with Shayla?"

  "No. Not that it's any of your business."

  "It's our business because you being seen with her could ruin our reputation," Braden says, narrowing his eyes at me. "Stay away from her."

  "You can't tell me who I can hang out with."