Chapter 8: Love Triangles and Tacos

KARA

By the time school ended, my head was aching. All because of Adam’s short temper and Jason’s stupid mouth, everyone was wondering if we were in some love triangle.

I walked outside to the front of the school, allowing the breeze to calm me down.

My brother’s gray Jeep pulled up in front of me and came to an abrupt stop. Reggaeton music was blaring without shame.

“Hi, Charlie,” I chirped, jumping into the passenger’s seat.

“Hey.” My older brother gave me a toothy grin. I was a little surprised at how nice Charlie had been.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s never mistreated me, but being my older brother, he’s always picking on me and pulling pranks left and right.

One time, when I wouldn’t wake up, Charlie threw water all over me.

I screamed and told him that it was Saturday and that we didn’t have school. The idiot said he forgot, and thanks to him, I had a cold for a week.

“Hungry?” My brother’s smile didn’t falter. Charlie hit the gas and began driving to our destination.

I missed when Charlie and I went to the same school. He was a guy everyone loved. Charlie could beat someone to a pulp, and they would still love him. Not that he’d ever do that.

Everyone knew I was his sister, and I used to hang out with him and his friends. I still saw them around, but it wasn’t the same without Charlie.

“Stop with the overthinking.” Charlie glanced at me as he parked at the best diner in our small town. My brother knew me better than I knew myself, which was how he had an easy time pranking me.

“Long day,” I mumbled as I got out of the Jeep.

The aroma filled my nose as soon as I entered the diner, and my stomach roared loudly. The diner was where everyone from school went, and probably why Charlie came here.

An adorable Mexican couple ran the diner, and they served the best old-fashioned food.

I saw a group of guys in the back, and a few girls doing their homework in a booth to our left.

Before Charlie went to college, we had a tradition of coming here and eating tacos every Sunday at one in the morning. It helped us ease ourselves because we were both night owls. Also how we stayed close.

I followed Charlie, and we sat down in the wooden booth. The red cushion comforted my sore butt. I was tired of sitting in hard chairs all day.

“I’m starving.” My brother immediately grabbed a menu and flipped through it.

“I tried making some food at home but forgot to turn the stove on when I went to the living room. So I walked back into the kitchen only to see my food was still sitting and waiting to be cooked.”

He sheepishly smiled, and I rolled my eyes, also grabbing a menu.

“Charlie?” My brother and I turned our heads and saw Quintin grinning wildly as he came over to our booth. I hadn’t seen him since Layla’s party when we were rudely interrupted by Karina.

“Holy shit.” Charlie grinned back and got up so they could greet each other. I froze when I saw Jason walk up to them. He was staring at Charlie and me in a strange way.

My stomach continued to growl, and I wanted them to hurry up and stop talking so I could order my food.

My temper had a tendency to wear thin whenever I was hungry.

“Jason, I want you to meet the legendary Charlie Acosta.” Quintin swung an arm around Charlie. Charlie smiled at Jason as they met.

“This is Jason Kade.” Quintin removed his arm and playfully punched Jason. Jason glared at Quintin but firmly shook my brother’s hand.

“I think I remember you. Weren’t you the youngest running back on the varsity team?” Charlie raised his eyebrow, showing his amusement.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, but no one noticed. I remained in the booth, being completely ignored, and the three of them continued to stand. My eyes locked with Jason, who was showing off his cocky smirk.

“That’s me.” Jason never broke eye contact as he responded to my brother, but I rolled my eyes at his arrogance. I wasn’t impressed at all.

Charlie sat back down across from me, and Quintin joined him. I saw Jason glance at the seat beside me, but I quickly slid over to the edge so he couldn’t sit. I laughed at his shocked expression.

“Kara, move over,” Charlie said, not even glancing my way. Quintin was showing him something on his phone, and they continued to laugh together.

My laughter died in my throat, and I grumbled, sliding back over, and Jason immediately sat down with a victorious grin.

“Are you still playing?” Charlie asked Jason, striking up a conversation. I stared at the menu, ignoring Jason, who kept glancing at me from the corner of his eye.

“Yeah, it’s finally my senior year,” Jason replied coolly.

“Oh, so do you and my sister”—Jason poked my leg, causing me to shove him away with it, and I continued trying to decide on what I wanted to eat—“know each other?”

Charlie finished just as I punched his thigh under the table.

“Nope.”

“Yeah.”

We both replied at the same time.

Charlie looked between the two of us, and I narrowed my eyes at Jason. His blue eyes twinkled in amusement, and he turned back to my brother.

“Sort of,” I finally responded for the both of us. Jason smirked, knowing I hated admitting that.

My heart jumped with joy when I saw a waitress coming toward our table, but my dream died when she turned left and proceeded to walk to another table.

“Cool.” Charlie nodded. “You guys should come over sometime so we can catch up.”

“No!” I accidentally shouted out loud, causing the guys to jump. “I meant no, come back.” I watched the waitress disappear, and the three confused guys went back to their original conversation.

“I’d love to.” Jason stretched his arms out behind him, resting his arm on the back of the booth next to my head. I felt his warmth surround me, and I did my best to suppress the ripple of pleasure it sent.

Thankfully, Charlie wasn’t looking, and I elbowed him roughly, causing him to grunt.

The waitress, who was a petite black-haired girl, came up and took our orders, mine being a Mexican-style burger. After she left, Quintin and Charlie began to rate her on a scale of one to ten.

“You guys are shallow,” I growled at their ignorant comments.

“How?” Charlie raised an eyebrow, looking amused by my irritable expression. The cocky jerk was challenging me. We always debated—just to prove who was right or wrong.

Of course I was always right, though.

“You can’t judge a girl by her looks. It’s called ‘personality.’” Quintin laughed, Jason looked amused, and, well, Charlie wasn’t going down without a fight. “A pretty face is nothing if she has an ugly heart.”

As cliché as it sounded, I knew it all too well from experience. Adam had the looks, but boy, did he lack the personality.

“Looks are what attracts you to a person, are they not?” The other two pretended to act like I got dissed, but little did they know that Charlie’s argument only helped my own.

“True, looks attract a person, but personality is what makes a person stay.” The boys didn’t look convinced.

“And by the traits of your personality, my dear brother, maybe that’s why every girl you talk to goes running for the hills.”

I gave Charlie my sweet and innocent smile while Quintin and Jason burst out laughing like hyenas.

“Charlie, zero. Kara, one,” Quintin teased. Charlie glared at me, and I bit my lip, trying to hold back my own laughter. I loved doing this to Charlie, especially in front of his friends.

Charlie and Quintin started talking again, and just as the food arrived, my stomach made a noise that resembled a dying whale.

“Someone’s hungry,” Jason chuckled beside me, but I ignored him and began devouring my fries like my life depended on it. The taste of the delicious food only made me want more.

We all continued eating in peace.

Jason’s hand landed on my bare thigh. I growled and tried to shake his hand away, ignoring the small rush it gave me.

“You guys down to game at my house?” Quintin asked once he finished his food. Charlie had finished too.

God, they ate fast.

“I’m down,” Charlie replied, and paid for the both of us. The two of them stood up, and I choked on my food as I saw my brother get up.

“Can you take me home first?” I raised an eyebrow at Charlie. The asshole smirked, and I knew he was going to do something to piss me off.

“No can do, little sister. Looks like you’re coming with us.” Charlie grabbed his jacket and walked toward the exit.

“Charlie. They’re your friends.” I seriously didn’t want to go anywhere where Jason was going to be. All three of them would probably team up against me.

Plus it wouldn’t be any fun for me—they were going to play video games the whole time.

“It’s okay, I’m sure they won’t mind.”

“Yeah, I don’t mind.” Jason smirked beside me. I mumbled some colorful words before leaving my seat and following the boys outside.

***

I’d only been to Quintin’s house once before, which was at his and Jason’s party. The party where it all began.

I didn’t really pay much attention to it the first time, due to it being littered with red cups and drunk teenagers.

This time I noticed it was a nice, cozy home.

I followed closely behind Charlie as we walked down a hallway. I didn’t get much time to look around the inside because Quintin hurried us into his boyish room.

I immediately noticed the giant blue beanbag chair at the foot of his bed.

Besides that, his room was decorated with a few posters, and there was a twin bed covered by a ~Looney Tunes~ blanket. A small flat-screen TV sat opposite it.

There was a desk in the corner with a laptop lying on it, and a small worn-out love seat next to his bed.

Quintin took the bed, Charlie sat on the beanbag chair, and sadly, I was stuck with Jason on the couch. My eyes shot daggers at Charlie, who stole the beanbag I was dying to sit on.

The guys spent the next few minutes talking about video games while I sat absolutely bored but continued listening to what they were talking about.

“I have to pee,” Charlie announced while pausing the game, and he stood up and walked toward the door.

“Thanks for sharing,” I said in disgust as he walked out with a grin, feeling pleased with himself at causing me discomfort.

“Do you guys want anything to drink?” Quintin asked, looking at the two of us. I glanced at Jason to my right, and he began to nod his head, the dirty blond waves falling across his forehead.

“Yeah, water please,” Jason replied, but I shook my head no. The only thing I wanted was to go home.

My phone screen lit up with Jess’s name appearing on the screen. I glanced at the time and frowned that it was almost five o’clock.

I gave her an update and put my phone away to give Quintin my attention again.

“I’ll be back.” Quintin stood up from his bed and walked toward his bedroom door. I stiffened at the thought of being stuck alone in a room with Jason.

No way was I going to let that happen.

“I can help,” I offered and stood up, but Quintin shook his head.

“Nah, you’re my guest; don’t worry about it.” Quintin walked out the door, leaving me trapped all alone with Jason.

Not even a moment later, I felt a strong arm snake around my waist and pull me back. My ass landed in Jason’s lap.

“And then there were two,” Jason whispered from behind me while his arm remained wrapped around my waist. I tried to shove it off, but my attempts were weak.

I could feel his cock harden against my ass, and I put my hands on his knees, intentionally pressing further against him.

Wetness pooled between my legs when Jason slid his other hand up to my breast and firmly held it in his hand. I let out a soft moan and fell back so my back was fully pressed against his chest.

Jason’s arm that was around my waist continued to hold on to me firmly, applying pressure on my ass as he gently lifted his hips. My clit throbbed, and I hated myself for giving in to him so easily.

But, fuck, his hands felt so good on my body.

Jason slowly grazed my nipples through my bra. They hardened underneath his touch, and my eyes fluttered closed. He groped my breast and then let go, trailing his hand down to between my legs.

I ached for him to touch my sweet spot. Instead, he rubbed my inner thighs, teasing me.

The logical part of me disappeared, and I shoved his hands away, standing up to turn and straddle him.

“Even better,” Jason breathed out and placed his hands on my hips, grinding me down against his hard cock. I gripped the back of the couch, following Jason’s pace. The pressure against my clit built, and I moaned.

My mind wandered to all the dirty things Jason could do to me right here and now. The thought of being caught only made me hornier. I knew I should’ve been logical, but my mind was full of dirty thoughts.

Adam never made me feel this way. Now that I was out of a relationship, I was free to do whatever I wanted with whoever I wanted.

~Just out of a relationship~, my conscience echoed. The guilt slapped me.

“You just got out of a relationship,” I hissed like a rattlesnake and jumped off of him. How could he be such a flirt when he’s basically still in a relationship?

It was over between Adam and me, and it’s been a month. Jason was still talking to Sarah, and even if they had broken up, that was like a day ago. Sarah wasn’t going to let him go that easily.

Sarah got what Sarah wanted, and boy, did she want Jason.

This seemed to surprise him, and his hand flew away as if he had touched a burning stove. Jason’s face turned serious before he said, “You don’t know anything about that.”

He held a blank stare. Heavy breaths continued to leave both of us.

My face hardened as I looked down at the messy-haired guy. “You probably don’t care, but I, on the other hand, don’t want any unnecessary drama in my life.”

His blazing blue eyes were burning a hole into me, and he sat staring at me in silence for a few seconds before saying, “You don’t want drama, or you don’t want Sarah to bother you?”

My fists clenched at the fact that he was spot on.

The fire inside me only grew, especially since he knew exactly why. “Since I’ve met you, my life has been full of nothing but drama and rumors. That stops here.” I dismissed his question and stormed away.