Chapter 21

We drank until we could barely stand, and boy, did I need that! I woke up to a pounding headache and an insistent knock on the front door. ~Crap! What time is it?~ Thank God I packed yesterday.

Andy had crashed in my bed with me. I threw off the covers, still in yesterday’s clothes. I swung the front door open and rubbed my eye.

“You ready, I ca— are you alright?” Wes looked down at me, a hint of worry in his eyes. I ignored him and handed him my bag to toss into the trunk.

“Alex, talk to me sweetheart.”

“Just throw this in the car and I’ll be ready in fifteen.” I heard him sigh as he nodded. I needed a quick shower and then we’d be on the road, heading home to New York.

I was looking forward to being back home, but yesterday’s situation had soured my mood. I just wanted to see Hannah, Sam, and my mom.

As I walked down to the car to meet Wes, he was leaning against it, gazing up at the sky. I had my shades on and a hat, Andy’s suggestion for avoiding recognition at the airport.

Wes turned to me as I neared the car. He strode over, closing the distance between us, cupped my face in his hands, and crashed his lips onto mine.

It was a fierce kiss, but it took me by surprise. He pushed me up against the side of the car and I began to kiss him back, my fingers tangled in his hair.

His hands roamed down the side of my body until he reached my legs, hoisting me up along the car while I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist. He pressed himself against me and I could feel his arousal against my core.

One hand rested on my butt to keep me steady while the other was at the back of my neck, keeping my lips locked with his.

Pulling my hair lightly to tilt my head back against the car, he started to trail his lips along my jaw and down my neck, sucking and biting my skin lightly.

~I hope I don’t get another love bite! I’m not explaining that to my family.~ He spent a few moments kissing my neck, soft and teasing.

~Damn, he’s good at this!~

Then his lips met mine again and we kissed feverishly. His tongue brushed against my lip and I opened up to allow it to meet my own.

Our tongues danced in each other’s mouths while our heads twisted from side to side, angling our mouths to deepen the kisses.

We pulled apart after the steamy make-out session, breathing heavily. ~Nothing hotter than being picked up and being pushed up against something while kissing. Am I right?~

He smiled up at me and pecked me once more on my lips. Setting me down on the concrete ground outside the apartment block. ~Damn, that was hot!~

I stared up at him while he stood there, his two hands resting behind me on the car, effectively caging me in.

I snapped at him, “I’m still mad at you, Wes!” and walked under his arm to get into the car. He frowned at me and opened the door for me, then walked around to the driver’s side.

The car ride to the airport was silent, that make-out session replaying in my head the whole time. My core was throbbing at just the thought of it, so I crossed my legs over to stop it all.

~Stop thinking about it! It was a tactic for you to forgive him, Alex!~

When we arrived at the airport, we parked in the lot as Wes was leaving his car there until we returned. We wheeled our bags to the front desk to check in, both of us in first class.

The young blonde girl behind the desk beamed at Wes while I rolled my eyes. ~Stupid Knox! Stupid boys!~

“Is there any way we could refund the ticket back to the person who bought it for me? I wouldn’t mind sitting in economy,” I said, knowing full well Knox had bought my ticket again.

Wes always flies first class so he had already paid for his. He offered to pay for mine so we could sit together but I turned him down.

“I’m sorry Miss... Thompson, but your ticket has already been purchased and there are no seats left on the flight. I could put you on the next flight that leaves in five hours?”

I sighed begrudgingly at her while Wes laughed at my reaction. “You’re definitely not like most girls,” Wes murmured.

“No, I’ll just take the seat, thank you,” I smiled guiltily at her. I felt uncomfortable about this, I don’t like it when he does this, it feels like I’m taking advantage of him.

The flight was smooth and quiet. No crying children, no people kicking the back of my chair, just Wes sitting next to me. I caught him glancing at me a few times.

But I ignored him, I was still mad at him, and when I saw my brothers, I planned to give them the silent treatment too. Along with my other bodyguards.

We landed on time, grabbed our bags at baggage claim, and made our way to the pick-up area where Kyle and Knox were waiting for us. Eric’s spotless white Range Rover was parked nearby.

Noticing a few cameras nearby, I continued forward until I reached them.

“Hey, baby doll!”

“Hey, little sis!” Kyle went to hug me, but I put my hand out to stop it from happening and pushed my case in front of me.

“Here, put that in the trunk.” They all just stared at me in shock that I was bold enough to do that in public. I’m not in the mood for them, just get me home to my mom and sister.

I slide into the backseat of the car, shutting the door behind me. They all stand there, frozen in shock at the scene that just unfolded. I roll my eyes behind my sunglasses.

Eventually, they manage to load the bags into the trunk, climbing into the car after exchanging greetings. They share a look, a silent question passing between them: ~Should we ask what’s up with her?~

“How was the flight?” Kyle finally shatters the awkward silence that’s settled in the car. They all turn to me, waiting for a response. I remain silent, not in the mood for small talk.

As I gaze out the window, I recognize the familiar streets of Queens, signaling that we still have a ways to go before we reach Wes’s house, and then mine.

“The flight was great, man! Smooth sailing, no turbulence, and no crying kids! Plus, kicking back in first-class made it even better,” Wes chimes in, trying to lighten the mood. But I can feel their eyes on me, their concern palpable.

“Cool. How about you, sis?” Kyle asks.

I ignore him.

“Alex?” He repeats my name, thinking I didn’t hear him the first time. “Alex?”

“Don’t talk to me,” I snap.

“Woah! Who pissed in your cornflakes this morning?” He attempts to joke, but I’m not in the mood. I’m angry. Very angry.

I hear Wes clear his throat and I glance at him. He’s shaking his head at Kyle, silently warning him not to push me. He’s right. If Kyle pushes me any further, I’ll lose it.

“What? Am I missing something?” Kyle asks, clearly not getting the message.

“She saw Drew,” Wes states simply. I turn to face them, curious to see their reactions. They exchange glances, as if I’m clueless about what’s happening. Please, I’m the smartest one in this car!

“Sis, we—”

I cut him off, anticipating his excuses. “Don’t you dare lie to me or tell me that you did it for me,” I say, my voice harsh. I grit my teeth, a habit I have when I’m really angry.

“But—”

“No, Kyle! What you guys did was not right! You beat the shit out of him! How can you do that to another person! How the fuck is nine on one fair? When did you guys even come to LA?” I shout, my anger spilling over.

“Actually, it was seven on one. Knox and Austin weren’t there. He deserved it, Alex. What he did to you wasn’t right. Nobody does that to my little sister! Nobody! Yeah, it could’ve been handled better, but it’s done now. I can’t take it back. We did it during your exams so you were too busy to see him—” Austin is Knox’s older brother, little Adam’s dad.

“Are you fucking kidding me! KYLE! You fucking animal! You all are! Jesus! He was beaten up so badly! I’m not defending him, I’m simply stating a fact that it wasn’t right to use violence to make a point! Christ, he was unrecognizable, Kyle! You are all idiots! During exams! If he fails, he’s going to blame me! You’re lucky he didn’t file a report against you all. Hell, I would’ve helped him out if I’d known! At least Knox had some sense not to join in.”

“I would’ve, baby doll, if it wasn’t for practice and the media being on my case.”

“KNOX! Shut up! NOW!” I shout at him.

“Look, Alex, he cheated on you. I hate cheaters, but I hate them even more when they cheat on me or my family. I could see how much he hurt you, it literally broke us. That’s why we did it.”

“You didn’t think it broke me to fucking see it! This is the second time I’ve walked in on someone being caught in the act. You don’t think I wanted to beat the shit out of him myself? I didn’t because it was the right thing to just walk away from him. He didn’t love me, Kyle! I could see it when his dick was inside another girl. I could see it. Now nobody will ever love me because they won’t be able to come near me. Thank you, guys. I hope you’re happy. Now I’m going to be fucking miserable for the rest of my life. I might as well become a lesbian now!” I lash out, my words laced with bitterness. I wouldn’t actually become a lesbian. I just added that for dramatic effect to get my point across.

“Please don’t become a lesbian,” Knox and Wes plead in unison.

I roll my eyes and turn to look out the window at the passing houses. I need my bed. I need Hannah. I need my mom.

“Alex—”

“No! I’m not talking to you guys. Just drive me home and keep quiet like good little boys,” I snap, my words dripping with sarcasm. Silence fills the car until we reach Wes’s house.

Before he gets out, Wes takes my hand while Kyle walks to the trunk to retrieve his bags. He leans in and pecks me on the cheek. “Just give us a second chance, Alex.”

It’s a bold move, considering how close Kyle is and that Knox is still sitting up front. I can see Knox glaring at us in the rearview mirror. “Bye, Wes,” he says, his eyes still on Wes as he gets out of the car.

Wes shoots him a quick glare in return.

What is wrong with them? Is Knox mad at Wes because of me? Then why isn’t he mad at Kyle?