Page 14 of The Fight

My phone buzzes on the passenger seat, and I glance down, seeing Austin’s name flash across the screen. I grab it, hitting the speaker button. “Yeah?” I bark, my tone sharper than I intended.

“Hey, man.” He sounds so easygoing. “You sound pissed. What’s up?”

I shake my head and tighten my grip on the wheel. “Just some bullshit with my dad. Needed to get away for a bit, so I’m crawling the streets.”

“Perfect timing, then,” he replies. “There’s a beach party going down on the south side. Figured I’d see if you wanna swing by. You can blow off some steam, have a few beers, and relax a bit.”

I hesitate for a second. A beach party isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but maybe it’s what I need—a distraction, something to take my mind off everything.

“Yeah, why not,” I say, turning my Jeep toward the beach. “I’ll be there in a few.”

It takes me less than ten minutes before I’m pulling up to the beach. I park my car on the concrete slab, then lock it as I get out. As soon as my feet hit the sand, I can hear the music already thumping and see the glow of a small bonfire in the distance.

I trek forward, scanning the crowd for Austin as I go. I spot him lounging in a lawn chair across from the fire, talking to a small group of people.

Waving me over with a grin on his face, he raises the drink in his hand. “There he is!” he shouts over the music, sanding from his seat. “Glad you made it, man!”

“Yeah, well, figured it was better than driving around all night,” I reply, grabbing a beer from a cooler nearby. “What’s up with this party?”

He shrugs. “Just a bunch of us hanging out and celebrating.”

“Celebrating what?”

“Fuck if I know. Just felt right to say,” he laughs, clearly already a few drinks in. “I mean, I guess we don’t really need a reason to let loose, do we?”

I crack the top of my beer and take a big swig. “Not at all.”

Austin falls back into his chair and points with his drink across the fire. “Speaking of letting loose, may wanna check on your new stepsister.”

I frown and follow his gaze. That’s when I see her—Blair. She’s on top of one of the picnic tables, dancing like she doesn’t have a care in the world. Her movements are uncoordinated and sloppy, a clear sign she’s had way too much to drink. She’s shouting something over the music, her voice slurred, as everyone around her is cheering her on and snapping pictures and videos with their phones.

“Shit,” I mumble under my breath, then turn my attention back to Austin. “How’d you hear about that? About her?” I jut my thumb over my shoulder.

“The dinner at Clear View was posted all over Insta within minutes.”

I nod and look down before taking another drink. “Great.”

“I mean, can’t be that bad, right? Considering the locker room the other night.” Austin wiggles his eyebrows.

“That’s just what makes it worse. Pretty sure she threw herself at me after the fight because she knew about our parents. And look at her now. You know how my dad is when it comes to our public image.”

He shrugs again. “I dunno, man. I wouldn’t give two fucks what my dad said if a piece of ass like that was so easily accessible.”

“Shut up, dude. You’re drunk and not even hearing yourself talk. You know how much money he gives me to begood.” I make air quotations with my fingers.“On top of that, she’s a fucking bitch.”

He levels his bloodshot eyes with mine. “Is she really, or is it just you being classic Shay playing the douche to slide into those panties?”

I roll my eyes and laugh. It’s hard to even take him seriously right now. “You act like you know me or something.”

“’Cause I do, you prick. You may be trying to forget about the locker room, but it’s exactly what I’ve been using to beat my meat for the past few days.” He strokes the air above his crotch.

“You’re sick.”

“And you’re not fooling anyone but yourself.” He throws his empty can into the fire, then raises his hands, palms up, beside him.

“Whatever. I’m going to try and get a handle on her before this is the next headline my dad wants to bitch about.”

“Yeah, yeah. So much for relaxing, right?”

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