Page 26 of Free Fall

When I look up at him, his face falls. I must look so sad right now because he bridges the distance between us in two steps. He hesitates when he gets to me, but then he puts his hand on my shoulder. “We’re trying to stop you from being someone you’re not. We’re trying to stop Brady’s death from turning you upside down, putting you on the wrong course. That’s all we want.”

I swallow hard. “I can do it myself.”

His finger traces over my jaw. His dirty blond hair is all over the place. He moves toward me, his lips descending on mine. “You’re so strong,” he whispers.

My heart gets clogged in my throat. I’ve only kissed Lex once. I’ve let him kiss me down there, but not on the lips since that first night.

A loud knock comes on the door. Lex practically throws himself back from me before going to the door. He yanks it open, and Cade is there. “Reid needs your help calming Sasha down. She about lost her shit when she heard Reid punched Winthrop.”

Lex nods and leaves without looking back.

Cade smiles at me, but then he pulls the door shut and locks it with him on the other side. I leap for the handle, but it’s too late. It won’t move. “Cade! Cade, what the fuck?”

“This is your punishment, Shortie. Next time don’t try to screw a guy on our turf.”

I pound my fist on the door. “I wasn’t going to screw him, you fucker.”

All I hear is Cade’s laughter as he walks away.

I twist the knob on the door one more time, but it’s useless. I wander back to the bed and throw myself down on it. My cell phone cuts into me. I pull it out. On habit, I bring up my conversation with Ezra and see his last message asking me to send him a risqué pic.

It might still be because I’m drunk, or maybe it’s some sort of payback to the guys, but I lift my skank shirt, pull my bra down and cup my breast. I leave my fingers spaced apart, so you can see part of my nipple. Then, I hold the phone up, make sure my face doesn’t show, and snap the picture. I hurry up and send it, so I don’t overthink it.

Afterward, I lay on the bed waiting for my phone to buzz, but it never does. Eventually, my eyes drift closed, and I fall asleep on Reid Parker’s bed.

11

Iwake to the door banging against its hinges. I blink my eyes open and find my lashes wet, sticking to my bottom ones. The lights are out everywhere, so all I see is a huge, hulking form stumbling forward, cursing. I’d gone to bed with the sounds of the party below, but it’s silent in the house now.

“Jesus fuck,” a slurred voice says.

I have to peer hard through the dark, but I immediately recognize the form as Reid Parker. I sit up in the bed just in time to see him slam the door closed. Then, he stumbles backward before the back of his legs hit the bed and he falls over like a toppling domino. I have just enough time to move my legs and scoot out of the way before he lands right on top of me. Alcohol stench permeates the air. He’s fucking hammered.

I growl in disgust and then get up, throwing the blankets over top of him. At least the door is unlocked now. I can get the fuck out of here. I’m sure my mom wouldn’t be pissed if I called her to come get me from Reid’s party.

Before I can get very far, a hand shoots out and wraps around my wrist. His grip has the effect of a rubber band, making me come back a step or two. “Just where do you think you’re going?”

“Home. A different room. Somewhere you’re not.”

He laughs darkly. “Not going to happen. All the rooms are taken. No one’s sober enough to drive you home and that would defeat the purpose of me coming in here, wouldn’t it?”

At least, that’s what I think Reid Parker said to me. His voice is still a bit slurred even though the grip on my wrist is pretty firm, drunken state or not. I try to wrestle my wrist from him, but he doesn’t give. “What the hell, Reid? You make me come here. You lock me in your room practically all night.”

“I’m saving you.”

Now he’s really pissing me off. I should definitely be able to get myself out of his drunk grip. I start hammer fisting his fingers that are wrapped tightly around me.

“Ow. Fuck, Briar.” Finally, he releases me, but I don’t get very far. Apparently, his athleticism doesn’t fail him even when he’s been drinking. He’s up and on his feet, his hands around me. “I came in here because you were crying. Now lay the fuck down and get some sleep.”

I lift my chin in the air. I can’t even deny it. I wake myself up sometimes from crying in the middle of the night. It’s not something I’m conscious of. “I don’t need you to help me, Reid. Or save me. Have you noticed that you’re, in fact, not helping me?”

He throws me down on the bed. A breath of air escapes me. “Stay there,” he orders. “Sleep.”

I can tell he’s exhausted. He rubs his head, then his eyes. This is his own fault. “You’re only making things worse.”

“Oh, because I stopped you from losing your virginity to fucking Winthrop? That’s making things worse?”

My cheeks burn. He just laid my truth out there without a conscience thought. “I wouldn’t be losing my virginity. Asshole.” I take one of the two pillows from his bed and throw it at him.

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