Page 124 of The Deceptions
Waffles John Owens Jones Crewes Viotto.His full name in honor of each of us. Named after my favorite breakfast, because his fur is the same color as Waffles. Long blond, almost looking like a mix between a golden retriever and a yellow lab, maybe some Chow mixed in. Whatever he was, Waffles was the best dog I have ever encountered. Even now. He clearly recognizes me. His big, brown eyes inspect my face, and he whines again, nudging at my hand.
"Waffles." I swear if JJ's eyes get any bigger than they are right now, they might pop out of his head. He shakes his head, turning his gaze to me. "What did you do to him? He's usually... growly," he murmurs, tilting his head.
Growly? Waffles? Not here. Definitely not from my memories of him either. Of course, he was a happier puppy back then. He's all grown up and big. Probably at least ninety pounds of pure muscly dog.
"Nothing," I say with a shrug, patting Waffles one last time and getting to my feet. "He just came up to me." I smirk at the perplexed look on JJ's face.
That's right, asshole. If you're not careful, I'll steal my fucking dog back. You know what? That doesn’t sound like a bad idea.Operation steal Waffles and take him homeis on.
"He doesn't do that," JJ says matter-of-factly. "And never has." Ah, he's suspicious. I need to turn this conversation around before he starts asking all the right questions I can't answer.
"So, this is an initiation party?" I ask out of the blue, hoping to steer this conversation in the opposite direction. "And you're in charge?"
He blinks several times. "Yes. It is," he says slowly with furrowed brows. He continuously looks between Waffles—who now sits at my feet, leaning his body against my legs. I brush my fingers through his fur, taking comfort in the only old friend who didn't offer me up on the chopping block. "You can put your name in the jar over there." He slightly cringes when a group of girls loudly laughs a few feet away from us. He shakes his head with a sigh. "You want in?"
I shrug. "It's a possibility. What are the perks?" I raise a brow when he looks me dead in the eyes again.
If I didn’t have my colored contacts in, I’d be screwed. Because if anyone were to figure out who I was, it would be JJ. He's the master of figuring puzzles out, and right now, that's what I am to him. Whoever put together my backstory did a shit job. I bet it was Dave. Fucking Dave. The loser intern from IT who barely knows how to type in code. Well, same buddy. But still, this is his damn job.
I push my glasses up my nose, making sure to capture his expression. I can examine it later when I can rewatch every single moment of our interaction with a bag of popcorn while laughing my ass off. It’s moments like these that make me forget the anguish bubbling inside me.
"The perks?" Simon laughs, coming to stand close to me, but backs up when Waffles growls protectively. "Whoa! The guard dog?" He chuckles lightly, swaying on his feet.
Jesus. How much did he have to drink while he was away? He seems to make a habit of drowning himself in alcohol the moment he steps away to grab us some drinks.
"Waffles, heel," JJ says, pointing toward the ground in front of him.
Waffles whines, hanging his head slightly, but he side-eyes me, looking me up and down until I give a subtle nod. He slowly moves away from my feet and plops in front of JJ like a chastised dog.
"He was comfortable, you know?" I ask, taking the drink Simon offers me.
"So, odd," JJ mumbles, shaking his head. "He doesn't like anyone." He says it again with a perplexed sigh.
Well, chew on that, pal. Waffles always liked me. I wonder how I can lure him away from the guys for good. Does he still love freshly cooked steak? I bet he does. Now, I have to find the perfect moment to lure him into my dorm without getting caught. Fat chance at that. Everyone seems to know him. If he suddenly started following me around, someone would tell on me.
"I must be different," I grumble, sipping my drink.
"Yeah," JJ trails off, checking me over again.
Look all you want, Jasper Jeremiah, but you won't find anything but Oliver on the outside. I will never be your Olivia ever again. Especially after I leave this fucking place with my life intact and them behind bars. Hope you like islands, because that's where we house criminals like you.
Oh, and I’m taking the dog, too, dumbass.
"Look at those tattoos," Simon says, slurring his words. “He’s so hot. It’s too bad he’s attached to-to that.” He sighs heavily.
I follow his gaze as he watches a shirtless Hux walk through the cemetery with a frown etched on his lips. Amanda yaps his ear off at his side, throwing her arms all around. They stopsuddenly when Hux turns to face her with a thunderous glare, showing off the right side of his body, giving me a glimpse of a necklace hanging around his neck. Something shines in the moonlight, but I can’t tell what it is.
"Mhmm," I mumble, sipping my drink again so I don't say anything stupid.
"I wonder if they hurt," Simon ponders, rubbing at his chin. Then, he tosses back the drink in his hand and finishes it. Crap. I am going to have to babysit. How did he survive before this?
"Only in certain places," I sigh, looking Huxley up and down and stopping on the tattoo we got together. There it is again, taunting me from far away.
“Like the ribs?" Simon chortles. "Oh look, he has one just like you do. What does yours say? Always?" He slurs the last part so hard, I'm hoping JJ doesn't take notice even. Even when I feel the heat of his stare. “Yeah. Right there,” he chuckles, poking me right in the rib where my tattoo rests.
I stiffen at his drunken words and bat him away. Right. He saw me naked. In all my womanly glory. If I don't get him out of here, he's going to spill all my damn secrets. Simon and booze should never mix again.
"Yeah, just like that. Ribs hurt. But it wasn't too bad," I say placatingly, finishing off my drink. "Hey, Simon?" I question, feeling JJ's intense gaze eating me alive. And the last thing I need is his eyes on me. He's undressing me and making my skin crawl just being in his presence.
