Page 249 of Ruptured
“The fuck it isn’t,” CJ snapped, feeling as if a vortex had sucked him in and left him spinning out of control. He didn’t know up from down anymore. “Niceness doesn’t get you respect.”
Shaking his head, Ryan snorted. “It isn’t the niceness, beta boy.”
“What do you all want from me?”
“Nothing more than you want for yourself,” Grant told him. “We’re all here for you. We’re just asking you to be here for us.”
“And hitting Rory will do that?” CJ asked.
“Or coming up with a better reasonnotto do it,” Bishop told him.
“Yeah,” Ryan agreed. “Who the fuck can respect you when you say such dumb shit?”
A throat cleared, and they all turned to find Mattie and a stunning girl standing feet away. She was tall and golden, with honey color hair and sky-blue eyes.
Mattie indicated the stranger with a flourish. “Meet one of our newest members of the cheer team, since we’re, er…” She rocked on her heels. “One…er…two…er…” She flushed. “She’s taking Molly’s place.”
CJ glared at Mattie, taking an immediate dislike to the stranger because she wasn’t Molly. As Mattie greeted everyoneexceptKaia, CJ turned his back and stared out over the water.
“Don’t be rude, CJ,” Mattie said quietly, suddenly next to him.
“He can’t be any ruder than you, Mattie,” Kaia retorted.
“My little sister doesn’t like you, Kaia,” Rory said. “Deal with it.”
“At least greet her,” Mattie said, still ignoring Kaia.
“Hi,” CJ said without turning.
“You’re being mean,” Mattie whispered.
“Not. I didn’t ask for this invasion of privacy.”
“This is a public place,” Mattie said uneasily. “We didn’t know you’d be here.
CJ faced her. “Go, Mattie,” he ordered. “Take her with you. I don’t want to meet her. She isn’t Molly.”
Mattie’s shoulders slumped but she nodded and pointed to Kaia. “Hey, you. Walk my friend back to school.”
“You know my name.”
“Cheater?”
He stiffened, and drew in a breath, glaring at her. “For someone so incredibly gorgeous, you’re quite fucking evil.”
Mattie rolled her eyes, then nudged CJ. “Please, let me introduce you.”
“Then you’ll send her away, Mattie?” CJ gritted.
“Yeah. She’s a transfer and doesn’t know many people.”
Turning, CJ walked to the golden girl and held out his hand. “I’m CJ.”
She placed her delicate fingers against his palm and smiled. “I’m Skye.” Her voice was like the tinkling of wind chimes.
“Skye? That’s an interesting name,” CJ said, before he remembered he didn’t like her. Scowling, he snapped his mouth shut, ignoring how her face fell. “Take her back to Ridge Moore, Kaia.”
Kaia started down the bridge. “Skye,” he called.
