His Brother

I hope what I’m doing is the right thing. Apart from the fake dating, I asked Jason’s brother to make me a bad girl and teach me how to have sex.

I groan as I look at myself in the bathroom mirror. I press my palms flat against the counter, lean in, study the girl staring back at me. She looks the same. Soft. Pure. Breakable. If I become bad enough, I won’t be taken for granted anymore. And I want Jason to feel the sadness and hurt I feel.

The party is beginning to end, and when I step into the living room, people are starting to leave in twos and threes, laughter trailing out the front door behind them. I look around and don’t see Paris anywhere. I pull out my phone to call, tapping my foot as it rings. No answer. I try again. Straight to voicemail this time. Shit. There goes my ride back home.

I’m about to walk toward the door, when his voice stops me.

“Leaving already?”

I turn around and damn, his beautiful face makes me gulp. But I’m quick to reposition my face, smooth it into the “I don't notice” look. “The party’s over. And since my friend already left me, I have to find my way home.”

“Hmm. I saw Oscar take his girl home. You know what? How about I drive you back too?”

My eyes widen slightly. I take a small step back, like distance might protect me from whatever this is. “Absolutely not.”

He comes closer, closing that step I just put between us, then stops just a few inches away. I can feel the heat of his body from there. He bends his neck to meet me at eye level, and I have to tip my chin up to keep looking at him. My eyes roam from his eyes to his lips, back to his eyes. My fingers curl into my palm. If I didn’t have self-control, I’d have jumped on him and gotten myself undone.

“I can’t have you out there alone this time of night. What kind of man would that make me? Besides, I’m your boyfriend.”

“Fake boyfriend.” I fold my arms, a poor attempt at a wall between us.

He straightens up, and I feel like I can breathe again with the space he gives back. “The people who saw us won’t think that. In fact, they were shocked I kissed a girl in public.” His eyes flick over my face, reading me. “And if something happens to you, your revenge to make Jason pay will be for nothing. Is that what you want, Wonder Woman?”

“Thrill.”

“Huh?” His brows knit together.

“Thrill Malibu Hastings is my name. Not Wonder Woman.” I take a breath, arms dropping to my sides. I also don’t have a ride back to the apartment. Maybe this wouldn’t be so awkward. I chew the inside of my cheek, weighing it, then look at him. “Okay. You can take me home. Delta Pi Kappa is my sorority.”

“Hmm. I have a friend there,” He says, then claps his hands together. “Come on.” He leads the way, and I follow a step behind. 

I wrap my arms around myself against the night air.

I see his ride and it’s so sleek. A black convertible. Giving a bad boy vibe. His aura too. He opens the door for me, which I find strange. Jason always did it too, but he and Jason have different auras. They’re different. Raf looks dangerous, and I think I made a deal with the devil. But anything to make Jason pay, right? 

He steps aside to let me pass, and I slide into the seat, the leather cool against the back of my legs. He closes the door and rounds the front of the car, unhurried. He drops into the driver’s seat. “Your seatbelt.”

I obey. He starts the engine.

He isn't driving gently. He drives like he’s in a race, one hand loose on the wheel, the streetlights streaking past the window in gold ribbons. My fingers grip the edge of my seat. In a few minutes, he parks in front of my sorority house, the engine cutting to silence so sudden it rings in my ears.

“You’re welcome.”

I turn my head to him and give a forced smile. I get out of the car and turn to look at him, one hand still braced on the door. It feels like after this night, reality will return. Or maybe I’m in a dream and this isn’t happening. Maybe by tomorrow I’ll wake up and Jason didn’t do all of this. He’s still my boyfriend and we’re happy.

“Do you mean it?”

“Huh?” he says, breaking my thought.

“Being a bad girl. Do you mean it?”

I swallow. Then nod. “Yes. I do.”

“Well, you have my number now. And you know my apartment. Come find me when you’re ready to get yourself tinted. I’ll see you soon, Wonder Woman.”

He pulls off before I can answer, and I watch him drive away, the car riding fast out of my sight. This is it. A dream? Reality? Tomorrow will tell.

I turn back toward the house, and gently ease the door open to sneak into the dark living room. But the light snaps on, and when I spin around, almost all the girls are standing there, watching me. My stomach drops. I feel like I’ve been caught red-handed in a crime I haven’t even committed.

Bianca strides toward me, heels clicking against the floor, her blonde hair bouncing back over her shoulder. Her aura always intimidates me. She’s the leader of our sorority. And Blair’s sister. My nemesis.

Blair hates my fucking ass for no reason. Ever since Paris and I got in here two years ago, she’s always had it in for me. 

“Did you just get a ride home from Rafael Carrington?”

I keep my mouth shut, my eyes flicking through the row of faces watching me, waiting.

“Malibu. We’re your sworn sisters. And we saw you. He gave you a ride home. Why is that? Is he your boyfriend?” A laugh rips through her. “No, definitely not — Raf doesn’t do girlfriends. So explain.” Bianca folds her arms across her chest, tapping one finger against her elbow. So are the girls. I’m screwed. How do I explain this? Fake dating? What is even that? Okay, maybe this is a dream. Still a dream?

Gosh, I don’t feel good. My palms are sweating, and I press them against my thighs.

Then I’m suddenly grabbed by the hand and yanked away. “Paris. You are my lifesaver.”

“You have so much explaining to do, young woman!” She doesn’t stop dragging me, her grip tight around my wrist. We go up the stairs and my eyes meet Blair, who's in the corner with her back against the wall, arms crossed. She gives me that look she always does. At this point, I’m tired of it.

Paris slams the door behind her and pushes me forward. I stumble, almost fall, but catch myself and turn to face her. “What are you doing? What is wrong with you?”

“What is wrong with me?” she scoffs, hands flying up. “What is wrong with you?”

I sit on the bed and look away from her, staring hard at a spot on the carpet. “You wanted me out there, and I went out there.”

“Yes, I wanted you out there, but I told you to stay away from Rafael! Malibu, he is—” She walks to me and crouches down in front of me, forcing me to look at her. “He will hurt you. Don’t you see it? He’s full of darkness. Troubled. And you are—”

“What? Pure?” I give her an angry look. Paris goes quiet. 

Yes. That’s how she sees me. Pure. Can’t do wrong. And that’s why Jason could cheat on me with a girl who is bad. That’s what boys want. Bad girls. And I am none of that. That’s why I need Raf. So he can tint me. Make me a bad girl like the rest of them. And I’ll get my revenge on Jason.

“Malibu, please. You’re a good person. You have a good life. A good father. You’re a ballerina and you thrive at it. Do you want to push all that aside just to be seen with a boy like Rafael Carrington?” 

She takes my hand in hers, squeezing. 

“Getting back at Jason will only drain you. Boys like them — those brothers — they will drain you. And you don’t want that. Remember the promise you made to me when you entered this school? When we found out we were roommates at the dorm we were assigned before we got accepted into this sorority? You said you wanted a good life, that you wanted to explore, because of how much of your life you were homeschooled. Do you want to throw all that upcoming adventure away just for him?”

“Paris.” My voice cracks around her name.

I remember well. I remember everything. But I’m hurting. I love Jason. I’m still in love with Jason, but I have to hurt him. I have to make him see how it feels to be hurt. His father is the mayor of this town. He’s from a rich home too, like me. Privileged. But he doesn’t know pain. I have to show him pain. Paris doesn’t understand how I feel.

“Please, Malibu. Promise me you’ll stay away from that devil. Please promise me. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to forgive myself.” Her eyes are shining, her grip on my hand almost painful now.

Paris is crying, and I don’t want that. I don’t want any of it. So I do what will make her happy. I nod my head. “Okay.”

“What?”

“I’ll stay away from him, Paris. I’ll stay away from the Carrington brothers.”

I see the smile bloom across her face, watch her shoulders drop with relief, but my heart is arching in my chest. I have never lied to Paris before, and I just did. Because I can’t break this off. I can’t back off now. Not when I’m this close. If I’m going to make Jason pay, I’ll need his brother.