Originally Chapter 20

Breaking the Rules Deleted Scenes:

Lincoln

There’s nothing quite like the high after a win.

Everything seems brighter, sweeter, better. And after this win against California, I feel like I’m walking on air as I follow Pax and Arlo into the sorority house.

The house is packed, music fills the air, the volume so loud the bass pumps through the floorboards. Bodies are writhing, drinks are being poured freely, everyone is blissfully happy.

“Is Candace meeting us here?” Arlo asks.

Pax nods. “I’m on my best behavior.” He draws an ‘x’ over his chest like the goddamn boy scout he always strives to be.

“Good. Beause if you lose your pants tonight, you’re on your own.” I lower a shoulder and push forward, breaking into the crowds of people, hearing my moniker screamed from somewhere in the distance.

This is what I need: a place to forget and leave everything behind.

I only make it a couple of feet before a girl steps in front of me, her smile bigger than her dress. “Great game tonight, President.” Her eyes study mine, then drop to my chest and even lower. Mine follows the same route she drew but cross over her body. She’s medium height and build, her hair a similar shade of blond that makes me think of Rae for an instant before I focus on all the differences. This girl’s a bit taller, her hair shorter and curled, and it’s evident she knows how to flirt, and I’d bet a blowie she knows what she’s doing in the sack. “I’m Vanessa,” she says, offering a hand.

Her nails are painted a dark blue, but there’s no bandage on her hand.

I blink several times, trying to make a reason out of why I’m comparing these two women who are clearly nothing alike aside from similar hair color and a shared preference for blue nails.

It’s because the itch is still there.

One kiss didn’t scratch the surface, and how could it? Even as a teenager my dreams were far from innocent. I want to taste her. Watch as I make her climax. I want her on her knees in front of me, pulling on my boxers and begging me to fuck her mouth. I want to worship her like she deserves, and then because I’m a selfish sonofabitch, I want to fuck her again to burn the memory of me on her.

“You want to get a drink?” Vanessa asks.

“Maybe later.” I don’t make an excuse beyond that because I don’t have anything better at this point. I move forward, Arlo still close behind me. If he has an opposition to my decision, he doesn’t voice it.

I wade through the crowds, searching faces for familiarity though I’m desperate to avoid it. I stop when I see Derek, his arms around a brunette.

“Hey. Look there. It seems you don’t have to worry about Rae getting mixed up with that piece of shit anymore,” Arlo says to Pax. Equal parts of relief and anger fuel me as I wonder if she knows. If she’s known.

“What a dick,” Pax mutters.

“She thinks they’re still together?” Arlo asks the question burning through my memories and the thought of Rae only spending time with me after Derek turned her down.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. She hasn’t said anything to me, though.” He shakes his head.

“There,” Arlo says, pointing across the room in the direction of the kitchen.

Raegan’s standing in the kitchen with a cup in her hand and Poppy at her side. Poppy gives more away, her expression visibly annoyed, even from here. Raegan nods at something Poppy says, then downs the remains of her cup in one drink.

“I’m guessing no,” Pax says, releasing a deep breath.

“But we’re going to keep our cool. It’s better this way. Let him shoot himself in the foot,” Arlo says. “This way, we didn’t intervene and she doesn’t get hurt. It’s a win-win.”

I take another glance at Raegan, her customary ponytail in place. She’s wearing a light gray shirt that teases at being low and a black jacket.

“You’re right,” Pax says, nodding. “Let’s go. Let’s get some beers.”

“You want to check on her? Say hi?” Arlo dips his chin in the direction of Rae again.

Pax shakes his head. “Nah. She doesn’t want us meddling. It’ll be better if we just go our separate way.”

Before we turn, the sight of four guys approaching Rae and Poppy is burned into my retinas, causing me to look back half a dozen times before we stop to fill some cups at a keg where I can position myself to get a better look at the situation. I recognize one of them. He’s from the fucking rugby team.

“Whoop!” a girl screams, raising both hands in the air. Her shirt exposes her flat stomach and cleavage. She smiles at us. Nikki. I’ve known her most of my life. She’s popular, known for throwing parties and being the unattainable girl on every guy at Brighton U’s list.

Another stolen glance reveals Raegan laughing at something the douche is whispering into her ear. Her reminder that she wants to date around plays through my thoughts, interrupted by the memory of her face before I kissed her, and again from last night when I suggested we be friends. I don’t know my ass from my brain at this point, and it’s fucking with my head and each of my senses.

I gulp down my warm beer, letting the alcohol cleanse my thoughts as I turn my full attention to Nikki, a smile on my face. “What’s up, Nikki?”

Her smile expands, green eyes dilated with desire as she bites her bottom lip. “I was hoping you’d be here.”

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?” I tilt my chin as I reach for her, skimming my fingers across her bare arm.

She giggles, her gaze dropping to my torso before jumping back to my face.

She wants me.

I want her to admit it.

“Do you need a refill?” she asks.

Pax and Arlo give a quick wave, Arlo following it with a couple of hip thrusts that define inappropriate.

I swing my gaze back to Raegan, and it feels like I’ve had the air knocked out of me as I watch the same guy talking to her, one hand on her hip as he leans into her, breathing her in as his nose follows the same lines of her face I spent last night admiring. She turns her head, granting him the same access she’d denied me when I’d made a similar move.

Everything is red. Everything burns. Everything is lost.

“Yeah,” I tell Nikki. “I do.”

I finish two beers before I dare to speak, knowing my thoughts can’t be filtered sooner.

“How’s your junior year going?” she asks.

“We’re undefeated. How’s your year going so far?”

Her gaze drops as she takes a step closer, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Good, except I really want to spend more time with you.”

“Yeah? What do you want to do with me?”

She giggles again. This time it’s nearly as suggestive as her stare. Her nails are long and a nude shade, each finger sporting multiple rings that look brighter in contrast to my black sweatshirt as she places her other hand on my chest.

“I’ve been wondering if you have a dirty mouth?” She follows the outline of her lips with a finger.

“Filthy,” I tell her.

“Perfect,” she whispers, leaning into me, so both her breasts are pressed against my chest. She pulls me down to her while pushing up on her toes, her lips connecting with mine in a hasty and desperate kiss that tastes of beer and lies.

(Beach cleanup, and mini-golf date Ch 18-21 in the published version)