They had it out for me the moment I arrived at the boarding school, so I had to live up to my reputation, of course. I played a few pranks here and there, which all landed me in deep water. But the final straw was when I beat the shit out of three boys at once in the boys’ bathroom. It didn’t matter that they jumped me, and I kicked their ass. They kicked my ass out. Even my father’s money couldn’t keep me there. They had a no tolerance rule and told him I was the spawn of Satan. If they only knew how true that was.
He gives us his back and looks out his floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooks the courtyard of the university. “Your accolades spoke higher than your behaviors.” He spins back around and stares at both of us. “Don’t make me regret giving you both this chance.”
“Yes, Coach,” we both say.
He nods and sits down in his chair. “Go home, boys, and come back tomorrow ready to swim until your muscles ache to the point you’ll have to crawl out of the pool.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
DEMI
“THAT MOTHERFUCKER DESERVED more than a broken nose.”
I sit on the couch next to Austin sipping on a new bottle of wine when we hear Deke’s voice.
“Then let’s go pay him a visit tonight,” Cole offers.
“I should go,” I say. Standing, I grab my phone to get an Uber. I wasn’t thinking about how I was going to get home after I finished my second glass. I’ve been here for over three hours. I colored some pictures with Lilly before Austin put her to bed, and then we sat down to talk, and time just got away from us.
“You can go if you want, but this is my house too, and you’re more than welcome here,” she states before walking out of the living room. “What the hell happened?” I hear Austin gasp.
I make my way into the kitchen to see Cole standing at the fridge and Deke in front of an open drawer.
“Some guys were talking shit about Demi,” Deke answers. “Me and Cole broke some shit.”
“What?” I ask, taking a step into the kitchen.
Everyone turns to face me. Deke’s jaw sharpens, and Cole runs a hand through his hair. Deke looks at Austin as though he expects her to explain my presence. As if I’m not welcome here. She doesn’t.
“What?” I ask again. “Who was talking about me?”
Deke ignores me as he reaches into the open drawer and pulls out a pack of cigarettes. Slamming it shut, he stomps out of the kitchen.
“Cole?” Austin demands.
He arches a brow. “Oh, now you’re talking to me?” He realizes his fuckup the moment the words are out of his mouth and looks away from her.
“Fuck you, Cole,” she growls and goes to leave as well, but he grabs her by the upper arm, preventing her escape.
“A guy on the swim team was talking about him and another fucking Demi.” He looks at me. “At the same time.”
I frown. Who the hell at the University of Texas would know me? “Do I know them?” Maybe they meant another Demi.
He lets go of her and shrugs. “They didn’t seem to know you very well. One mentioned that you were over at his house last night with Seth.”
“Ahh,” I say, remembering that Seth did tell me that when he introduced us last night. I didn’t pay much attention. “Seth knows him through his sister. Last night was my first time to meet him.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go back there if I was you,” he warns.
“Noted.” I nod.
“Did you get suspended?” Austin asks through gritted teeth.
He snorts. “Hell no. Coach yelled at us and then told us to go home. He can’t afford to lose us.” He looks at me after answering her. “You need to figure out whatever the fuck you and Deke have going on.”
“It’s nothing.” I just needed to use him one time.
“I’ve known Deke all of my life, and he wouldn’t have jeopardized his scholarship for a girl he didn’t give two fucks about.” Then he looks down at his future wife. I can see the regret flash across his face for just a short second before it disappears. “May I talk to you?” When she doesn’t answer, he adds, “Upstairs.” Then he too exits the kitchen, not waiting for a response or giving her any room to protest, leaving me and Austin alone.
“I’m gonna go—”
“No,” she interrupts me and turns to the fridge. Opening the door, she pulls out a half-full bottle of wine. We finished off the first one earlier. “Here.” She holds it out to me. “Cole is right. You and Deke need to talk this out. And you are more than welcome to spend the night in the spare bedroom.”
I arch a brow. “And you and Cole?”