“Why don’t you get lost, so Marnye and I can talk?”
“Marnye, and I were talking, so how about you fuck all the way off?” Zack snarls. Tristan pretends like he doesn’t give a shit and heads straight for the Idols’ table. He is engaged, after all, and I make a mental note to push harder with him. April is already coming to a close, and what have I accomplished this month besides … spending time in a hot tub with Creed.
Putting my palm on Creed’s chest, I push him back a step and move away from the two guys. Zayd watches me carefully, tucking his inked fingers in his front pockets. He’s clearly interested in whatever’s happening between us.
“What the hell is going on?” he asks as Creed and Zack look at each other like they might come to blows. As if my day isn’t shitty enough, Windsor chooses that moment to walk in. He makes his way right over, grabs me by the arm, and levels one of those fantastic grins of his at the other boys.
“Do you mind if I borrow Marnye here for a moment? Mentoring duties and all that.” He drags me away, and I breathe a sigh of relief as soon as I get out of the room, bending over and putting my palms on my knees for support. Windsor rubs my back in gentle swirling motions. “There, there. I know what it’s like to juggle several girlfriends at once. I recognize the panic on your face.”
“Do not compare me to you,” I whisper, forcing myself to stand up. “I do not have multiple boyfriends. I’m just … juggling my own interests against … other things.” Windsor stares at me for a long moment, hazel eyes mischievous.
“Other things?” he asks coyly, and I can just feel the truth resting on the back of my tongue. What it is about him that makes me want to spill the beans, I’m not sure. It’s infuriating, to be quite honest. “You mean like this mysterious bit of revenge you won’t talk about?”
“Look, I …” I look at Windsor, and I just feel so full of emotion, I want to choke. “I need to get the Idols to go to the graduation getaway with me.” That’s all I have to say, and then it clicks in his mind. I can see the second that it happens. “They bet they could make me fall in love, so …” It sounds pretty freaking lame coming out of my mouth right then.
“I see,” Windsor drawls, tapping at his chin, like all the pieces are falling together. “You’re throwing yourself at those idiots to win a bet?” I nod, and I feel ashamed. I don’t feel like a badass, revenge seeking missile anymore. I feel like Marnye Reed, a girl who’s gotten herself in over her head. I actually like Zack. And I like Creed. I like Zayd, too. And Tristan. They’ve been trying to protect me from the girls all year; I can see it now. It doesn’t make their behavior right, but it does make me want to know more. More about them, their feelings, more about what could happen if I spent more time with them.
“I need to make them fall in love …” I start, and the task feels so monumental that I don’t even know where to begin. I’m running out of time, and my dad’s future is on the line.
“Oh, love,” Windsor says with a chuckle. He pushes his red hair up and off of his forehead. “You know how I’d first guessed you’d fucked?” I nod, warily, but I acknowledge him. “I thought that’s what I was sensing, but I was wrong.”
“Right, because I’ve never … slept with any of them.” I’ve only made Creed come in a hot tub, I think, and I want to choke and then disappear into a hole in the ground. “So what?”
“You’ve already won, you shagging wanker,” Windsor says, shaking his head at me. “If you ask, they’ll go to your party with you. It’s so bloody obvious it’s practically written on the wall.” I gape at him, but he seems so damn sure of himself, it’s hard not to … freak out and feel satisfied at the same time.
“They don’t love me,” I say, and Windsor shrugs, the epaulettes on his jacket wrinkling with the motion.
“They like you enough that they’ll go. Just ask, Marnye. Take them, crush them, win your bet, and then figure out if forgiveness is something you’re interested in.” He frowns briefly. “Although I was looking forward to eating them alive. You will let me help with the rest of your blue-blooded friends however, won’t you?”
I nod, but I’m so speechless, I don’t know what to say.
Windsor grins, puts his arm around my shoulders, and leads me away from The Mess.
