Page 12 of Reign of the Queen
As we are driving away, I look back in the side mirror to catch a scowling Carter saying something to Mateo and looking off to the side, I see a smiling Finn waving. I decide to give him a little wave and then proceed to baptize Theo with my middle finger as we pull out of the parking lot.
Raegan's laughing next to me; tears are escaping down the side of her face. Turning her head to look at me. "Wow, I thought you would run Mateo over with the car for a second, but that was priceless. Theo's face, too, when you gave him the finger. You planning on playing one against the other?"
"Maybe." I don't take my eyes off the road in front of me. "Divide and conquer." I smirk. "Let's go to the Quick Bean first and grab some iced coffee and then head back to my house."
"Sounds like a plan, princess…” She breaks out laughing and then turns up the music. God I love this chick.
Mia 2, Kings 0.
"I'm telling you, there is something up with that chick." Carter gives me an irritated look.
We're all back at Carter's, in the sports room, relaxing and hanging out after school. The sound system is pounding out Drake's "Energy," and the walls and windows are shaking. Any minute now, I expect the elderly housekeeper, Dianna, to come in here and yell at us about how loud it is.
I take a sip of my beer and look at an irritated Carter. He's pacing like a maniac, beer in one hand, joint in the other. Who knew being turned down by a chick would get him so shook? Shaking my head, I look across to the other sofa at Finn and Mateo; they’re both slouched down, beers and phones in hand, waiting for the hand off of the joint. Carter is fucking hogging it at this point.
"Hey, bitch, it's puff, puff, pass that bitch on!" Finn throws out, eyebrows raised.
"That's what I did with your mom last night, cunt." Carter takes another toke of the J and passes it to Mateo.
"Hilarious, no wonder Mia passed on your shit." Finn laughs.
"Naw, man, she didn't pass on my shit; she passed onourshit." He motions to all four of us with his tattooed hand. "When has that ever happened, huh?" He gives each of us a pointed look.
All of us stay quiet because in all the time we have been friends, since just before junior high, there has never been a girl that passed on a king or two, never mind all four.
"Exactly." Carter stretches out his arms wide to emphasize his point and lets out a deep breath.
“Maybe she’s into girls? Could be a possibility, right? Like it would explain why she’s not falling at our feet.” Finn rubs his chin.
“Naw, I don’t think that’s the case bro. I think she likes dicks, just apparently not ours.” Carter sneers, shaking his head.
"What did Jet say in Connecticut?" Mateo passes the spliff to Finn.
Three pairs of eyes turn in my direction. I take another long pull from my beer bottle. Carter's uncle Jet is just a few years older than us. He was sent off east by Carter's dad to run the eastern parts of the family business in Connecticut and the Hamptons. Until a year ago, he would have been sitting here hitting the joint and drinking beer with us when he was home from college.
"That's the thing, man; I texted him, asked him if he ever heard of the Stratford's from Manhattan."
"And?" Carter's impatience is starting to piss me the fuck off. I clench my jaw to avoid throwing a punch at his miserable face.
I pull out my phone and open the text Jet sent this afternoon. Looking up at the guys, then turn back to the text, reading it word for word to the fuckers.
Jet: Stop whatever the fuck you're about to do. DO NOT get the Stratford's on our radar; they will fucking eat us alive.
"What the fuck, dawg?" Finn's eyebrows rise, and his mouth half hangs open.
"Exactly, Jet isn't usually afraid of anything or anyone, but he seems to be afraid of them."
"Who is this chick, seriously?" Mateo sits up, elbows now resting on his knees, hands deep in the strands of his hair.
"Not sure, but one thing I know is she's playing some kind of game with us." I take another sip of beer. The rich cold liquid helping to soothe my parched throat.
"Game? To what end?" Carter finally sits the fuck down, arms sprawled across the back of the seat.
"Why man, we don't even know her?" Mateo stands up and heads to the fridge for another beer.
"Not sure, but whatever it is, we need to keep an eye firmly on that bitch." I wipe my mouth on the back of my hand, the beer now tasting sour in my mouth, my teeth grinding together.
"What do you suggest?" Finn sits up on the sofa, passing me the joint.
