The Pact: Rebels of Ridgecrest High (Book 1)

We won.

I knew we would, but this has been an incredible night for the Rebels. Something happened to Roman; he’s a different person tonight. Might have been the smile he was wearing when the guys all commented on his hair and how wicked it looked. Or the person who did it for him made him smile that way.

I’d watched her earlier from where I sat inside at lunch. I don’t know if Mila realizes, but she bites her lower lip when she concentrates, and, hell, that destroys my concentration. I’ve seen her doing that a lot in art, and I have to readjust my cock each time. Hell, even now I’m getting hard just thinking about it. The teacher has commented that I’m behind in my work, but that’s because I’m too busy staring at a work of art.

Mila Hart.

Tonight, seeing her up there, cheering and screaming out to us, made me want to show off. She called my name. and I heard her over the rest of the crowd. I’d never run so fast in my life. I was worried I would miss the catch, but I caught it, digging my heels in and running for her. Getting the touchdown for her. I played better than ever, and it’s because she was there.

I know Roman played for her too. He might say he doesn’t want her, but I know he does. He wants her approval. He wants her to see him how she used to. Nothing’s changed for her either. She still watches him like she always did. Reading his face and body language and knowing what to say at the right time.

Jace, on the other hand, cocky bastard.

He changed when we got to high school. Freshman year, he shot up out of nowhere and decided to be the leader of our trio. I never fought for it. Mila had always been our leader. Wherever she went, we followed. No one ever called her that, but she was always the one who spoke up for us first. She was the first to get into fights to protect us.

So, when Jace claimed her spot, I didn’t give a shit. I was happy to go along with whatever he wanted, as long as I was having fun and getting pussy. I’d followed Jace and let him lead.

But, tonight, his passes were on point. His calls, everything. He didn’t miss a beat. If there were any scouts out there, I can bet they all wrote his name down. Roman too, even though he’s made it clear that college isn’t gonna happen. He plans to work at the tattoo shop with Ronnie after high school.

At least he can make that choice for himself. My dad’s still breathing down my neck about wanting me to go to Lakeview Prep. But as long as I keep my grade up, he can’t force me to move. We signed a contract.

Grady had an off night for the first time ever; he hasn’t been the same since we had our fight on Monday. I’m not sure if it’s Jace or all three of us he has a problem with, but he’s hardly spoken to us.

We’re almost back at school, and my heart is racing. I can’t wait to see Mila.

When she said she was going to be home alone, then not alone, I’d hoped she was trying to tell me something. Hell, she was flirting with me, but she had been all week. So, when I said I would meet her there, and she didn’t question it, I thought for sure she wants to be alone with me. Tonight is the night I’ll tell her I want to be more than friends.

God, I’ve never just wanted to be her friend. I have always wanted more. But now that the carrot has been dangled, I want to take a bite. Jace agreed on Monday that the pact is null and void. We just had to promise not to fight with each other when she picks one of us.

If she doesn’t pick me, I’ll be devastated. But I’ll try and be happy for whoever she does pick. Try…not to smash them in the face with my fist every day.

I made the rule that there’s no talking about it. If Jace gets her, I don’t want to hear how amazing her kisses are or how good she makes him feel. We all agreed on that. That’s how I know Roman isn’t over her; he wants to kiss her again.

He’s just scared. The fighting down at The Shed would have to stop if he did have her. The people down there are scary motherfuckers, and that’s no place for Mila. Hell, that’s no place for my friend, but I can’t stop him.

I saw her blush tonight when I blew her a kiss from the field. And every time I turned to look at her, she was beaming. It felt good to have her looking at me like that. Hell, I have wanted her since I was a kid. Now, tonight. It’s finally my chance. My chance to have her alone and tell her how I have fallen in love with her, again.

Not that I ever fell out of love with her. She might have broken my heart when she left, but that’s history now. I don’t want to waste time being upset over that. Hell, I don’t even care if I was the last one she kissed before she left. I want to move forward with Mila, and I hope this means she does too.

I haven’t said shit to the guys about where I’m going after the game. I’m hoping Jace is going to Zack’s party so he won’t see my car out in front of Mila’s. But I look down at the group message on my phone and realize Jace has started a new chat…with the four of us, called “blood friends.”

I run my thumb over my scar; there will only ever be four of us who understand what that means. It would be creepy for someone who didn’t know what that meant to see it.

Mila: Can you come over at 11:30? Dad’s coming home to get some stuff before going to Kate’s, and I don’t want to explain to him about the three of you staying over at my house.

The fuck?

Jace turns where he is seated next to me on the bus. “My parents will be in bed, but you can come hang in my room until then.”

I’m just…I don’t know what to think. He ignores my silence and glances past me across the aisle. “You too, Roman.”

This isn’t how I expected my night to go at all. All my plans have gone out the window. We’ve been in Jace’s room for about twenty minutes already, and I haven’t sat down. I’m trying to figure out how this is gonna work. How to play this out now that they’re both gonna be there.

Roman’s lying on Jace’s bed with his eyes closed and his hands behind his head. He still has the braids Mila gave him. I don’t think he will take them out until he has to wash his hair. He has a peaceful look on his face, and I can’t begrudge the guy for wanting to go over to Mila’s. Not when he has been more himself this past week than he has in four years.

Jace looks out the window again to see if James has left. He’s looked almost every minute. I can tell he’s eager to get over there, and it frustrates me. I can’t sit here and watch this. I pace beside the bedroom door.

“Seriously, Hunter, what’s up?” Jace asks as he closes the blinds again, turning to me.

I shrug. I can’t tell them I’m upset they’re coming, that she invited me first. But did I just go and invite myself read the signal wrong? It’s not fair to take it out on Jace and Roman. It’s my fault.

“No, tell me what’s up with you. You’ve been pacing since we got in my room. James is still there. We have to wait like she asked. What more can I do other than go over and demand he leave his own house so three guys can have a sleepover with his daughter?”

He thinks that’s why I’m pacing. At least he hasn’t clued into the real reason. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get her alone once we get into her house. I want to talk to her in private and tell her how I feel. Fuck, putting my heart on the line like that makes my stomach turn. Normally, I don’t care if I’m rejected by a girl. It doesn’t happen often, and there is always another one there, waiting for me.

But I don’t think I can handle being rejected by Mila. I don’t want another girl.

I want her.

The sound of a car door has Jace looking out the window again. like a creepy fucker.

“Shit, man, at least wait until he’s gone before spying on him. He might see you and change his mind about leaving,” I grumble at Jace.

He doesn’t respond.

Roman rolls off the bed, and we both go to the window to see for ourselves that James is leaving. We see the headlights of her dad’s truck as it pulls out of the driveway.

“Oh, shit,” Jace utters under his breath, and my eyes are drawn to Mila’s room. Fucker gets to stare into her room any time he wants, and tonight, I mutter the exact same words.

“Oh, shit. Does she realize we can see her?” I ask, but it’s more to myself than them. I hear something clatter on the windowsill as Jace grabs a walkie-talkie. Oh, wow, that’s the one they used as kids. He switches it on, and we’re greeted by white noise and a beep.

Mila pauses and looks around her room. My brows rise as she goes to her windowsill and picks up her walkie-talkie before looking over to us. Her eyes widen slightly, then she smiles and winks at us. God, I can feel that smile and wink down into my cock. But it’s not just that; it’s everything.

“Someone putting on a show for us?” Jace says down the line to her.

She grins on the other end and takes a step back. She’s wearing a black lace bra and a thong again. When she spins, I can see her perky, smooth ass, and I do everything in my power to hold back my raging hard-on. But it’s impossible when she looks so fine, and I just know she’s everything I ever wanted. Like every Christmas gift all wrapped into one sexy, smart, and sassy girl next door.

“Don’t take too long jerking each other off. I have popcorn and beer.”

God, she’s playing us. She did that on purpose. Knew we would be looking.

Well, I want to be the first to tell her how much I liked her show, and I want to see it up close and personal. I move away from the window, rearrange my junk, and grab my bag. I run out of Jace’s house like it’s on fire. I want to be the first one to see her and maybe catch her still wearing only that black lace.

I’m coming, Mila Hart…just hopefully not in my shorts.