Hooking Up

  By

  L.E. Bross

  Hooking Up: Lost Boys of Neverly Prep Novella © copyright 2019 L.E. Bross

  Copyright notice: All rights reserved under the International and Pan- American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Cover Design: EVE Graphic Design

  Chapter One

  Luc

  “Why not me, too?”

  Over a month later and I still can’t get past her non-answer when I asked her that question. I’m the one who was there for her, I’m the one that gave her a place to stay, yet she’s with them.

  I scrub my hand over my face and exhale.

  I’m hung up on a girl that will never be mine.

  I’m hung up on a girl who belongs to my brothers, for fuck’s sake. Or they will be in six months when dad and Wendi get married. Which means we’ll all be one big happy family.

  I groan and tilt my head back, letting the hot summer sun beat down on my face. Maybe it will cook some sense into my head. Ever is not mine and I need to get the hell over it.

  When I drop my head forward, I look out over the fence to the beach beyond. From my perch in the lifeguard tower I can see quite a way off. The skies are completely blue, not a cloud in sight and the water rolls against the sand in lazy waves.

  It’s a perfect day.

  Which is why the pool at Oceanside Resort is packed.

  Families. Couples. There’s even a bachelorette party sunbathing in the corner. It’s the middle of summer and everyone wants to get away from their lives. Including me.

  I needed to take a couple of months to clear my head because I’ll see a lot of Ever since X and I got an apartment together on USC’s campus. It was his idea and truth be told, I’m just happy to be part of the group again. I fucking missed them when they shut me out. And despite everything that’s happened, they are my family regardless of what my dad and Wendi do.

  But as happy as I am to have my brothers back, I can’t stop the way my chest constricts at the thought of seeing Ever with them. I scrub my hand over my face and push out a breath. I came here to put them out of my mind and every second is filled with thinking about them.

  A burst of rancorous laughter draws my attention.

  I watch as one of the guys in the bachelor party tries to drag one of our servers onto his lap. My muscles tense. Assholes. I’ve been watching them all day. They’re the other half of the bachelorette party.

  Just as I stand, the server disentangles herself and says something that makes the other guys laugh. Even from ten feet away, I see the way the guy’s jaw hardens, even though he pretends to laugh. His gaze is on the server as she walks away and I don’t like the look on his face.

  For the rest of my shift, I keep one eye on the group.

  It’s obvious who the bride and groom are, they spend most of the day wrapped up in each other, but the rest of the bridal party is here to have fun. By the sun starts to sink, the only ones left are the asshole guy and a couple of girls who’re going to feel the burn tomorrow.

  The server makes her rounds, picking up glasses and plates from the patio tables, while I make my way to the stragglers. Management closes the pool at six every night to encourage people to spend their money at the attached bar.

  “Pool’s closing,” I tell the girls.

  One, a petite thing with black hair cut short like Ever’s, pushes her sunglasses down her nose and her gaze roves over my body. I know I’m cliché as hell, but it’s part of the reason Claire hired me and why I get the most shifts. Tan, toned and blond. She said I’d keep the female guests at the pool drinking all day.

  By the look in the girl’s eyes, I’d say the drinking part is true.

  “Want to help me back to my room?”

  If she wasn’t slurring drunk, I think I might have actually considered it. Who the hell am I fooling? Casual isn’t in my nature, which is making it damned hard to stop thinking about Ever.

  The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.

  I grit my teeth. Problem is, I’m not that kind of guy.

  “Can’t fraternize with guests.” I shrug, giving her a sad smile, like sorry but the rules are the rules.

  Truth is, Claire came out and told me that if I wanted to fuck the guests, I needed to do it on my time, not hers.

  “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

  The girl winks then tries to push out of the lounge chair. She half falls out and the brunette next to her sighs.

  Her warm, undrunk gaze meets mine. Deep brown eyes peer up at me.

  “Sorry. She doesn’t get out much. Come on, Sam, let’s go sober up before we meet Chelle for drinks.”

  “Ooh, I could go for a strawberry daiquiri.”

  “That’s the last thing you need, but sure, let’s go get one.”

  The brunette rolls her eyes but gives me a conspiratorial wink, and I can't help but smile down at her. They stand and the pixie girl, Sam, leans heavily against her friend.

  When the brunette meets my gaze again, her eyes are troubled.

  “The guy we’re here with,” she nods and I see the empty chair where asshole was sitting. “He’s an entitled asshole, and he’s had his eye on that server all day. You might want to check on her since he just followed her inside.”

  My insides go cold. “Thanks.”

  I stalk across the patio and yank open the employees only door.

  Raised voices echo down the hall.

  “Not interested,” a female voice says.

  “Come on babe, I’m only here for a few days. Let’s head back to my room and get to know each other.”

  “What part of not interested don’t you understand?”

  Blood pounds in my ear and I’m down the hall before I realize it. The douche has her backed into a corner and at about a foot taller, she’s all but hidden.

  “Get the fuck away from my girl.”

  The words are out before I can stop and think about what I’m saying. I don’t even know why I said it, but then again, it works in the movies.

  The guy swings around, but it’s the girl I’m focused on. I expect to see relief on her face, but the daggers she throws at me are wicked.

  “The fuck I am.”

  “Look, bro,” he says to me. “We’re just having a conversation so you can leave now.”

  Using the distraction, she shoves the guy and he stumbles a few feet back and she slips out from between him and the wall.

  A few strands of hair have come loose from the bun on top of her head and I have the insane impulse to tuck them behind her ear. One look at her face quells the urge. I think she might bite me if I tried.

  “Both of you just back up.”

  My mouth falls open and I hold my hands up.

  “Just trying to help.”

  “Did it look like I needed help?” she spits out. Her bright blue eyes shoot fire and even though she barely comes up to my shoulder, I feel like she’s looming over me.

  The guy barks out a laugh and she spins, shoving her finger in his chest.

  “Listen, asshole, if I was interested I’d have told you so. Get lost means get lost, not follow me like some kind of fucking stalker. Grow some dignity, bro.”

  I watch his reaction play out over his face. I see the moment his ego wins and I step between the girl and him.

  “You need to go, man.”

  He’s maybe an inch taller but his chest is a lot scrawnier than mine. He knows it too.

  “Fucking lesbian,” he spits out.

  The girl storms out from behind me and I just barely manage to snag her around the waist.

  “Why the fuck do guys always think girls are lesbians if they don’t fall at your feet. News flash buddy, you’re not that impressive.”

  A growl builds in my chest. She’s not wrong, but antagonizing a drunk guy is the last thing she needs to be doing. His eyes narrow. He’s about to make a really stupid fucking decision.

  I just hope Claire understands when she finds out I punched a guest.

  She twists and bucks in my hold and I pull her tighter, pinning her back against my chest.

  “Stop talking,” I grind out in her ear.

  She freezes and turns her glare on me. “Did I say you could touch me, asshole?”

  I reel back. Seriously? I’m trying to help her and she’s biting my head off? I’m not the asshole in this situation. Still, I let her go and step back, crossing my arms over my chest. If she wants to handle this, fine, but I’m not leaving her alone with this guy.

  “You’re not even worth it,” the guy snorts, then turns and disappears down the hall.

  I let out an exhale.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are?”


>   Now the little spitfire is in my face, shoving her finger into my chest.

  “He could have hurt you,” I grit out. Why can’t she see that the guy was twice her size and could have overpowered her in a hot second?

  “I’ve had self-defense training.”

  “The hell does that even mean?”

  Before I can get a laugh out, pain shoots up my body from the vicinity of my balls and I immediately double over. Something hard comes down on the back of my neck and I fall forward, dropping to my knees.

  “The fuck,” I wheeze out, cupping my balls as I look up at her.

  She looms over me, hands planted on her hips. “Self defense.”

  My eyes widen. “You grabbed my balls.”

  “Self. Defense.” She lifts an eyebrow. “And I barely even squeezed.”

  Christ, if that was barely squeezing I don’t want to be on the receiving end of a full on attack.

  “I was just trying to help, okay. Saw that guy acting like an ass to you earlier, then come in after you.”

  She huffs out a breath and her gaze roves over me. I don’t think I imagine the way she lingers on my pecs, but I’m not one hundred percent sure. My head isn’t clear quite yet.

  “Look, I get it, you have some kind of hero complex,” she says dismissively. “I’m sure it’s why you’re a lifeguard, but next time, don’t assume everyone needs saving.”

  My mouth hangs open, but before I can find my words, she turns and walks away. I hear a door slam shut and then the hall is silent. As I push to my feet, I glare at the spot where the guy had her cornered.

  Fine. Next time she can use her ball twisting self defense on someone else.

  I head back outside to clean up the pool and lose myself in the task for the next hour. It’s monotonous, but exactly what I need. I don’t even have to think about what I’m doing. Once the chairs are all wiped down and the umbrellas lowered, I lock up the gates and make sure all the lights are off, except for the ones under that water.

  Laughter trickles through the air from the bar deck overlooking the ocean, but there’s no one around as I walk back to the employee only door. I need to hit the hotel gym, then grab some room service, but after that, it’s the same as it’s been every night for the past twenty.

  Just me, alone, as the sun sinks below the horizon.

  I’m another day closer to the reality that’s waiting for me in Columbia and I still haven’t figured my shit out.

  Chapter Two

  Aria

  What the hell is it with the guys around here?

  My first day on the job and I’ve had not one but two idiots get into my face. Okay, so maybe the lifeguard was there to save me, but did he even ask if I needed help? No. Like a typical guy, he jumped in and assumed I was a helpless girl.

  I roll my eyes and head down the boardwalk. The room I’m renting is two blocks off the main drag, and though small, it’s bigger than anything I’m used to and it has a private balcony.

  I don’t really need a lot of space since I’m not staying here long. I slip my key into the door and just as I turn the knob, my phone vibrates.

  Right on time.

  With an exasperated sigh, I yank it from my pocket.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Arianna.”

  Her clipped voice comes over the line and I cringe, mentally preparing for the same lecture I’ve gotten every night since I let them know I wasn’t going to follow their plan for my life. Not only am I lucky enough to be the wild child of a doctor and an accountant, I’m also the youngest sibling to not one but three overachieving brothers.

  A veterinarian. A lawyer. And a fucking engineer.

  Somewhere along the line the overachiever gene petered out and left me behind.

  “Have you spread your wings enough?” she asks.

  “I’ve been here for a week,” I grit out, pushing into the dark house and going up the stairs. My room is at the top and even though I have shared kitchen privileges, I rarely use them. The compact microwave and dorm fridge I bought work just fine.

  Her drawn-out sigh fills my ear and I can feel her disappointment even from two hundred miles away. It’s a gift, I swear. She can make me feel guilty without even being nearby.

  “Your father talked to the dean at Cornell today. As a personal favor to us, he’ll hold your spot even though you haven’t committed yet.”

  I walk into my room and lock the door behind me, then fight the urge to throw my head back and scream as loudly as fucking possible. No matter how many times I’ve told them I’m not going to Cornell to become a Statistician, just because I’m good at memorizing numbers, they refuse to listen.

  They still don’t know I’ve been accepted at USC or what I’m majoring in. They’d probably disown me from the shame. Being a theatre major is right up there with being a nomad in their eyes.

  “Mom…”

  “I know.” I can just picture her waving her hand like my protests are an annoying fly. “But you have two months to get this out of your system. There’s a spot at Cornell waiting for you.”

  There’s no use arguing. The only thing I can do is just not show up at Freshman orientation.

  “Why don’t you just come home? If you want to earn your spending money, I’m sure your father can find something for you to do at the office. If I hadn’t just expanded the practice I’d take you on, but my hands are full with training my additional staff.”

  I roll my eyes. Like I’d ever even consider working with my mother. She may be a brilliant pediatric heart surgeon, but she’s also a dictator with zero tolerance for error.

  Which makes me a target.

  Julie Masterson does not make mistakes, and I am a walking, talking, breathing reminder that somewhere along the line, she must have screwed up. Her youngest child and only daughter is failing to live up to her potential and that is a direct insult to her.

  “Look Mom, it was great talking as usual, but I have to go. I’ve got…” A smile twists my lips up. God, do I want to tell her what I’m doing, just to hear her reaction, but the fact that I’m here in Folly Beach waitressing is enough pushback for now. If she knew I was going to be a mermaid… “Look, I’m meeting some friends for dinner and I’m already late. Talk to you tomorrow, same time, same place.”

  She’s called me every night since I got here a week ago at exactly seven to ask if I’m done rebelling.

  My answer is always the same.

  “Arianna…”

  “Bye Mom.” I disconnect before she can argue more.

  I toss my phone on the bed and exhale long and loud. The pounding in my temples starts like it does every time she calls and I rub my fingers against the spots. I wish they could just step back and let me do what I want to do. Unlike all of them, I haven’t had my future mapped out since I was born, well, not my choice anyway.

  Yes, I might fail, but the excitement in trying is what it’s all about.

  I grab the cranberry chicken salad from the fridge and go out onto my porch. I’m on the second floor and the height gives me a great view of the main drag. Restaurants and coffee shops and tourists fill the streets and I love the energy that flows from it all.

  I want to be a part of all that, not stuck in an office with four walls boxing me in.

  After I finish my dinner, I pull out the bag that has my sewing supplies. Anticipation makes my skin tingle when I smooth the fabric over my lap. I’m almost done and tonight, I get to try out my costume to see if it works.

  The shimmery material catches the light and hues of blue and green sparkle. The perfect mermaid tail colors. I just need to add sparkly piping over the top of the five inch high elastic and it’ll be finished.

  My fingers fly as I lose myself in the familiar rhythm of threading the needle in and out of the fabric. I chose a shiny silver thread that should reflect the light while underwater. Everything about the tail I created was with an eye toward how it would look while submerged.

  When I’m done, I run my hand over the material and fight back the tears of pride that burn the back of my eyes. This. This is why I’m in Folly Beach right now. My heart thuds in my chest and I stand, shaking out the material so that it falls to the floor in a colorful waterfall effect. The strands of the tail flutter in the light breeze.

  When I told my parents I was coming to the coast to waitress for a few months, they had a therapist ready on speed dial. If they knew I really came here to be part of a traveling carnival? They’d have brought out the straitjacket and ushered me right to a padded room.

 

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