Chapter 9 Chapter: 9
ADDISON
A week in Brighton slaving for Shepherd has me rethinking every bad decision I ever made that led me here. I swore as I watched the time on my phone. It had been over half an hour since Shepherd sent me to the little Cafe to get him lunch.
There had been a long line of students all waiting to place their orders that I had no choice but to follow the queue.
“What took you so long,” Shepherd said as soon as I arrived. I set his lunch down on the bench beside the football field, bare chested and sweating.
Dear God. “Are you deliberately being defiant? Is serving me too much pressure for you?” That tone and his arrogance was enough to snap me back to my senses.
“I was late because there's a long queue at the Cafe,” I muttered impatiently. “But did you thank me, no. honestly you're an asshole.”
He grinned, all sharp edges and dark amusement. “You’re cute when you're mad.”
“Cute wasn't what I was going for.”
“Too bad you’re failing, then,” he replied, stretching, his tattooed muscles arms bulging. I tried to keep my eyes to myself but obviously failed. That kind of body should be illegal.
“Regardless, I'll watch my mouth if I were you, being a smart ass will only get you in trouble.”
I clenched my jaw, silently counting to ten before I blurted out what I really thought of him. Don't forget why you’re doing this, Addie. No scandal. People can't know who you are.
But God, he made it so damn hard.
Cole, Nathan, Asher and Trick lounged nearby, pretending not to watch but obviously enjoying the show.
Asher gave me a wink when Shepherd wasn’t looking; I resisted the urge to throw the sandwich at him.
Though he's been the only nice guy among them. Well him and Nathan, Cole is just a big clown.
Shepherd took a bite and gestured lazily toward his water bottle. “Open it for me?” What? He must be kidding me. He can't even open a bottle of water?
“You have two working hands, asshole.”
“I also have an injured ankle. It’s tragic, really.” I rolled my eyes.
“I didn't realize you used your leg for drinking and stuff.”
“What can I say? I'm gifted like that, now open it before I choke.” God give me patience before I strangle this asshole.
“What's next, would you also like me to spoon feed you and bathe you while I am at it?” I taunt.
“Now don't tempt me Shrimp,” he said with that lazy smirk, his grey eyes running over my body making me blush despite my anger.
“Do as I said and open my water.” I barely resist the urge to hurl the bottle of water at his head when I pick it up.
I twisted the cap open, handed it over with a too-sweet smile, and muttered, “Try not to choke, I don't want to be accused of attempted murder.”
He chuckled. “Don't worry, if that happens you'll only have to give me CPR.”
“I'd rather get detention for the whole year than put my mouth on yours,” I snapped. His eyes darkened as he flashed me an evil grin.
“Careful, or your mouth will be kissing something much harder than my lips.” I gasped as he winked at me.
“You fucking asshole!” I went to slap him but before my hand ever touched his face he grabbed it and spun me around. The next thing I knew was me….. sitting on his lap, my hands trapped in his with his mouth at my ear.
Oh my God!
I'm sitting on Shepherd's legs right now and all of his friends are suddenly staring at us, but that was the least of my concerns.
The man beneath me, caging me with his big tattoo arms, my back against his naked chest was all I could focus on. My entire body feels electric, my eyes wide and my heartbeat was deafening.
“Are you ready for the consequences of hitting me Addie?” he whispers, his deep voice and the warm breath from his mouth at my ear raising goosebumps.
“If so, go ahead, but I'll warn you this time just being my maid won't suffice, you'll have to offer something better.”
“Let me go,” I croak, my voice sounded strange even to me.
Something cool touched my skin right beneath my ear and instantly my body went still. I shiver, my stomach flipping.
Is that? Did he just?
But before I could analyze what actually happened he pushed me away, unprepared as I was.
I tripped on my feet and found myself on my ass. He didn't even push me that hard, my God, my legs were weak as jelly.
He reaches out like he's going to help me up. But I picked myself up before news of me on my knees begging Shepherd at the bleachers circled the school.
“Asshole” I gritted, before stomping away.
These couple of days at Brighton, I’d learned what it really means to be at Shepherd's beck and call. The jerk had me running left and right mostly on errands that had nothing to do with his ankle.
From carrying his books to class, picking his dry cleaning from the laundry. Serving him lunch on school days. Grabbing his gym bag and getting him coffee.
I do it all.
I was convinced he woke up each morning thinking of new ways to torment me. One thing that surprised me was that in all the time he had me running helter skelter he never once had me running errands for his friends.
And yesterday when he asked me to get him his lunch and Asher asked that I should bring him a bottle of water when I'm coming back. He'd glared at the other guy and growled.
“Get it yourself or ask someone. Shrimp only works for me.” The guys had all gawked at him and me? I'd been so damn confused.
Shepherd didn't look like he cared what his friends thought about that little declaration. Or whatever it was, I don't even know what to think anymore.
But in the end I didn't give it much thought.
The only good thing was me and Jess have gotten much closer.
She's the only one who seemed to find my misery entertaining, whenever I'm complaining and cursing Shepherd's entire ancestors.
“So let me get this straight,” she said later that night, sitting cross-legged on her bed while painting her nails. “You spend half your day serving Shepherd like you’re in some Korean court drama?”
“Yes and it's the damn weekend.” I sighed.
“And you haven’t thrown anything at him yet?” She was smiling.
“Well, I got so angry earlier today I almost slapped him.”
“What?” she gasped. “Then what happened?” I shrugged.
“What else, he grabbed my hands before I could and when I fell on his lap, I could have sworn he'd kissed my neck.”
“Shut the fuck up!” she yelled, grinning excitedly. “Shepherd kissed you?”
“I…I don't know? I'm not sure,” I stuttered, biting my lip, even now I could feel the phantom feel of his cool lips brushing my skin.
“You know what I think?” she grinned, wiggling her brows.
“No, but I have a feeling I don’t want to.”
“I think he likes you, I could see it in his eyes.”
“You mean those eyes that glare at me?” I scoffed. “Trust me the only thing he likes is tormenting me.”
“Exactly,” she said, waving her brush in my direction. “Same thing, despite his many conquests, Shepherd has no experience dealing with girls he actually likes.”
“Jess, that's…that's ridiculous.”
“It's not, just think about it.” What's there to think about? I've also never dated anyone I like, but you don't see me tormenting innocent boys.
“Just give it time and you'll see I'm right.”
I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. “He’s arrogant, annoying, and way too full of himself.”
“Uh-huh.”
“A grade A asshole who obviously thinks he's better than everyone,” I spat, sitting up again.
“That's because he is.”
“Not you too Jess,” I said, groaning.
“Just pointing out the facts, the guy is not just gorgeous but smart as hell and he comes from an extremely wealthy family.” I flopped on my bed dragging a pillow over my chest and hugging it.
“What's the use of his good looks and money when his personality sucks.”
“Only you think that way. I promise you if Shepherd announced today that he'll go out with any girl who barks like a dog in front of the entire school, only a few girls would resist.”
“That's fucking pathetic.” She nodded.
“I know but then that might never happen with Angela in the picture.” I frowned.
“Who is Angela?”
“Oh, right. You don't know Angela,” Jess replied ominously. My brows scrunched with her theatrics.
“Of course you don't know her. Well, Angela is the only girl in Shepherd's little gang. Beside the groupies that is.
I heard she's his childhood friend. I don't know if that's true but everyone could see that they're close. Angela has always been territorial about Shepherd. I think they might have dated, I'm not sure though.”
My chest tightens. It shouldn't bother me that Shepherd and this girl are whatever…and it doesn't. I'm just pitying the poor girl. That's it. Yeah that's it.
“She's a queen bee and warns all the girls to stay away from Shepherd. She's the only daughter in her family so she's really spoiled, you didn't see her because she wasn’t back from holiday, she should be back any day now.”
“Being his friend must be exhausting for her.” Jess shakes her head and turns to give me her attention.
“Did you not hear everything I'd just said? She loves Shepherd and considers him hers. So try and stay away from Shepherd.” I rolled my eyes.
“I would love nothing more than to stay far away from him but will he stay away from me? Also your words are contradictory.”
“That's because I forgot about Angela, trust me. She's the worst when it comes to bullying people she deemed less than her. I'm saying this for your own good.”
“Thank you for telling me, fortunately I don't desire staying two steps closer to Shepherd. The moment he's all better I'll be done with all his bullshit.”