Seven by Amy Marie Page B

pants over her ass. I nod, leaving the room and closing the door behind me. The closer I get to the door, the more my heart races. Another quick knock and I’m opening it to find Reece with his fist still in the air.
    “Reece,” I greet, gesturing for him to walk in. “She will be out in a minute.”
    He brushes past me, even though he has plenty of space, and it instantly makes my skin burn with hatred. He surveys my place, taking in each and every inch like he is trying to record it to memory. We don’t speak but his eyes find mine and hold them. I can feel my fingers start to tremble and I’m not sure if I’m scared or if I am keeping myself from making a fist and punching him square in the face. Our gaze is broken by the sound of the bedroom door opening and we find Trinity coming down the hallway. The shirt looks amazing on her and for the first time, I think ever, I find a genuine smile on Reece Craig’s face. It makes me want to slap it off of him. Thank God I never slept with him, and I hope Trin sees through his nice guy façade and doesn’t, either.
    They leave and I balk at the sight of his hand on her lower back. If I could, I would kick him in the ass on the way out the door. I wasn’t particularly thrilled that Trinity had him pick her up here. Sure, I don’t blame her for not wanting him to get her at her sister’s house, though, I can guess it would be amazing birth control. She didn’t ask me and, even though a few weeks ago this was her home, I am upset that Reece now knows where I live.
    I warm up and eat some leftovers, wash my plate, and then head to the living room. I lay down for a brief moment, before my tired eyes drift closed, as I watch Patrick’s story on the nightly news.
    “No!” I scream as Patrick’s hands push down on my shoulders. My knees hitting the dirt underneath our high school football field’s bleachers. “I can’t do this anymore.”
    His cold eyes look down at me. “You can stop this at any time, Annie, but I can’t be sure what will happen to that tape once you do.”
    My chin drops as I listen to him unbuckle his belt and step closer to me.
    “Ok,” I sigh.
    “Fuck!” I scream into the dark, sitting straight up, placing a hand on my chest as I try to calm my racing heart. I can’t get myself to calm down even as I drink down an entire glass of water.
    Even though it was just a dream, and Patrick never made me do anything sexual for him, the threat of that tape over my head had me doing whatever they wanted. A brush of my ass, my tits, and nights upon nights of doing their homework. Rumors were spread around and every single guy that showed any interest in me was run off by a PITCREW member. Then, one day, my life was ruined, and none of it mattered anymore.
    I jump at the knock on the door and tip toe over. A look at the clock tells me it’s just past nine at night. I take a look into the peephole and try to hide my smile. I swing the door open and find Casen, a grocery bag and DVD in hand.
    I lean into the doorframe. “Can I help you?”
    He smiles one of those toothpaste commercial smiles and lifts up the bag. “I brought popcorn, candy, and a movie.”
    He attempts to step inside but I block him. “What movie?”
    “Fast and Furious.” He waves it at me. “I know it’s about cars, and you may not be into that, but Paul Walker is in it and I heard girls think he’s nice to look at.”
    I stay quiet for a moment before letting him off the hook. “Come on in.”
    He complies and kisses me chastely as he passes by. “So,” he starts, putting the bag on the counter and making himself at home. “I heard Reece interrupted your girls’ night.”
    I lean into the counter. “He did.”
    Casen puts the popcorn into the microwave and I get a hint of arm porn. His muscles, flexing in a way that shoots pleasure through my body. “Well, I thought I would make up for it by coming to hang out with you.”
    “Oh,” I sigh. “So, this is a pity popcorn