Stupid Boy

Again, the kind of male beauty that made one’s eyes kaleidoscope.

As I backed out, he waved, and I nodded, and as I pulled away I glanced in my rearview mirror. Kane stood there, hands in his pocket, legs braced wide as he watched me leave. Only when I passed a vintage truck, parked close to the exit, did I wonder how Kane had gotten to the park. I then questioned if it was his and figured it had to be.

Apprehension left me as soon as I pulled onto the road, yet my thoughts ran rampant through my mind as I drove back to Winston. Within two days Kane McCarthy had not only entered my life, uninvited, but he now knew one of my secrets—that I chose to drive twelve miles away from campus to run. I was positive he suspected I had motive, and I felt sure that he’d eventually ask questions. Yet somehow, I felt sure he’d keep it to himself.

Why, I had no idea. He was about as polar opposite of me as one could get. He wasn’t the usual type of guy who even remotely showed an interest in me. And that caused me to pause and consider.

Later that afternoon, I was hurrying to Calculus when I noticed Brax and Olivia just ahead of me. As I caught up to them, my eyes scanned the area for Kane—he was nowhere to be seen. The closer I grew, though, Brax’s distinct voice drifted back toward me.

“Gracie, he’s runnin’ fuckin’ numbers again,” Brax said. “Right out of the Kappas’ frat house. Swear to God, I feel if he gets busted, it’ll come down on me.”

My skin prickled as I computed the words. Running numbers? Out of the Kappa house?

“Brax, you aren’t your brother’s keeper,” Olivia comforted. “What he does isn’t your fault.”

“He’s my fuckin’ brother, Gracie. Damn, he’s got a hard head!” Brax rubbed his head, the back of his neck, then halted so fast I slammed into the back of him.

“Oh!” I gasped. “Brax, I’m sorry—in such a hurry here I didn’t see you!”

His strange blue eyes flashed over me, and he tossed me a grin. “No problem, half-pint. You okay?”

“Yes, of course,” I assured him. “Hey, Olivia.”

She smiled that warm smile that always made me feel a little at ease—much more than anyone else. “Hey back,” she said. “We’re going for pizza later. Wanna come along?”

“Oh,” I said, and shifted my briefcase in my hand. “Thank you, but I can’t. Huge test.”

Olivia nodded. “Maybe next time?”

I forced my smile. “Yes. Definitely so.”

Brax pulled Olivia to his side and he gave me a wink over the top of her head. “See ya ‘round, Harper.”

I smiled. The lines around Brax’s eyes and mouth gave his worry away, and I couldn’t help but wonder just how much trouble Kane was stirring up. I didn’t know much about numbers and betting and gambling, but I could tell Brax wasn’t taking it lightly. Not at all. “Bye, guys.” I watched them for a moment, walking together, and Brax leaned close, pushing Olivia’s braid off to one side and pressing his lips to her neck. Olivia shrugged and squealed, as if it tickled. Without thought, my hand lifted and grazed the side of my own neck. Wondering.

“Positively dreamy, don’t you think?”

I jumped at the sound of Murphy’s voice in my ear as she leaned over my shoulder and stared in the direction Brax and Olivia had taken. She puffed out a breath, and it tossed a few strands of my hair. “Damn, he’s got a fetchin’ backside.” She cut her eyes at me. “Wickedly scrummy. Don’t you think?”

Murphy was one of the few who could drag out a real smile in me, and she’d just done it. I shook my head as she oogled Brax. “You’re shameless.”

She gave me a light head-butt. “One of me best qualities. And you’re going to be late to Cal.”

“Oh, shoot!” I gasped, and took off to class.

The whole way there, though, as I darted through Winston’s occupants as they milled about the quad and hurried to various parts of the school, my mind worked. Wheels turned. Kane McCarthy was running numbers out of the Kappa House. While he didn’t exactly come across as a thug or a delinquent, despite his smoky stare and leather jacket—he actually looked more like a rough-around-the-edges Abercrombie model. Still, he was doing something illegal. Something Brax despised. Something he could get into serious trouble for, and Brax, too, more than likely.

Kane McCarthy needed reforming.

He needed a Bad Boy Makeover.

And by the time my Calculus professor ended the class with a reminder of a large pending quiz, I’d made my mind up.

I’d found my subject for the Dare. Actually, I was doing not only Brax a favor, but Kane, as well. It was a win-win, if I succeeded. And the Kappas would lose.

And I’d quite possibly lost my mind.

As I gathered my belongings and slid them neatly into my slim leather briefcase, ideas surged through my head. I couldn’t deny that there was something alluring about Kane. He was beautiful, in a feral sort of way. At the same time, I felt edgy. Foreign. Vulnerable.

Scared.

For the first time in my life I decided to do something, despite all of those feelings pounding away at me. Warning me.

Besides. It was a reformation Dare. No harm could come of it except for hopefully saving not only Kane’s hide but Brax’s, too. He of all people didn’t deserve to be caught up in the middle of it.

Best of all, though? Olivia and Macie and any other girl who’d suffered the Dare in the past would be privately vindicated. The Kappas would lose their numbers man. And hopefully gain some humility.