The Girl Next Door
The Boy Next Door Chapter 13

Summer before junior year of college...

I pull my metallic grey 840i convertible BMW into Beck's circular driveway before shifting into park and leaving the car to idle. I shoot Beck a text to let him know that I'm outside waiting before drumming my fingers impatiently on the sleek leather steering wheel. A couple of minutes tick by and there's no sign of Beck. His truck is parked in the drive and there are lights on inside the house, so I know damn well that he's home.

For f**k's sake, where the hell is that guy?

Irritation pounds through me. We've got plans tonight and I'm impatient to get to them. We're supposed to meet up with a couple of chicks from high school. I fire off another text. Let's move!

There's nothing but stereo silence from his end. It's enough to rile me up. Muttering under my breath, I slam out of the vehicle and stalk up the wide stairs to the massive front door before rapping my knuckles against the heavy wood. No answer.

I ring the bell. It chimes throughout the house.

This is seriously ridiculous.

I peek in the side window but don't see any signs of life. My fingers go to the ornate handle and wiggle it, but it doesn't budge. Beck's parents are out of town for a couple of weeks, travelling somewhere in Europe.

Honestly, it would serve his a*s right if I took off and left his a*s to sit home. I would have zero problems entertaining the girls on my own. Wouldn't be the first time. Won't be the last.

As soon as an image of Alyssa pops into my head, I shove it away and curse under my breath. The girls are supposed to help me forget, not remind me of her.

It's totally f****d up.

I glance around the darkened front yard before stalking around the side of the house. For all I know he's hanging out by the pool. The guy's got a pretty sweet setup out back. As I step through the black iron gate, a splash of water comes from the pool. No wonder he didn't respond to the texts. I open my mouth to tell him to get his a*s in gear when I realize that he isn't alone.

He's got company of the female persuasion.

Looks like the party started without me.

Fucker.

Since the couple in the pool is going at it pretty hot and heavy, they don't notice me stalk closer. Close enough to get a good look at who he's making out with.

Well, well, well...isn't this an interesting turn of events.

Since I'll be damned if Beck is the only one who gets a little action this evening, I say in an overly loud voice, "Dude, I thought we had plans."

The couple splinters apart before Mia Stanbury blinks at me looking all sorts of dazed and confused. I can't help the shit-eating grin that slides its way across my face. Not in a million years did I ever think I'd see the day that she willingly allowed Beck to lay hands, not to mention lips, on her.

The emotion that tumbles across her expression when she realizes she's been sucking face with her arch nemesis-and that I'm here to witness it-is almost comical.

At least, I'm entertained by it.

"Why, hello there, Mia," I say, humor simmering in my voice, "can't say I expected to replace you here."

When I was with Alyssa, I couldn't get the dark-haired girl to join us if she thought there was even a remote possibility that Beck would make an appearance and now look at her...

I'm a huge fan of irony.

And this situation is chock-full of it.

Beck keeps his arms locked around her. Clearly, he's not in any hurry to let her go.

"Colton," she mutters through stiff lips. Even with only the pool lights for illumination, color blooms in her cheeks. Any moment she'll burst into flame.

I stuff my hands in the pockets of my shorts and rock back on my heels as if I've got all the time in the world to stand around and shoot the s**t with them. I can't resist rubbing the situation in her face. "So, what have you crazy kids been up to?"

I didn't think it was possible for more color to scald her face, but that's exactly what happens. She looks like an overripe tomato. I'm tempted to laugh but I'm sure Beck will kick my a*s if I do. Although, it might be worth it.

"Wait in the car," Beck snaps, "I'll be out in ten."

I have no idea what prompts me to say it, but the words are shooting out of my mouth before I can stop them. "You gonna come out with us, Mia?" I pause for a beat. "I doubt the chicks we're supposed to hookup with tonight will appreciate that, but, oh well." I shrug. "Sucks for them."

Her eyes widen as she presses her hands against Beck's chest, attempting to escape from his embrace. Fury flashes across his face as he levels a hard-edged stare at me.

Fine, I'll admit that it was a d**k move.

"Dude," Beck growls, clearly pissed that I just blew up his plans, "get the f**k out of here before I beat your a*s."

I hold up my hands in a gesture of surrender. "Whatever. Don't get your panties in a bunch." Now that my work is done here, I swing around and head for the car. Although I can't resist calling over my shoulder as I pass through the gate, "You got ten. Wrap this s**t up and let's go." Not waiting for a response, I stalk to the front of the stone mansion. He gets fifteen minutes and then I'm out of here.

Anger simmers in my veins as I slide onto the butter-soft leather. I'm not oblivious. I know Beck has been carrying a torch for Mia. I'm also well aware that he'll probably beat my a*s for jacking up his night once he gets out here.

After ten more minutes, I fire off a third text. I'm losing my patience. Scratch that, I'm fresh out. Hell, for all I know, he and Mia are still getting it on. Although, she was pretty pissed off when I walked away, so that's doubtful. You know what?

f**k this s**t.

I'm out.

I jam the key in the ignition as Beck opens the door and slides onto the seat beside me. "Took you long enough," I bite out. "I was just about to take off."

"Too bad you didn't do that when you realized I was busy," he shoots back, clearly irritated with me.

"Give me a f*****g break," I snort. "We both know Mia can't stand your damn a*s. What were you gonna do? f**k her in the pool? You might not realize it, but I did you a solid. That girl would have hated you even more than she already does." He presses his lips together and glares.

He knows I'm right.

The tension gathered inside me finally loosens when he fails to respond. A grin slides across my face as I cup my fingers to my ear. "I'm sorry, what's that?" I pause for a beat, knowing damn well he won't say a word. "You're welcome, Colton? Thanks for saving me from myself?"

"I wouldn't go that far," he mutters, slouching on the leather and staring straight ahead.

"Please. I couldn't get Mia to come out with us if there was even a slight chance you would show up." I c**k my head. "Doesn't that tell you something?"

Of course it does, but Beck is nowhere near ready to acknowledge it.

"Just drive," he mutters.

"You know I'm right," I say smugly, starting up the engine and squealing out of the driveway before punching the gas. "I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it's never gonna happen with that girl. You need to move the f**k on."

He slouches further onto the black leather. "Maybe," he bites out, "you should do yourself a favor and take your own advice for a change."

My jaw tightens as I stare at the ribbon of road stretched out in front of us. "Don't think I'm not trying," I mumble. "Every damn night, I'm trying to get over that girl." There's no point in specifying which one I'm talking about. He damn well knows.

Just like he knows why I've been in such a pissy mood for the last five months. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out.

"You screw so much," he continues with humor tinging his voice, "that I'm surprised your d**k hasn't shriveled up and fallen off. Remind me to buy you some balm for your birthday."

A hint of a smile lifts my lips, although it doesn't quite reach my eyes. "Don't I know it, brother."

A heavy silence falls over us as I crank the steering wheel and turn onto the main stretch of road. It's on the tip of my tongue to ask about Alyssa. I haven't seen her around in a while. And she blocked my a*s on her socials. Which...I can't exactly blame her for. But tell me how I'm supposed to stalk that chick if I can't see what she's up to?

I try to swallow down the words but they refuse to budge. It's only a matter of time before they burst free.

One second.

Two.

Thr-

"Did Mia mention Lys at all?"

f**k me.

I've done my best to wipe Alyssa from every part of my life. Evicting her from my head and heart are another story. It sucks.

Beck scrutinizes me silently before tossing me a crumb. Not that I deserve it with the way I've been acting. He's a better friend than I am. "Guess she's studying abroad in London for the year."

His answer takes me by surprise. I blink and stare straight ahead as my lips tug down at the corners. "No s**t?"

"Yup."

My heart constricts. It's like there is a vise squeezing it.

"Huh." That's all I'm capable of forcing out.

It's weird to think of Alyssa not being here. At the same school. In the same town. In the same damn state. Hell, the country. Even when I was trying to ignore her, she was here. I could keep an eye on her. I caught glimpses of her on campus when she didn't know I was looking. And now she's gone.

A heavy pit settles deep in my gut. I'm so f*****g tempted to ask where she went. This time, I keep the question buried deep inside. In the months since our breakup, I've done my damnedest to move on. It hasn't worked. So maybe....maybe this is for the best. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Let's hope that turns out to be the case.

If not, I don't know what the hell I'm going to do.