Page 27 of The Golden Boys
Her feigned politeness draws a laugh from me, too. “Wait. Did you not read the posters? Someone made sureeveryoneknows who I am.”
Her shoulders lift with an indifferent shrug. “I skimmed but stopped when I realized it was just more of the usual toxic bullshit that circulates around here. These robots thrive on grinding each other’s self-esteem to dust.”
Lexi’s perfect description of West has me glancing at him again and, sure enough, he’s watching.
“I’m Blue,” I finally answer. “And, before you ask, that’s not short for anything. It’s just Blue.”
“Wasn’t gonna ask,” she replies.
With how everyoneelsehere seems hyper obsessed with others’ business, her statement comes as a surprise. Then again, there’s a laidback vibe about her that seems genuine.
My guard lowers just a little, and I drop down to sit in the shadow beneath the thick canopy of branches and leaves. I’m starving, so I immediately start in on the apple and yogurt I grabbed from the lunch line. Being careful, of course, to avoid foods that set off my allergy.
Peering up, I watch as Lexi slides down the tree trunk to sit, too. Seeing she’s currently snacking on nothing but a bag of peanut M&M’s, I hold out the bag of chips I hadn’t touched yet.
“I’m not gonna eat these. You should take them,” I suggest.
Pretty sure she’s not light on lunch because she can’t afford more, but knowing what it’s like to go hungry, I’m still inclined to offer.
That wild, beautiful hair of hers quivers when she shakes her head. “I’m cool,” she answers, but then holds her bag of candy out to me. “Want some?”
“Would, but things go bad for me when nuts are involved.”
When she smiles, I know she’s about to say something crass. Jules always does when I’m not careful of my wording.
“Thingsalwaysgo bad when nuts are involved. Pretty sure it has something to do with the dudes they’re attached to, though.”
My smile widens. “Facts.”
She’s quiet for a second, but then scoffs suddenly. Like there’s a bad taste in her mouth or something. However, when I look up and follow her gaze, she’s eyeing West’s table and I get it.
There, he and his brothers sit front and center, like royalty. Surrounded by their crowd of underlings, each one vying for just a morsel of the trio’s attention. It’s disgusting the way they fall over themselves, just for a chance of being accepted into their world.
Pathetic.
“They’re all just so … fake,” Lexi declares, and I don’t disagree.
“Those are the future leaders of Cypress Pointe,” I say back, adding a lackluster, “Lucky us.”
“Thing is, some of them weren’t always so pretentious. Seems like the moment we got to high school, the girls turned into blithering idiots who only make moves that earn the attention of some guy. Meanwhile, the dudes became pussy-crazed nymphos who think the sun rises and sets on theirasses.”
“I think that epidemic is widespread, even beyond Cypress Prep. Unfortunately,” I add. “Boys, in general, suck.”
Nodding, she doesn’t object to the point I’ve just made. “Do you know who everyone is yet?”
I shake my head instead of speaking with my mouth full.
She points and I cast my gaze on West and crew once again.
“Tall Brunette is Parker Holiday—head of the dance squad, head groupie of the Golden boys. West, in particular,” Lexi adds. “Daddy owns a few luxury car dealerships across the state.”
The designer handbag perched on the table in front of Parker suddenly seems fitting, considering the fortune I imagine her father has amassed.
“The two blondes beside her are Ariana and Heidi. Both rich. Both on the dance squad,” Lexi continues. “The other brunette and the red head arealsoon the squad, but I can’t remember their names, which goes to show how important they are.”
Laughing, I lean back to rest on my palms, balancing the tray on my lap.
“The three seated directly across from the triplets are Austin, Trip, and Ryder—more football Neanderthals. And the chick who’s almost too pretty to look at, the one with the braids sitting next to Dane, is Joss Francois,” she explains.