Page 68 of #Lovestrong

Declan

"Jackson, I'm so proud of you, man," I say, leaning back and putting my arm around Lena's shoulders. "I knew you'd get in."

"Thanks, D. I'm just glad that worry is off my plate. Now, I can spend the rest of the year having fun with my girl." He pulls Candice over and kisses her temple.

They really do make a great couple. It's also nice not to be the third wheel anymore. I've spent years with it being the three of us. Very few times did I bring a girl I was dating out with Jackson and Candice. I just never felt strongly enough about anyone to bring them into this friendship. Not until Lena happened.

"Ah, the resident crowd of preppy assholes," a greasy voice says.

Ashton and Myra stop at the end of our booth, and he stares right at Lena. My arms tighten around her shoulders and from the corner of my eye, I see Jackson let go of Candice and scoot toward the edge of the table.

"Piss off, Ashton," I say, trying to sound uninterested. This guy gets under my skin. It's like every time things start going really good, either he or my sister do something stupid.

"Still hanging out with this limp-dick, huh, Lena?"

She slides her hand onto my thigh under the table and squeezes. I hate how this guy makes her uncomfortable, and the anger rises in me like it did at the football game.

"What is your problem, Ashton?" Lena says, sitting up straighter. "And he hasn't had any problems getting hard for me. Maybe that was just when he dated Myra."

"Oh damn," Candice says, covering her mouth.

I suck in a breath, both stunned and turned on by Lena's crude comeback. It's kinda perfect though. No one knows what Lena and I do in private, so even though most of the school knows I've never had sex with any past girlfriends, that doesn’t mean anything. I've made it a point not to respond to or answer any questions about Lena. Not because I'm an asshole, but simply because it's no one’s business.

"You bitch," Myra says with a hiss, stepping toward the table.

"Whatever, Myra. You spend all your time talking shit about me to Darcy, while you're both screwing Ashton, and the truth is, you're just jealous because Declan wants me in ways he never wanted you. It's pathetic."

"I will fu—" Ashton pinches Myra's arm and she shuts up, her face five different shades of red

After they walk away, we all stare at Lena, and she sits there, trying to look innocent.

"What," she says, shrugging. "She had that coming."

The laughter from us is deafening and Lena smiles for a second before her face falls. "What's wrong, baby? That was hilarious."

"Yeah. Imagine the rumors that are going to start when we come back from break."

I kiss her temple and lay my hand over hers under the table. "Let them talk. What we do or don't do is our business, not theirs."

"I know, but I shouldn't have gotten mad and said those things. It makes me just as bad as them." She looks down at the table and sighs.

I swear, Lena's heart is just too big. After what Myra and my sister did to her at Homecoming, I think she's earned the right to say whatever she wants to both of them. Yet, here she is feeling bad about losing her temper.

"Lena, if that's how you feel, pray about it and let it go," Candice says, grinning at her friend.

Lena nods her head and takes a deep breath. I'm glad Ashton and Myra haven't spoiled the entire night. I know Jackson was ready to beat Ashton if need be, which would’ve made for a bad ending to a great day. "So, who wants dessert?"

"Oh, maybe we can just go to the shop," Lena says, staring right at Jackson. "My grandma said there's a pecan pie with Jackson's name on it to congratulate him for getting into college."

"Uhm, heck, yes, we can go to the shop," Jackson says, nodding his head so hard, I'm afraid he might get a concussion.

He and I both fish twenty-dollar bills out of our pockets and leave them on the table. As we walk out, Ashton and Myra catch my eye. They're both standing by his car on the other side of the parking lot. I get the same feeling in my gut as I did when I looked at Darcy at the Homecoming game. They're up to something. Thankfully, Lena and I are leaving for Virginia tomorrow.

I'll be glad to have a little distance between us and this pack of rabid dogs.