Seren: A High School Bully Romance Read online

  “I hate your brother,” I grumbled under my breath.

  “He’s not always this—”

  “Get your ass to the pool,” Seren ordered Sawyer. “Someone’s gotta watch the drunk girls.”

  Sawyer glanced at me. “Duty calls. See you around.” He took off toward the pool.

  Seren remained where he stood staring me down.

  Why was he such a jerk? “No worries,” I said. “I know where I belong, and some lame rich kid’s party isn’t it.” I spun away from him and headed back to the basement—away from him and his stupid glare.

  CHAPTER 6

  Seren

  “What the hell were you talking to her for?” I spat at Sawyer when I found him leaving his room the next morning.

  “What are you talking about?” he asked, his hair all ruffled and his eyes sleepy.

  “The help.”

  “Fuck off, Seren. She’s nice.”

  “Nice?” I growled. “She’s not one of us. Don’t make her think she is.”

  Sawyer rolled his eyes and walked past me toward the stairs. “Dude, you’ve got issues.”

  I grabbed the front of his shirt and slammed him into the hallway wall, holding him there with the palm of my hand as he tried to push me off. I was three inches taller and had at least ten pounds on him. “I’ve got issues?”

  “You need help. Now, get the hell off me and get it.”

  Despite the rage his words elicited in me, I released him.

  He straightened out his T-shirt and glared at me as if he could actually take me in a fight.

  “Stay away from her,” I warned.

  “Take your own advice,” he grumbled as he headed toward the stairs.

  “Excuse me?”

  He stopped and looked at me. “I’m not stupid. I know you’re the reason Mom hired her.”

  “Prove it.”

  He rolled his eyes and disappeared downstairs.

  I watched long after he left. It wasn’t like I hadn’t gotten help after my father died. All three of us had seen a shrink. I’d heard what she said. But she wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know. Normal teenage things lost meaning once he died. Parties. Friends. Even girls. My life was a series of monotonous events. Each more unfulfilling than the last. Though, like sex, football served as a release for me. I could unleash the rage I tried to harness in other areas of my life on the field. I hated to think how bad things would’ve been if I didn’t play.

  I headed toward our home gym, knowing I needed to work out or else the anger and misery that normally consumed my life would take over again.

  Grace

  Sitting in Mr. Adams Calculus class normally would’ve put me to sleep, but not today. Not when I was back home where I belonged surrounded by the people who cared about me. The hour drive to school sucked, and so did waking up at five to get on the road by five forty-five, but it was all worth it to be back in Coopersville.

  I needed normal back in my life.

  “Grace?” Mr. Adams called as I gathered my things from my desk at the bell. “A word?”

  I swung my backpack onto my back, and, as the rest of my class filed out the door, I approached his desk.

  “I just wanted to ask how you’re doing,” he explained.

  I tried spinning the ring on my finger that still wasn’t there. “I’m okay. Glad to be back,” I said, omitting the fact that I wasn’t actually back in Coopersville since living in another town wasn’t allowed.

  “Well, please know we’re all here for you,” he said.

  I nodded. “I know. Thank you.”

  * * *

  “So?” Holly asked as she braided her blonde hair.

  “So, what?” I replied from across the lunch table.

  “Tell us about living in that mansion,” Laney, our raven-haired counterpart, added from beside me.

  “It’s big,” I explained. “But I live in the basement.”

  “Now a prince can come to rescue you,” Laney said.

  “Not in this fairy tale,” I said.

  “There are three guys living there,” Holly added. “So, you never know.”

  “Not likely. The only nice one is a sophomore.”

  “Fresh meat,” Laney said with intrigued eyes. She’d never been one to shy away from the younger guys, while Holly and I always fell for the older ones.

  I laughed. “Oh, Sawyer’s good-looking. All three Graysons are. But from what he tells me—and from what I’ve seen, the older ones are a little twisted.”

  “Seriously?” Holly asked, all wide-eyed and intrigued. “You didn’t tell me that.”

  I nodded as I sipped my drink.

  “Twisted how?” Laney asked.

  I shrugged, not mentioning the notes Seren had been leaving for me. “Both Sawyer and my mom warned me to stay away from them. So, there’s got to be something to it.”

  “Why are we just learning this now?” Holly asked. “Your mom’s worked there your whole life.”

  “She kept that part of her life separate from mine.”

  “Oh my friggin’ Lord,” Laney said. She held up her phone, displaying a photo of the Grayson boys in their football uniforms with black paint under their eyes.

  “Holy hotness,” Holly said.

  “You need to introduce us,” Laney demanded.

  I stared at the photo. There was no doubt they were good-looking guys. But even in the picture, it was clear that both Seren and Saint hid something behind their vacant green eyes. Sawyer was the only one who smiled and seemed to mean it.

  “Which one’s the young one?” Laney asked.

  I pointed to Sawyer.

  “Yup. He’ll do,” Laney agreed.

  I laughed.

  “A triple date it is,” Holly added.

  “Which twisted brother are you getting?” I asked her.

  “Whichever one will have me.”

  We all burst out laughing. It felt so good to be laughing with my friends. I didn’t realize how much I needed that.

  * * *

  I pulled into the driveway around four-thirty, after hanging out in the school parking lot for a while before getting on the road. I punched in the code my mom had given me and pulled up the driveway. I parked to the side of the six-car garage where my mom had parked the car.

  As soon as I stepped out, I heard a basketball bouncing off the pavement nearby. I grabbed my backpack and shut the car door. When I turned, I spotted all three Graysons playing basketball on the court at the far end of the driveway. I stilled, admiring the sight of them shirtless and laughing. The conversation with the girls at lunch sat heavy in my mind. I was living under the same roof as the hottest guys I’d ever actually seen in person. I was seventeen. I was single. I had eyes.

  “Hey!” Sawyer called when he spotted me.

  Inwardly, I cringed, hoping I hadn’t been caught gawking. I waved then headed toward the basement door.

  “Where’re you going? Come here!” he called as he walked off the court toward me.

  Dammit. I pulled in a breath and reluctantly headed toward him.

  Saint and Seren hadn’t stopped shooting, but Sawyer chugged a stream of water from his water bottle as he met me halfway.

  “I thought you played football,” I said.

  He smirked. “Have you been stalking me?”

  “Obviously. You’re a babe.”

  He threw back his head and laughed. “Football season’s over. Luckily, spring practices are starting next week.”

  The basketball bounced off the rim and rolled toward us. I bent and picked it up, tossing it in the direction of the others. Seren nabbed it. His eyes locked on mine, and I wasn’t about to back down so I stared back at him. Our stare-down lasted longer than expected, but I wouldn’t be the one to break our eye contact first.

  “Aw, fuck,” Saint said. “Big brother’s met his match.”

  Seren’s eyes cut to Saint and only then did I look away, releasing the breath I’d been holding. Latching onto Seren’s cold gaze was hard. But he couldn’t think he could do what he wanted, and I’d cower and disappear.

  Saint approached Sawyer and me. “Sawyer, introduce me to your friend.”

  “I’m Grace,” I said, not needing Sawyer to talk for me.

  “You’re the princess being held in the dungeon?” Saint asked, his eyes sweeping over me in an uncomfortable appraisal.

  “Let’s go!” Seren demanded from the court. Saint looked to him. “Why are you wasting your time with her?”

  Anger swelled in my chest. No one elicited the rage in me I felt whenever Seren spoke.

  “Just bullshitting with the help,” Saint called before he turned and walked back over to him. “You know, you gotta keep them happy so they take good care of you.”

  My stomach dropped as I glanced to Sawyer who’d yet to follow him. I could see he knew I’d been fooled by Saint’s fake kindness.

  “See you later, princess,” Sawyer offered apologetically before returning to his brothers.

  I turned back to the house as they started dribbling again. They carried on as if I’d never interrupted. As if I didn’t even exist.

  CHAPTER 7

  Grace

  Darkness shrouded the manor as I hurried to my mom’s car the next morning. Before I could open the driver’s door, I froze.

  No. No. Noooooo.

  I circled the car, my hands tunneling through my hair.

  Not one tire was flat. All four tires were flat.

  I spun toward the manor. This was no accident. I looked around, but I stood all alone out there. I glanced up at the manor—all dark and cold like some of its occupants. A curtain on the second floor fluttered like it had the night I arrived. I stared up at the window, shooting daggers at the person who’d undoubtedly d
one it.

  Screw it.

  I stormed into the house, making my way up the main staircase. I made it to the second floor, passing Sawyer’s room and then Saint’s. I grabbed the knob on Seren’s door and threw it open. I expected him to be in bed, pretending not to have been watching me, but he wasn’t. He stood by the window with his arms crossed wearing nothing but black boxer briefs.

  “You did that to my tires,” I spat.

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

  I shook my head, my blood boiling. “What’s your problem?”

  “Well, for starters, having the help barge into my room without knocking is unacceptable.”

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “So is spying on me in the pool house.”

  My head dropped back. “I told you. I thought someone was being hurt.”

  “Fucked. She was being fucked. Do you not know what that sounds like?” he asked condescendingly.

  “Excuse me?” I said aghast.

  “You heard me. Don’t you let boys back in Coopersville touch you like that?”

  My teeth clenched, grinding together as I spoke. “Who do you think you are saying that to me?”

  “Oh, so you’re a prude,” he said.

  Ignoring his insult, I held out the palm of my hand. “Give me your car keys.”

  Humorless laughter burst out of him. “Like hell I’m giving you my car.”

  “Well, you fucked mine up!”

  “Prove it.”

  Frustration grabbed hold of my body. “How am I supposed to get to school?”

  “Not my problem.”

  Rage flared inside of me. “I will find a ride to school and when I get back, my tires will be fixed.”

  He moved toward me, closing the distance between us until his toes nearly touched the tips of my sneakers. He glared down at me. “Do you have any idea who you’re messing with?”

  “Do you have any idea who you’re messing with?”

  He scoffed. “I’ve done things that would make your prudish blood run cold.”

  I swallowed around the lump in my throat, trying to keep up my bravado. “You don’t scare me, Seren.”

  “Then you’re a fool.”

  “Fix my tires,” I demanded before spinning away from him and hurrying into the hallway. I dashed toward Sawyer’s room, slipping inside quietly. He lay sound asleep beneath his covers looking so peaceful—such a stark contrast to his cold brother. I sat down on the edge of his bed and gently rubbed his arm. “Sawyer?” I whispered.

  He stirred.

  “I need your help.”

  His eyes cracked open. “What’s wrong?”

  “My tires are flat and I need to get to school.”

  “Flat?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t have my license yet,” he said.

  “There’s a six-car garage out there. Surely, there’s a car that no one uses.”

  “Keys are in a bowl in the kitchen cabinet above the toaster. Grab the one with the ruby keychain. They’re for the Jeep. It might need gas.”

  I patted his arm. “You’re a lifesaver.” I jumped to my feet and snuck out of his room, making sure no one heard me creep down the stairs.

  I grabbed the keys from the kitchen then found the Jeep in the garage amidst a black Land Rover, a motorcycle, and some black SUVs. The tank was half full which was more than enough to get me to and from school. As I backed out of the garage, I glanced to the second floor where the curtain was pulled back and Seren stood glaring at me. I flashed him my middle finger before taking off for the one place I belonged.

  Seren

  My pulse pounded in my temples as I raced out of my room and tore down the hallway. How the hell had Grace gotten the Jeep? Scratch that. I knew how she’d gotten the Jeep, but why hadn’t I anticipated her move? I prided myself on being a step ahead of everyone. If you didn’t know someone’s move, they were dangerous. And, since I was the most dangerous person in any room, that shit was not going to fly. Grace needed to know who was in charge. And it wasn’t her.

  I slammed open Sawyer’s door. “Why the fuck did you give her the Jeep?”

  He sat on the edge of his bed, rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands. “Because somehow her tires ended up flat. Don’t think I don’t know it was you.”

  “Why does everyone think it was me?” I growled.

  “Because you can’t stand it when someone isn’t fazed by you. You can’t understand why your cold demeanor isn’t making her fall at your feet.”

  “Watch yourself, brother.”

  “Dude, normal people talk if they want to get to know someone. They don’t flatten all their tires.”

  “I don’t want to get to know her,” I snared.

  “Right.”

  “She’s the fucking help!”

  “Get over yourself, man. She can’t stand you and you hate it.”

  I pegged him with serious eyes. “You will not help her again.”

  “You’re not my father,” Sawyer said.

  The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Sawyer should’ve looked up to me after our father died, but all I’d done was given him reason to be put off by me. “Yeah. He’s dead. And I’m all you’ve got.”

  Sawyer’s eyes drifted from mine and he shook his head, disgusted by my words. By my actions. By me.

  I twisted away from Sawyer and stormed out of his room.

  I wanted to be left the fuck alone.

  CHAPTER 8

  Grace

  I hit the garage door opener and pulled the Jeep inside after school. I cut the engine, thankful that all the other vehicles were not in there. I hopped out and went to check my tires. All four were still flat. My heart wilted. I didn’t know why I thought Seren would do the right thing. Why I thought he’d reconsider his actions and make things right. But that clearly wasn’t who Seren Grayson was.

  I hurried into the kitchen and put the keys back into the bowl where I’d gotten them, then I went down to the apartment. My mom was still working. And as much as I wanted to confide in her, I knew that she had a lot on her mind and really wanted our living arrangement to work out. I couldn’t let her know that things were not going as planned—at least for me.

  I walked into my room and dropped onto my bed. I moved to my closet and pushed my clothes all the way to the left, hesitating before reaching in and pulling the powder blue sweater at the far-right side off its hanger. Tears pricked my eyes as I brought it to my nose and inhaled. My dad’s spicy scent still clung to it, so I closed my eyes and breathed it in, imagining him standing beside me. Tears escaped my closed eyes because, just for a moment, it felt like he was really there with me. I missed him so damn much. I couldn’t imagine anything hurting worse than the knowledge that I’d never hug him again. Never hear him tell me he loved me. Never be on the receiving end of his bad jokes. Never walk down the aisle beside him on my wedding day. I gave myself over to the grief for a few minutes. But that’s all I’d give it. Otherwise, I risked getting lost in it, and that wasn’t a place I wanted to stay.

  I returned my dad’s sweater to its spot in the closet before freshening up my tear-stained face. Then, unsure if the air had been let out of my tires or if they’d been slashed, I made a call to an auto shop to come check my tires. They couldn’t make it out to the manor until the following day, so it looked like I’d be taking the Jeep again in the morning.

  Just before five, I got dressed in my ridiculous uniform and hurried to the manor’s kitchen through the back door. Since spring break had ended, I’d begun helping with dinner prep clean-up. I could hear a lively conversation filtering in from the dining room as soon as I took my spot at the sink. I slipped on my rubber gloves and began scrubbing the pots and pans piled up there.

  “Then, Saint let the snake loose,” Sawyer said, his voice carrying through the swinging door as Janette, the server, moved between the kitchen and dining room with trays of food. “It was hysterical. All the girls were screaming and jumping on their desks.”

  “Saint!” Maureen admonished.

  “Someone had to make things interesting,” Saint said.

  Sawyer laughed.

  “I can’t believe I haven’t gotten a call yet,” Maureen said.

  “You did. I intercepted it,” Saint said as if it was no big deal. “Told them I was Martine and would handle it.”

  “Stay out of trouble, Saint. I’m warning you,” Maureen said, though even I didn’t believe her threat.