Vicious Boys by Nora Cobb
Chapter Three
Vicki
Monday, before dawn, I return to Redwood with my overnight bag. I park my car behind the town house and look up at the windows. There’s a light on in Dom’s suite, and I see a shadow move past the curtain. I didn’t expect him to be up, and I wonder if he was waiting for me to return. I let myself into my suite and put my bag down in my bedroom. As soon as I sit on my bed, my phone chimes.
Dom: Special mtg for club 2day. U coming?
I hesitate for a moment and stare at the words on the screen while I make an effort to compose my response.
Vicki: What time?
Dom: @4. Thanks.
Asking for the time is the same as saying yes. We haven’t spoken since Dad kicked him out of the house. Nothing weird between us. No hurt feelings. Just haven’t had the time. I have a lot to think about with Dad giving me an ultimatum, and the end of school is fast approaching. I have a few good projects, but we have to start shooting for the film festival. I find out that all the clubs have started meeting more than once a week. And I’m realizing it was a jerk move to quit this one so far in.
That afternoon, Rosie and Paloma seem happy to see me when I walk in. Or maybe that’s relief. We need to find more people to participate if we’re going to pull this project off. When the meeting starts, we discuss the schedule date by date in order to get it done on time. Nothing can go wrong. No fuck-ups allowed or tolerated. My eyes widen when Rosie looks at me.
“We still need an actress for Lust and Envy.” The decision was made to have seven different actresses because no one student can devote that much time to filming a project for someone else before finals.
“Do we need someone with an acting background?” I ask.
“It would help,” replies Dom, “but we’re planning on using cue cards. That would make the most sense.”
Paloma scrunches up her nose as she thinks. “What’s the name of the girl who hangs out with Silas? The tall girl with the dark hair and the fancy name?”
“Rosemonde?” asks Dom.
Paloma nods enthusiastically. “Yes. She would be perfect as Snow White. Even if she doesn’t speak, she looks like a princess.”
I try not to roll my eyes, and I keep my mouth shut. That’s an insult to any woman who’s ever had the title. Even if nothing had happened between Silas and me, I’d hate Rosemonde for her pretentious, sycophant attitude. The thought of her being involved in my project…I glance over at Dom, who’s watching for my reaction. My mind shifts quickly as he presses his lips hard together. Does he think I’m jealous of Rosemonde? Maybe I am.
“I could do it.” I raise my hand as if I’m in class.
The random chatter around the room comes to an immediate halt. “That wouldn’t be a bad idea,” replies Rosie, “You know the project, so we don’t have to bring you up to speed.”
“Yeah, but can you act?” asks Liam, smirking. “I’ve seen you act up, but…”
I scowl at his sass. “I lip-synced Stevie Nicks. But I’ll only do it if I get to direct a short.”
Dom smiles, no doubt because he likes how I managed to maneuver that into my corner. There are a few pissy looks, but no one seems to have a legitimate objection.
“Which one do you want to do?” Dom asks.
I’m not certain if he’s implying something else as the corners of his mouth lift into a mischievous smile. I don’t like that look on his face at all. It makes my stomach lurch, and I wonder why I trust him.
“I should direct Lust,” I reply.
Dom shakes his head, but Rosie misreads what he’s thinking. “I think it’s a good idea to have a woman direct Lust. The expectation would be to focus on a man’s needs. A woman would be sensitive to how we are objectified even by ourselves.”
Dom holds up his hands in surrender. “I agree with everything said so far. So, Vicki, you’ll direct Lust and star in Envy.” He raises an eyebrow, and I get his innuendo.
We discuss a few more details about costumes and scenery that need to be resolved, and preliminary shooting will start next Monday. We’re allowed a few absences from class only if our grades are good. I wait for the others to leave, so I can talk to Dom. He’s putting away the equipment, but I can tell that he’s also waiting to speak to me.
“So, what happened?” I ask.
He knows exactly what I’m talking about. “Your dad told me to make sure I use protection.”
Shocked, I sit down on the top of the table. “I wasn’t expecting him to say that.”
“It was a new experience for me too,” replies Dom, “No one’s spoken to me like that since my mom passed. Well, a few times, my uncle has tried to say something. But what can he really say? I almost didn’t mind. You know, your dad giving a shit about me.”
“You mean about me?” I correct him.
Dom nods dismissively. “He told me that having a big bank account and a name makes me vulnerable. He told me I have to cover it up, or I may end up paying for it later.”
I gawk. My dad giving Dom that kind of advice seems surreal under the circumstances. I can’t believe he was giving Dom permission to fuck me. I blink my eyes as I try to wrap my mind around what must have been said.
“He also told me he didn’t approve, but you’re an adult.”
“Okay.” I sigh. “I was waiting for that part.”
Dom stops putting away the equipment and smiles. “He really loves you, Vicki.
Smiling, I wrap my arms around his shoulders, and a sweet kiss starts to get a little too heated. Dom pulls me tight against his body and pushes his hips into mine. I pull back quickly. “I got work to do,” I announce.
He lifts a brow. “Maybe later?”
I point my finger and shake it. “Only if you continue to behave.”
***
Despite the cue cards, I decide to memorize my lines for the film. The recording studio is the perfect place to rehearse and not be disturbed. Earlier in the year, I could just walk in, but with projects due before spring break, I have to sign up for a time. I also have to get over my dislike of the creepy basement if I’m going to edit my film. Hardly anyone goes down there, and it’s fairly empty at night. But I’ll never go alone down there. I can handle the recording studio on my own.
I fiddle around with the recording equipment, so I can test my voice and see if it carries. Stage acting isn’t the same as video acting. On stage, one wants to have a booming voice and make big gestures, but film misses nothing and actions need to be subtle, or it will look like bad acting. I read the script cold into the microphone on my laptop and play it back over the sound system in the room.
I cringe at the sound of my own voice. Is it really that high-pitched? I look over at the door to make sure that it’s locked. “Testing, testing,” I speak into the free-standing mic. I lower my voice into a sexy murmur. “Testing,” I lean into the mic as if I’m ready to tongue its bulbous tip and giggle. “The apple is as green as her envy.” I purr the words into the mesh casing over the mic.
“Wow.”
That wasn’t me talking. I spin around in the swivel chair, and Chase is standing in the open doorway. He has a bored look in his eyes, but his lips twitch with amusement. The daylight is lasting longer, and he’s back to wearing logo T-shirts from all the surf shops lining the coast. His short sleeves are rolled up over his huge biceps, and his hair is trimmed out of his eyes. I miss the stray lock of hair that grazed his forehead, but his stormy gray eyes are more intense with nothing in the way. Chase strolls into the room and shuts the door behind him before tossing his tall frame into a seat.
“That door was locked,” I complain as my cheeks heat, no doubt turning red.
“And I have a keycard, so I don’t check the sign-up sheet.” He wheels his chair closer until he’s next to me. The air transforms around us and takes on a charge as goose bumps flare across my arms. I shudder with a chill, and look into his gorgeous eyes.
“Did you like how that sounded?” I ask softly.
Chase doesn’t answer because he’s too busy kissing me. He leans in, taking my chin in his firm grasp as he presses his lips to mine. I keep my hands down at my sides, and I only touch him with my mouth. He places kiss after kiss on my mouth until my lips are swollen. He stops and gazes into my eyes as I grip the edge of the seat.
“I did,” he replies.
Chase grabs me into another kiss, and I hold onto him, wrapping my arms tight around his neck. His mouth is soft and sensual as he nibbles on my bottom lip. I smile at him through a haze as I wonder how dangerous he can be. No matter how good this feels, it’s not right. I push his hands away, and his eyes narrow on me. I shrink under his hard gaze as if I did something wrong. But I can’t do this until I know.
“Are you still seeing Marcy?” I ask.
Chase pushes his chair back and looks away.
“Is that no?” I challenge him with my tone.
Chase looks back at me with a pissed-off look as if I shouldn’t make demands on him. But I will make demands if he seriously wants me. If he expects me to give up someone for him, then he has to give up someone for me. I’m not competing for his time with Marcy. And what happens when I fall in love? I won’t want Marcy around.
“Why?” he asks.
“What do you mean why?” I glare at him as if he’s nuts to question me for a reason. He should know. “I’m not sharing you with Marcy.”
He scoffs, folding his arms over his chest. “But you’re okay sharing Dom and me.”
I stare at him while a cold chill races down my back as if some clumsy person had spilled water on me. Chase knows, and he was testing me. The jerk was testing me to see how far I would go. If I would go as far as I did with Dom.
“What did he tell you?” I ask.
He doesn’t waste time playing dumb. “He gloated about how much you wanted him.”
I open my mouth to speak, but I don’t know what to say, so I shut it again. Dom told Chase, which means Silas probably knows too. I asked Dom not to tell, but he did. He made my choice for me by kissing and telling. That SOB. He did take advantage of me. He took advantage of my trust. This is how he is. How he plays. He is his father’s son, and he’ll never be any better than that.
I straighten my shoulders defiantly. “So, when did he tell you we slept together?”
Chase raises his brows and then relaxes them as if it’s a pleasant conversation. “Over the weekend, he could hardly wait to tell. Want to see the text?”
My cheeks heat up again. And we stare at each other for what seems like forever without speaking. I’m afraid that if I move, what’s left of my relationship with Chase will come apart. Any hold I have left will crumble once we leave this moment. So, I stay motionless as he stares cruelly into my face.
“It’s time you stopped acting like a little girl,” he replies coldly, “I don’t have time to waste on a tease.”
Chase is gone before I can even deny it.
***
Eventually, I shake the shock off me. Angry, I don’t even know why I was surprised that Dom told the second he arrived back at Redwood. No wonder he didn’t call. He was too busy bragging. I never wanted to go to the suite he shares with Chase, and I understand why now. If I went to see one, what would I say when the other one shows up? It would have forced a decision, and so far, my choices have been crap-fests.
The message is clear—I’ve chosen Dom.
I go looking for Dom in the basement, where he’s spending more time hanging out. I hesitate at the top of the steel stairs going down, listening for the sound of other people. I hear a girl laugh and figure it must be safe. I don’t want to be alone, not even with him. Dom has been working on his senior project harder than anyone else at that school. I’m curious to know what it is, but I didn’t ask him, thinking that he might tell me eventually. The large metal door to the archives is locked, but the keys are still on the hook in the closet. Maybe he’s somewhere else, and I listen for the laughter again. I sigh. I have the key; I might as well look.
Dom is in the smaller editing room in the opposite corner of the studio. I have to walk around the shelves to see him behind the glass. Boxes of videos are scattered on the floor of the room, and the laughter is coming from a video playing in the machine. Dom sits in front of the console with chunky headphones on, but they’re plugged into his phone. He doesn’t notice me until I tap him hard on the shoulder.
My expression is louder than words. I could wring his neck with my murderous gaze. He pulls the headphones off and looks at me as if nothing is out of the ordinary. I immediately lose my shit.
“You told him!” I shout. “You told Chase after I asked you not to. And you said you wouldn’t.”
Dom holds up his hands in a calming gesture that only angers me more. He might as well be waving a red flag at an agitated bull.
“Vicki, it’s okay. I took care of it for you.”
“Took care of what?” I ask. “What did your gossiping take care of?”
He looks at the console as he speaks. “I know you felt awkward telling the other guys, so I took care of it for us.”
My jaw drops. “You didn’t do this for me. You ran off and bragged about your conquest. That’s what you did.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. The tears think twice before appearing because I am pissed. Dom was so sensitive and patient when we made love. We made love. I had sex before, but this time, it was different. It felt like love.
He reaches for me, but I sidestep, dodging his grasp. He frowns at me as if I’m a pet that’s being naughty—a gullible pet that doesn’t trust him yet. My lips are tight as I think of the nastiest thing I can spew out at him. But I should have known better. He’ll never be my Malibu boy or even my friend. He’ll only look out for himself, just like his perverted dad.
I take my hand away from my face. “It was one time. I needed you, and you pull this shit on me?”
He sits back and assesses me as if he’s not sure of what to say to convince me that I’m wrong. But I’m mistaken. Dom isn’t preparing an apology in his head, followed by a string of excuses. He turns fully to face me, and his voice is as cold as his gaze.
“I will do whatever I need to do to get rid of the competition, Vicki. I want you more than any other girl I have ever known. You have everything I want and need. And I won’t find it again. So, I’m going to hold on tight.”
Eyes wide, I shake my head. “That’s so fucked up.”
He shrugs. “Maybe because we’re both fucked up. We get each other, Vicki. I don’t know why you think you’ll find something better than me.”
I shake my head in disbelief as he casually turns around and plays with the knobs on the console. “Fuck you!” I shout. “And leave me alone.”
His voice follows me out of the room until I reach the heavy door. “You’ll always come back to me. I’m the best out of this whole rotten bunch.”
