Entropy (The Countenance Trilogy 3) (8 page)

“Flanders!” A male voice gruffs from behind.

“I’d better let you go.” I wrap my arms around him tight. Ironic because the last thing in the universe I want to do is let Cooper Flanders go.

He pulls me back by the shoulders and steadies his eyes over mine. “Wes is still the key, Laken. He needs to know he’s number one in your life.” He gives a somber nod. His sad eyes pull back and forth to each of mine. “It’s okay if he is.”

I shake my head as I back my way into the restaurant.

It’s the second time he’s said that, and I don’t like it one bit.

Cooper

The night sky above Trinity rolls and shines like liquid mercury as it glides over the expanse above.

I almost kissed her. Her lips were this close, and I waged a war with my dick to keep my tongue out of her mouth. No matter how chivalrous it was to show restraint, it just makes me dislike Wesley that much more.

I head back into the restaurant and give a shout out to Ernie to let him know I’m taking out the trash. I clean out two bins and head to the dumpster. I need a lungful of fresh night air to cool me down after that heated exchange. If I ever do kiss Laken again, I know for a fact it will be electric. I damn near fell to the ground and kissed her feet for the simple act of being near me. I thought for sure once Wes copped to remembering everything, she’d run fast and hard the hell away from me, give me the finger if I ever dared step in her path. But she didn’t. Laken still feels something for me. Her bones vibrated their love right into mine. I could feel it.

A pair of headlights speed over as a truck pulls into the spot next to me and stops just inches from taking out my kneecaps. The lights die, and the driver’s door opens.

Speaking of the douche.

Wes nods over as Laken’s brother, Fletch, jumps out of the passenger’s side.

“What’s up, Coop?” Fletch socks me in the arm as he makes his way inside.

“Be there in a sec,” Wes calls out, his Range Rover still warm from the drive as I lean against his grill.

“You here to help me take out the trash?” I toss the plastic sacks over the dumpster wall and listen as they give a soft whoosh.

“I guess you could say that.” Wes nods me over to the shadowed part of the structure. “I spoke to Edinger today.”

My heart lurches because I’m afraid he may have let Wes in on our little deal. A game of keep Laken the hell away from Wes or you suffer in the tunnels for all eternity.

“And what?” I flip the hand towel off my shoulder. “You need me to tutor you in Lit?” I’m only half-teasing.

“I need you to help me find his son. Edinger says he’ll let whoever the hell we want out of Tenebrous as long as we bring him home.”

“Edinger’s son, huh?” I shake my head at the idea. “First I’m hearing about it.”

“You think we can find him?” Wes heaves it out as if he just sprinted around the block.

“Hell, yes, I think we can find him. As long as he’s alive—he’s as good as here.” I study Wes as his expression grows dim. “So what are you keeping from me?”

Wes takes in a breath, and his chest expands the size of a football field. “He said he needed his son to serve.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know what the fuck it means, dude. It all sounds too easy. Find some poor kid who has the misfortune of being related to Edinger and throw him into the lion’s den? He said he’d let them walk out of the tunnels just like that.”

“It almost sounds too good to be true. Most likely means it is.” I run my fingers through my hair. “I’ll start digging around tonight. My dad might know something.”

“I don’t want you to tell Laken.”

“Why the hell not?” If it’s one thing Wes likes it’s to be in control of every damn detail. “I don’t keep things from Laken. That’s your job.” I turn to head back in, and Wes spins me around by the shoulder.

“You don’t fucking say a word, dude. You got that?” There’s a fire in his eyes I’ve never seen before. “If this is some trap, like I have a feeling it is, there’s no way in hell I’m putting her in any more danger than she’s already in.”

Edinger and danger go hand-in-hand. If ever there were a dangerous fucker it’s Edinger.

“Done.” I take a step back and hold up my hands. “I won’t say a word.”

I head back into the restaurant.

It’s going to suck keeping this from Laken.

We’re a team—only now we’re sort of not.

Fucking Wes.

What the hell—I’ll probably tell Laken.

Inside, the place finally dies down with the exception of the Ephemeralites in the back. I keep stealing glances at Laken. Wes has his arm around her like a vise. He hasn’t wiped that shit-eating grin off his face ever since he sat down. Every now and again I catch her glancing my way, and my heart does a backflip.

I clear out my last table before heading over and refilling their drinks.

“Take a seat,” Grayson offers, scooting her chair into Kresley to make room.

“Yeah, Coop.” Carter motions me over. “You work way too hard. All work and no play makes Coop a dull boy.” If I didn’t know better, I’d think Carter was flirting but I do know better, and that’s just Carter twenty-four seven. She’s got it hot for Fletch who’s all but pulled her into his lap.

Laken nods into the idea, her eyes widening as if personally inviting me to stay.

“I guess I got a sec.” I yank a seat from a nearby table and belly up with the rest of them.

“Coop is anything but dull.” Grayson runs her fingers through my hair, and suddenly I regret sitting next to her like an obedient child. “Especially underneath the sheets.”

Crap.

Grayson bites down over her swollen lip, and the memory of where she once put those hot pink disasters filters through me. I’m still not sure what I was doing screwing around with her. She never was my type. The problem was, my dick didn’t really care at the time.

Laken laces her napkin between her fingers and pretends not to notice the X-rated conversation going on around her.

Kresley taps the side of her glass with a knife. “Any hope of a round two?”  She sweeps her devious gaze from Grayson to me. “I think you make a mighty cute pair.”

“Oh, I don’t know…” Carter winks over at me. “I’ve always pictured Coop with someone a little more demure, more of a caramel blonde with loose waves, eyes that look as though they can see right through you. Sort of a pensive, braniac who doesn’t take crap from anyone.”

A sly smile plays on my lips, but I won’t give it. Carter just described Laken to a T.

Grayson leans her shoulder so far into me until it’s a struggle not to fall out of my seat.

“I’m a little braniac.” She shoots a look to Carter. “Don’t you think so, Coop?”

“Yes, you are.” I use the opportunity to scoot away a few inches.

“So, winter formal is right around the corner.” Kres bats her lashes at Wes as if she had a chance. If she hasn’t already gotten the memo, Wesley’s hard-on is safely pointed in Laken’s direction. I should know. No one would like to see Wes and Kresley get back together than me. “I think maybe
we
should go, Wes.” She has the balls to ask him right here in front of her friends—in front of Laken. “I miss all those good times we used to share. If it’s one thing we were good at, it was lighting up the sheets.”

The color bleeds from Laken’s cheeks while Wes brews a fire in his eyes. Kres lit a very short fuse, and now I’m feeling fortunate to have taken a load off just in time to enjoy the fireworks.

“Wesley’s going with me,” Laken says it sharp like a threat, and I’m back to regretting ever sitting down. The last thing I want to do is witness Laken standing up for her man, especially since it’s not me.

Fletch knocks Carter’s arm from beneath her. “We should light up some sheets.”

“Like tonight.” Carter belts out a laugh. “Who the hell wants to wait for winter formal? You are taking me, right?”

“Only if you’re nice—or should I say naughty?” He leans over and gifts her with a sloppy kiss that leaves his tongue bobbing in and out of her mouth. Crap. I can never unsee that.

“How about you, Coop?” Kres continues her anal probe into my love life. “Who’s on the menu for winter formal? Grayson doesn’t have anyone set in stone yet. Maybe the four of us could double date like old times? You and Gray, me and Wes.” She slits Laken’s throat with that look she gives her.

“In your dreams.” Laken drips the words out, slow like honey.

“Coop’s probably going stag.” Wes lifts his glass to me as if he’s envious before knocking back his tea and chewing on the ice.

“I’ll pitch for the limo this time.” Grayson is quick to sweeten the pot. “I’ve got a little black dress, if you’ve got a black suit.”

“That I do—”

Laken takes in a breath before I can finish.

“He’s not going to the winter formal with you, Grayson.” She spits it out like rusty nails, and everyone at the table ceases to breathe for a moment.

“Calm down.
Shit
, Laken.” Fletch cuts his hand through the air. “Who the fuck cares who Flanders bags on formal nights? You’ve got a boyfriend. Show some respect.”

Laken glares at her brother. Daggers shoot from her eyes as she silently tells him to shut the hell up and mind his own damn business.

Nobody moves.

“I care.” Laken lifts her chin in my direction.

Holy hell. There goes any hope of Wes feeling like he’s number one in her life. Although right about now I really don’t give a shit. Instead, a slow smile bleeds from me unstoppable.

“I guess I get Wes.” Kresley’s jaw roots to the table.

“Sorry, Kresley, but Wes is going to the winter formal with me.” Laken says it without taking her eyes off mine. “And Grayson, I won’t waste my breath with an apology. Coop isn’t going to winter formal with you.”

“And why’s that?” Grayson growls it out, low and dark like a demon. “Do you honestly expect him to stay home and wallow after you?”

“He won’t have to. Because he’s going to be
my
date.” Laken’s features soften. Her lips curl with the hint of a smile. “I’m taking both Coop and Wes to winter formal. And if anyone doesn’t like it, they’re welcome to kiss my shiny white ass.”

My lips twitch because for a moment I envision myself doing exactly that.

Kresley lifts a finger. “Check please.”

Wes glares into me. He’s rearranging my body parts, figuring out ways to kill me and make it look like an accident, maybe even set up good old Grayson. Her father’s an attorney. She wouldn’t rot in prison.

Wes huffs a silent laugh as if he heard me. His lips never bother with a smile.

This is going to be a winter formal for the record books, and I for one am very, very happy.

I look right into Laken’s beautiful eyes—the color of the Western sky—the color of hope.
I love you
, I tell her, and she nods with a content smile as if she heard every word.

Laken and I are way past words.

I get Laken in the end.

I think I already have her.

Mostly.

Wesley

A week blinks by blanketed in a choking fog, while I expend myself wrapping both Laken and me in the memories from the past. I asked if after the game tonight we could hit Charity Lake. I’ve been saving our special outing for just this night since after most games the whole school gets together and parties—especially when it’s the last game of the season. But it’s not some party I’m trying to protect Laken from, it’s Cooper Flanders. All week I’ve filled her every free moment with walks, dinner, studying together in the library after we finish our shifts. I made sure there wasn’t a moment to spare, not one free second where Coop could stick his foot in the door and clog our relationship with his presence. Laken and I are golden and that’s exactly how it’s going to remain.

I shoot a look across the football field as bodies mingle at random like a swarm of disorganized ants. The game just wrapped up, and the cheerleaders are still huddled around the team. Ephemeral’s all hopped up after its first victory in a month. Coop came in and saved the day during that last play, so, of course, he’s getting the lion’s share of attention. But I watch Laken like a hawk as she maintains a ten-foot clearance from him at all times. This doesn’t sit well with me. It’s as if they’re purposefully keeping a safe distance, and that alone sets off a red flag.

Freaking Coop, always trying to stay three steps ahead of me, and fucking succeeding.

“What’s got you by the balls?” Fletch knocks his shoulder into mine, and in the process, I lose track of Laken.

“Nothing.” I growl it out as a white cloud emits from my mouth. “I think I’m going to take Laken over to Charity and hang out a bit. Check me off at curfew, and don’t wait up, sweetheart.” In the past Fletch has given me a heads up when he’s not coming home, and I’d check him in downstairs, so he’s not reported as a no-show.

“You’re shitting me, right?” He squints it out good and pissed. I knew this wasn’t going to end well. When I was dating Kres and we pulled off a few all-nighters away from campus, Fletch had no trouble covering for me.

“Dude, you owe me. Let’s leave it at that.”