Mean to Her

  EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2021 Sam Crescent

  ISBN: 978-0-3695-0288-9

  Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

  Editor: Audrey Bobak

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  MEAN TO HER

  Curvy Women Wanted, 25

  Sam Crescent

  Copyright © 2021

  Chapter One

  Leah Hagen wasn’t going to take it anymore. She was sick and tired of Blake Sutton’s constant jokes, teases, and just plain old cruelty.

  Staring down at the piece of paper asking if she wanted to go out with him was the final straw.

  For the past three years, she’d had to deal with his constant taunts, name-calling, shoving her books to the floor, and just being a dick. She didn’t understand it. He’d always been nice to her before. Opening doors, helping her with her books. Overnight, he’d turned into a giant jackass. One she couldn’t stand to be near.

  Sure, she was bigger than most girls, but rather than be embarrassed, she’d embraced her curves. There was no problem with having a bigger ass and tits than everyone else. The bullying sucked, but one day, she wasn’t going to be in high school, so it wasn’t like it mattered either. This would all be behind her.

  Blake, though, he made senior year confusing.

  Just last week, he’d dropped her books and had everyone laughing at her. She was pretty sure he’d checked out her ass as she’d bent down.

  With the crumpled piece of paper in her hand, she marched through the school, heading toward the cafeteria. She never ate here, preferring the sunny outdoors or the library.

  Once inside, she found Blake sitting in the corner with his other friends. A lot of girls hung out at the tables, and she, for one, was sick of him, of all of this. Even as her heart pounded, she wanted to end this crap one way or another. After storming up to him, she threw her palm down on the table, silencing everyone seated there.

  “We need to talk.”

  Blake turned with that classic smile of his. “Do we?”

  “Yes. Now.” She had his attention and she showed him the letter.

  His brow rose. “I believe you just need to mark the boxes. Yes or no.”

  “Are you serious right now?”

  “I believe I am.”

  “You know what, fine.” She took the pen from his pocket, put the piece of paper down, and marked the no box. “If that’s what you want to do, fine. I don’t care anymore.” She left the piece of paper along with the pen and walked out of the cafeteria.

  What was his problem?

  One moment he was mean to her, the next he expected what? To go out. To be boyfriend and girlfriend.

  Gripping her shoulders, she made her way to her locker, but as she was about to reach in to grab her lunch, she was pulled around.

  “No?” Blake asked.

  “You wanted an answer. There’s your answer.” She shrugged. “Take it or leave it.” She was done playing these games with him.

  “Do you know who I am?”

  “Do you even hear yourself or do words literally fall right out of your mouth without a care in the world?” She folded her arms across her chest. “You asked for an answer. I gave it. I don’t care who you are. Yes, you’re the most popular guy in school and every other girl wants to go out with you, but guess what, I’m not them, so I don’t want to.”

  “Why not? I’ve never sent a girl a letter asking her to go out with me.”

  “I honestly don’t know if you’re kidding right now or if this really isn’t a joke to you.”

  “I’m asking. I expected your answer to be yes.”

  She burst out laughing. “Blake, you’ve been nothing but mean to me for the past couple of years. Three to be exact, but hey, clearly, you’re not counting. You can’t expect me to want to go out with someone who’s mean and cruel.”

  “Look, I was only being those things because I wanted you to go out with me.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “Yeah, you’re the sexiest girl in school and one day, I just, I didn’t want anyone else to go out with you, so I figured if I made you enemy number one, I’d get you all to myself.”

  She shook her head. “I’ve heard enough. This is complete crap. You don’t get to bully a girl and then in the next breath ask her out.”

  “I did.”

  “Not happening, Blake. My God. What’s the joke? Because I don’t find this at all funny. Messing with people’s lives isn’t funny. We’re so done talking about this.” She grabbed her bag, slammed her locker closed, and left.

  There, that wasn’t so bad. Blake needed to know she wasn’t joking anymore. This with him, the fight, it was over. She was never going to go out with him.

  “Just so you know, Hagen,” he said, calling after her, using her last name. “You’re going to be mine. You just don’t know it yet.” He winked at her.

  She’d turned as he’d called her name. “Asshole.”

  Hiking her bag up her shoulder, she made her way to the library. The only place in the world that would help her calm down was her library, filled with all the amazing books she wanted to read.

  She waved at the librarian Fran before taking a seat. So long as she didn’t make too much noise or bring any of her friends to the library, Fran was more than happy to let her sit, eat, and read. It was a combination she loved. All of her friends had moved away. She used to have four friends, but the twins left last year to go to Europe with their dad’s business. Carolyn had dropped out and was traveling with some indie band, and Ryan left to go to some private school.

  It was just her now.

  Taking a bite of her sandwich, she flicked open one of her notebooks, glancing over the homework she’d need to do that night.

  She loved to get ahead in all things, especially schoolwork-related. She’d already forgotten about Blake and was, by far, more interested in her work.

  ****

  Blake threw the ball against the wall and caught it.

  He was pissed. He did this repeatedly, wondering where he’d fucked up. From the moment he’d realized he had feelings for Leah, he’d been in a state of panic. One day, he walked into high school and she’d slammed her locker door closed, and he’d been hit, like lightning. Bam, he’d wanted her. He’d looked at all her curves. In the past three years, she’d filled out even more.

  Big tits, wide hips, a generous ass, that while watching her bend down, he had to keep in constant control or he could embarrass himself. Many a night he’d spent thinking about her, wanting her, craving her.

  Bullying her had been a means to an end. If he picked on her, other guys wouldn’t ask her out. The truth was, he didn’t have the first clue as to how to ask her out, or how to get her to look at him in any other way than as the jock. He’d wanted her to think about him. There were times he’d pushed her books to the floor, merely to see her bend down. He had dreams about her ass and they would last him a couple of days. The other way of getting his fix was to have one of his friends push her, and he’d be on the receiving end, holding her. He loved that. Feeling her body next to his. PE was one of the best places to be to get up close and personal with her.

  He’d fucked up. He saw that now. Who in their right mind would go out with a bully? Who?

  Fuck.

 
Now he had to do something to make it right.

  “What are you doing throwing a ball at a brick wall?” John asked.

  John was his best friend. The only guy in their entire clique who knew how he felt. One night while getting completely drunk, he’d admitted the truth about the girl he had the biggest crush on. Not just a crush either, he was in love with her.

  He pulled the letter from his pocket and let John read it.

  “We’re back to Leah.”

  “We’ve never been past Leah,” he said.

  “When you told me about this, I said it was the worst idea in the history of all bad ideas.”

  “Yeah, I know, and now I’ve fucked up big time.” He groaned. “She said no and I can’t stop thinking about her. What am I going to do?”

  John sighed. “I did say you’d live to regret this, and guess what, I’m right.”

  “Okay, asshole, but this isn’t helping.” He dropped down to the ground, leaning his head against the wall. “I love her, John.”

  “I know. It’s kind of scary. You’re eighteen and can have any of the cheerleading squad, any girl, yet you decide to fall for the girl you’ve bullied. Your reasoning was crap.”

  “It sounded good in my head.” He pouted. “I have to grovel, don’t I?”

  “Yep.”

  “I hate groveling.”

  “It’ll be good for you.” John patted him on the arm. “Also, to help you out, I talked to Elaine, and she was more than happy to help young love. It’s Leah’s class schedule.”

  Blake snorted. “Please, I bribe Elaine with homemade cookies to get that schedule every single year. It’s how I also managed to get into some of the same classes as her. Being the reigning champ helps a lot. I need to know where she’s going to college as well.”

  “That will take a lot more than me sweet-talking and you offering Elaine cookies.”

  “True. I guess a whole load of groveling.”

  “Do you know what will really work?” John said.

  “What?”

  “Coming out in the open. Professing your love so everyone knows that she’s going to be yours. That could help your cause. You love her, and you don’t care what everyone else thinks. Unless you do.”

  “I don’t care what people think. I never have.” Blake ran his fingers through his hair. He hadn’t got it cut this year and it was starting to fall into his eyes.

  “Then I’ve got to know, why did you keep it a secret?” he asked. “If you didn’t care, why did you do what you did?”

  “You’ve never been in love. You’ve never had that moment when you realize the woman you love is right in front of you, and you panic. I panicked. I freaked out. We were like fifteen. I wasn’t supposed to find the love of my life then. I was enjoying girls. I lost my virginity when I was thirteen to a couple of college chicks who didn’t realize how young I was. Then one day, I walked into school, and it was like my world fell apart and came together all at the same time.”

  “That sounds like some poetic shit.”

  “It is. Leah’s not just some fun to me.”

  “What about all those other girls between your great epiphany and now?” John asked. “If you’ve been in love with Leah all this time, that shit wasn’t going to happen.”

  Blake laughed. “I haven’t been with anyone since I realized how I felt about her.”

  “Come on, I’m your best friend, and girls talk.”

  “Yeah, and they all want to be known for having a piece of me. It never happens. I don’t even kiss them. I’m not interested. They spread the rumors, and I just stayed silent. That’s all it has ever been, man. Told you, my heart belongs to another and I just … I’ve never even tried to be with another girl. I hang out with them. They can kiss my cheek but never my lips. It’s all an act.”

  “Well, damn, I thought you were fucking playing all of them.”

  “Nope. I’ve got my eyes set on one prize and you know what, you’re right. I’m going to win her over.” He bumped fists with his friend with a new determination to win the girl he loved.

  Chapter Two

  Studying late at the local library, Leah didn’t take the weather into account. She hadn’t brought a jacket, and there was no way she was going to escape the rain. She had walked straight from the high school to the library. Her parents weren’t going to be home until late as they had an appointment in the city. It wasn’t unusual for her to be home by herself.

  Stepping out from the cover of the building, she started for the direction of her home. Cars drove past, some of them spraying her with water, and she had to wonder why she wore a skirt today. The temperature had been nice and warm, but still, it was going to get colder in a matter of days.

  Hands clenched as the chill started to work into her bones, she tensed as a car pulled up.

  “Get in the car, Leah,” Blake said.

  Of all the people to stop, why did it have to be him? “Keep on driving.”

  “I get that you’re stubborn and independent, but you’re going to get cold. Come on, climb in. I’ll give you a ride.”

  “I’m not taking a ride from you.”

  “For fuck’s sake,” he said. The car came to a sudden stop as he climbed out. She frowned but then cried out as he did no more than move her into the passenger side of his car. “If you get out, I’ll carry you over my shoulder all the way to your house, and I won’t be a perfect gentleman if your skirt lifts up.” He pointed a finger at her with warning.

  She didn’t find it funny, but his car was nice and warm. While Blake climbed into the car, she removed her backpack and put it on the floor between her thighs. Her skirt had ridden up, and she quickly pushed it down.

  Being rude wasn’t in her nature. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He pulled back onto the road. The windshield wipers sped up as the rain fell harder.

  “My house is that way.”

  “I know where you live.”

  “Then why aren’t you taking me home?”

  “You’re alone, right? With how you’re shivering, I don’t want to leave you alone.”

  “Are you like a stalker?” she asked.

  “My parents are friends with your parents, Leah.”

  “Oh, yeah? Then why haven’t I ever seen them together?” she asked.

  “Because you stopped going to their dinner parties.” He smirked. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep the family gossip to a minimum. My folks aren’t home either.”

  “You’re taking me to your place where no parents are?”

  “Don’t worry. I have no plans to ravish you.”

  She frowned. “Do you read romance novels?”

  Blake shrugged.

  Leah closed her eyes and turned to look out of the window. “Why were you in town?”

  “I picked up some pizza. It’s in the back.”

  “Why didn’t you get them to deliver?” she asked.

  “They always get my order wrong and besides, if I want something more, I’m in the shop.”

  “Your pizza will be cold,” she said.

  “Nothing wrong with cold pizza, or warming it up in the microwave.”

  She had nothing to say to that.

  “I don’t mind going home.”

  “I know.” He pulled into his drive. His parents were lawyers, reputable ones, but expensive to hire, and they had a huge house.

  Blake reached between her thighs, grabbing her bag. “Come on.”

  He opened his door. The rain was pouring even harder now. She climbed out of the car and ran with him to his front door.

  The house was eerily silent.

  “So long as I don’t throw parties or get the police called to the place, my folks are happy with me having it all to myself.”

  “You do throw parties,” she said.

  “Yep, and all the guys know they have to clean their shit up and can’t break anything.” He smirked. “I’m sure my parents know about my parties, but seeing as I’m the m
ost gracious host, they don’t care.”

  “I guess.”

  He put her bag on the mat near the door. “It will dry out. Come on.”

  He took her hand. She intended to fight him on touching her, but she’d rather get warm. They walked up a flight of stairs and he turned to one door, only to stop and go to the next door.

  She stepped behind him into a large bathroom. Blake let go of her hand to grab a couple of towels. “You need to get out of those clothes. I’ll be back.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already gone. Since when did she get naked in Blake’s house? This was crazy.

  She dried her hair, trying not to think about what all this meant. None of it was important.

  Blake returned moments later with a pair of sweatpants and a large shirt. She happened to notice it was one of his football shirts.

  “Here, wear this.”

  “I’m just going to head home.”

  “Leah, please. Wear the clothes and when it stops raining, I’ll take you right back home. You’re safe here.”

  He stepped outside, grabbing the door handle. “I’ll go make us some coffee.”

  Blake closed the door and she perched on the edge of the bath. He’d gone from being the meanest guy in school to the nicest. What was all that about?

  She put the clothes on the edge of the bath and stripped out of her clothes, stepping into his with ease. They smelled of him. She couldn’t quite detect what it was, but it seemed earthy, like him.

  “It’s all good, Leah. He’s being nice and you don’t have to overthink every little detail. It’s all good.”

  Pushing her hair off her shoulders, she ran her hands down her sides before grabbing her clothes and heading downstairs to where he waited.

  This was all just a coincidence. There was no way he could call on the rain, and he did have pizza in the car.

  ****

  Blake couldn’t contain his excitement.

  So many dreams were coming true all within one night. This kind of shit didn’t happen to him, and yet, here he was, living the dream. He was so freaking excited.