Jaded (Rock Star Trilogy)

I can't ride with you?” I give him my best pouty face. It always works with Alec, and I'm hoping it works with him.
    “Scarlett, no.” He sighs. “I'm sorry. But I couldn't live with myself if I wrecked and you were with me.”
    I feel the disappointment rush over me. I'm going to have to work on my sad face.
    Stephan leans over and kisses my forehead. “Don't be sad.”
    “I'm sure you'll find a way to make it up to me.” I bite my lip to keep from smiling.
    A kiss on the forehead?
    REALLY ?
    I don't think any guy has ever kissed me on the forehead, and I think I just swooned.
    “That is hella distracting,” he says. “Now I can't stop thinking about your lips. I wonder how they taste.”
    He leans closer, but I back away. “If you win, maybe you'll find out.”
    Stephan laughs. “Tease.”
     
    12:22 am
    Best. Kiss. Ever.
     
    It's not Zoe doing the flag here. There are actually two girls standing in the middle of the road. One of them is thong girl . The other girl is wearing a skirt equally as short, and a bikini top.
    Wow.
    What sluts.
    I feel bad for my thoughts. I have no right to judge them.
    Each of the girls are holding flags. They are holding hands and count down together. They wave their flags down, and all four cars zoom past them. I'm watching Stephan as he takes off, but out of the corner of my eye I see both of the girls start to make out.
    “It's amazing what some girls will do for attention,” I hear Ginny say.
    “They aren't lesbians?” I ask.
    Brit laughs. “No. Ella, the girl with the thong, told me she wasn't even bi-curious. She just likes sex a lot, and says she fucks guys in the back seat of their cars between races.”
    “Ewe. That is disgusting.” Stephan's, and the other guys' cars are now out of eyesight. I nervously watch for their return.
    “Tell me about it!” Ginny says. “But the girl wearing the bathing suit top, she doesn't care – guy or girl. She even hit on me once.”
    “Can you say daddy issues ?” Brit laughs.
    I look at the girls. Despite the smiles on their faces, I can see pain in their eyes. I wonder what their story is. What makes the girls just give themselves to any and everybody that wants them?
    And suddenly, I want to smack myself. Why am I listening to Brit and Ginny? They love to gossip, and I'm not even sure what to believe with the two of them.
    Everybody starts cheering and I look to see Stephan and two of the other cars coming back around. The fourth car is a lagging behind. There is one other car slightly ahead of him, but somehow, right before the end, Stephan pulls ahead. As soon as the car stops, I run over to him. He opens the door, gets out, and then throws his arms around me.
    “I won. You promised me a kiss,” he says, and before I even have time to respond, he closes the gap between us.
    The moment his lips touch mine, I see fireworks. (Trust me, I know that sounds cheesy!) It's like his kiss, his touch... it's what I've been missing my whole life. This kiss... it's what a kiss is supposed to feel like.
    He massages my tongue with his, and I can't help but moan with pleasure. He even tastes good. I push him against his car and get as close to him as I can. Every inch of our bodies are literally touching.
    I forget that we are on a very crowded street. But then I hear people whistling and yelling at us, and we both pull back.
    Stephan is breathing just as heavy as me.
    “Wow,” he says.
    Yeah, wow.
    Best. Kiss. Ever.
    Just then, I hear sirens.
    “Get in!” Stephan yells at me.
    And just like that, our magical moment is over. All the cars that were once lining the street are all taking off in different directions. We both jump in the car, and take off.
    “That was awesome!” I say, as we speed away.
    “And I won a lot of money.”
    “Really?” I look at him questioningly. “You bet on the races?”
    He nods. “Yep. You have to pay two thousand dollars to even race.”
    “Wait, how do you have two thousand dollars? Do you have a job?” I wonder.
    “No. When I turned 18, I got access to half of my trust fund.”
    “So you are using your trust fund money to gamble ?” I'm kind of in shock. Stephan seems like a smart, level headed guy, and what he's doing is very reckless.
    He shrugs. “I haven't lost a race. In fact, I've won over 100 thousand dollars.”
    “How do kids in Hope, Florida have that kind of money?” I ask.
    “I don't just race here. I went to Miami a few times and raced. The pay out there is