Free Forever Branded (Billionaire Love Series #1) by Jessa Eden Page A

smarty pants,” I said as she dug into her brown lunch sack.
    “Whatever. How was your weekend?” she asked as she pulled out a sandwich.
    “It was good. Just did some studying and some grocery shopping.”
    “Oh, yeah, you’re really living it up.”
    “I am. As much as I can with a ten-year-old around. How was your weekend?”
    “Good. Went to Steve Langston’s house for a party. Got pretty plastered. Then on Sunday, I went shopping and got this cool set of bracelets.” She held her arm out for me to examine a thick bunch of rubber neon-colored bands covering her wrist.
    Very trendy.
    “Ooh, cool. Those are better than the smelly jelly shoes I used to wear.”
    “Yeah, I’m glad that fad didn’t last,” she agreed, watching her bracelets move up and down her wrist.
    “So the social worker paid us a surprise visit yesterday,” I announced as she took a bite of her sandwich.
    Stacy was the only person at school who knew I was living on my own, raising a ten year old.
    “Oh?” Her dark brow arched coolly. “What did she say?”
    I smiled. “She said I was doing an excellent job taking care of my sister. Her exact words were ‘Emma is well-fed, well-adjusted, and thriving.’”
    “Oh, that’s great to hear!”
    I beamed under her praise. “The best part is she told me she’ll be recommending full guardianship to the court in her next report.”
    “Bet you’re excited about that.”
    “Yeah, now we just have to make it official and Emma will really be mine.”
    She scrunched up her nose. “You’re weird, Marla...what eighteen-year-old wants to be that responsible?” she teased.
    “I know. But it makes me sick to think of my sister being raised by someone else, or falling through the cracks of the foster care system. I won’t let that happen.”
    “Emma’s a lucky little bitch to have you,” she said, her glance lighting up with admiration.
    “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    “You bet your ass it is!”
    We laughed and continued to eat. As I finished my sandwich and got up to throw my trash away, I came face to face with Ashley DeGraw and her mean girl crew. Wearing a colorful array of blazers with shoulder pads the football players would envy, they looked ready for battle.
    Thin, hostile, and hungry.
    Not fun.
    Ashley was known for starting vicious rumors that ruined many reputations. She was the typical pretty on the outside, ugly on the inside girl. With long legs, blonde ratted hair, and the trendiest clothes, she was a force to be reckoned with at North High.
    “He’s mine,” she claimed as I threw away my brown bag.
    I knew she was talking about Beau, but I wasn’t going to make it easy on her. “Who?” I asked, trying to annoy her.
    Her aquamarine glance filled with superiority. “Beau Shepard,” she said as she crossed her arms over her pink blazer.
    “Oh, really? Funny that he’s never mentioned you, let alone told me he has a girlfriend.”
    She sneered, tapping her manicured fingers on her crossed forearm. “Why would he discuss his love life with you? You’re nothing to him.”
    “You don’t know what I am to Beau. Besides, it’s none of your business.”
    Her gaze turned icy. “Beau is my business and I am warning you to stay away from him.”
    “Ashley, if Beau is interested in you, he’ll make that known. Otherwise, leave me alone,” I said, pushing past her as she huffed in outrage.
    I didn’t have time for mean, vicious girls getting catty about boys.
    “Did you hear her? Back off, bitch!” Stacy said, getting in Ashley’s face.
    I could always count on Stacy to have my back.
    “Ah! How dare you!” Ashley scoffed in outrage.
    “Walk away, bitch! Don’t let me catch you messing with my friend again!” Stacy hollered after the retreating crew of mean girls. “You’ll regret it!”
    It still made me smile, thinking about Stacy punking out Ashley DeGraw as I tuned back into my phone conversation with her.
    “Are you up for that?” Stacy