Free Sweet Agony (Sweet Series Book 1) by Jessie Lane

have everyone’s attention, including a smirking Rachel who turned to her friends and loudly said, “Aww … Look, girls, she’s done crying already. You think she finally realized Lucas would never want a freak like her?”
    Ignoring her verbal jab, I eyed her immaculate and, more than likely, expensive outfit: white, off the shoulder, silk shirt; a pair of black leggings; and designer heels. Rachel might not care about school, but everyone knew she loved her clothes.
    Walking straight to her table where she was sitting on the end with a new lunch tray, I saw it was filled with spaghetti and a can of diet soda.
    Awesome. That meant I had ammunition for my attack.
    Without saying a word, I stopped, grabbed her food tray and her open can of soda in each of my hands, and before Rachel had time to so much as move a muscle, I flung the spaghetti off her tray and onto the front of her shirt.
    She stood up in an enraged gasp, and that was when I turned her can of soda upside down over her head, pouring the drink all over her perfectly done hair.
    “Now you look sloppy enough to go along with that blow job Lucas mentioned. If you’re going to act like a whore, you should probably clean up your looks and your skills.”
    After a few seconds of silent surprise, the entire cafeteria erupted in laughter. I could vaguely hear an adult shouting my name through the racket, but I was too busy smiling at Rachel, who was shrieking and sputtering nonsense as she stomped from the cafeteria, to care.
    It wasn’t until I heard Lucas’s angry shout that I took my eyes off Rachel’s retreating form and turned my head to see him standing up, dripping wet, and a water bottle in Olivia’s hand as he yelled at his sister, “What the hell, Olivia?”
    She shrugged. “I just didn’t want Ginny to go to detention alone.” She turned her head to look at me and winked.
    As I covered my mouth with my hand to stifle my laughter, Lucas took one look between the two of us and snarled, “I’m telling Mom about this, you little shit.”
    Sometimes, revenge wasn’t a dish; it was a cold drink poured over the head.

Chapter
    7
    Lucas
    Nineteen Years Old
    After I turned eighteen and graduated high school, I left for the Army. Following my dream and partying with the men I served with left little time to think about the shy, pretty, awkward, underage girl I had left back home except when I got those few solitary moments before I crashed. Then it seemed I had all the time in the world, and my only thoughts would be of her.
    Late at night, when I lay in my barrack’s room, unable to sleep, my mind would drift to Ginny. Sometimes, I would lie there and re-read all of the letters she had sent me. The one I found myself going to the most was, in turn, the least serious. It also made my mind drift to Ginny all dressed up in the picture she sent me later.
    Lucas,
    I hope this letter finds you seeing the world or at least the Army’s version of it. Today, your mom made cookies for the marching band bake sale. Olivia and I snuck an extra one each and ate it for you. Noah made drum major, so he’s made sure each of us helped raise money for new uniforms.
    Your dad is so proud of you that he’s decided he will mow the grass this summer instead of your brothers. Your mom came outside with a glass of lemonade, and for a brief moment, I thought he might run into the Whitmore’s bushes. I guess the men in the Young family are easily distracted.
    I applied for the summer art program. Mom says, if I don’t get in, she will still load me up with supplies. It’s not new water colors I want, though; it’s the chance to try new techniques. What do parents understand, anyway?
    Olivia is ready to go shopping for homecoming dresses. It’s still months away. You know her, though. She doesn’t want to wait until the last minute and not have the best selection. I’ll be sure to send pictures.
    All my love,
    Ginny
    I worried the time apart would mean Ginny would move