Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
“Your coach might need glasses,” I said when we left the rink.
“He hasn’t let me start most of the season,” Ben told me. “He thinks I haven’t earned it. That I just made the team because I’m the son of two celebrities. I doubt there’s anything I could do to change his mind, outside of altering my DNA and having full facial plastic surgery.”
“So you’re saying he needs worse eyesight,” I nodded. “We gotta steal his contacts.”
Ben laughed. Made my day hearing it, especially since it’s his 19th birthday today.
Brightest side of the afternoon is when we end up at Television and New Media. Per Epsilon’s request, I’m not to go into the classroom. The consensus is that my presence will be a distraction since it’s rumored Luna and I are dating.
Don’t disagree.
And I’m not trying to flunk my own giant test from Price. I can protect Ben while being in arm’s reach of Luna. Did it during the mini-marketing tour just fine—I protected Xander while Luna was there. But apparently it appears like I just slept with her the whole time.
The door is shut, and I lean on a Film Club poster in the hall. Quickly, I type out a text to my girlfriend. Her class has a “no texting” policy, but she said the Roach is never early. And class starts in five minutes.
We’re only one wall away, space babe. Make a wish.
I press send.
Seconds later, she responds.
LUNA
Finally in the same multiversal dimension. I shall wish for your long fruitful life and the same for your offspring.
My stomach tenses at offspring.
“So they sent the alleged boyfriend.” The masculine voice breaks me away from my phone. The thirtysomething is gripping a Starbucks coffee in one hand and a half-wrapped honey bun in the other. Don’t know how long it’s been since I saw someone under fifty wearing a sweater vest—so there’s that.
“You’re the prof?” I ask—but I know exactly who he is. Who his family is. I’ll never forgive him for The Royal Leaks, even though that’s all been settled privately among hotshot lawyers.
“Wyatt Rochester,” he clarifies. “Please tell me you’re not going inside. I don’t need my class to turn into a Celebrity Crush article.” He takes a bite from the honey bun.
“Thought your family is trying to buy Celebrity Crush.”
He swallows his food. “Doesn’t mean I like reading the trash.” He tilts his head. “So?”
“Not going in, Little Debbie.”
He glances at his honey bun, bristles, then says, “Good call.” He leaves for the classroom, and irritation rides me hard. Don’t love being on the same page as him. Only saving grace is he’s not failing Luna. She’s pulling a solid B. (Deserves an A, if you ask me.) So even though his family has booked themselves a spot in hell, he’d be more villainous if he graded her unfairly.
While I wait for the class to end, I receive a new text.
XANDER
I’m not going to prom. Neither is Easton.
I’d have to conduct a security meeting with a couple more guys from Epsilon if he decided to go. Xander has been on the fence, so I’m not too shocked he swung this way.
Just thought maybe he’d want to ask the girl from his study period. I type and send:
Not even with Spencer?
He’s fast to reply.
XANDER
It’s not her thing. Too many ppl she doesn’t know. I don’t blame her. Homecoming was ok. Best part was going to Lucky’s afterward.
No one really knows of Spencer Sadler at Dalton Academy. She might as well be a ghost. I’ve kept my ears peeled, and the few times Xander has mentioned her in class, a student will reply, “Who?” And the only guy who seemed to recognize her had this ugly revelation, “Who’s even friends with Spencer? She barely talks to anyone. All she does is set the curve like a bitch.”
Glaring at a teenager—not my finest moment. Still don’t regret it though.
Xander has been careful not to talk Spencer up. She’s trying to keep her head down and graduate, and if anyone sees that the Xander Hale has a new acquaintance that he converses with one period a day, they’d be all over Spencer in the halls. Wanting to know details about him, prodding about what shampoo he uses.
Easton gets flagged down daily. Guy is bullet-proof to any questions about Xander. It’s like he’s the real undead. Told Luna all about Xander’s friends while we were in bed one night. She wanted to know more about Easton since he lives down the hall. I ended up talking about Spencer too.
Luna smiled, “My brother would befriend a vampire and a ghost.”
New Media ends, and students rush out the double doors. Ben towers over everyone, and he’s only third out—storming ahead like someone pulled a fire alarm. I’m quick to catch up to his side.
“Sorry,” he says, adjusting his slipping gym bag.