Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
“Also, have you seen her office?” I ask, shivering.
Jaz grins. “Once or twice.”
“It’s terrifying. What’s with that weird cabinet?”
“You know she’s got like an altar to some ancient demigod in there.”
“Right? I don’t know why she gives me serious American Horror Story vibes. And I can’t help thinking under those robes she’s sporting some seriously fucked-up tattoos.”
“The perfect cover,” Jaz says solemnly.
“Hey, do you want to do something this weekend?” I ask, slightly hesitant. It’s been a while since I had a friend to hang out with that wasn’t Fenn, and I’m sort of nervous I might be jumping the gun. “My sister’s being a pain in the ass, and I can’t spend another weekend locked in the house with her hounding me.”
“Yeah, okay. I’m down.”
As we’re talking, I notice a very conspicuous car pull up in the loop where parents and hired help wait for students. It’s a silver Porsche, sleek and disgustingly expensive. Sunlight sparks off Lawson Kent’s signature sunglasses when he steps out and comes around to lean against the passenger side.
Then I notice a smiling Ainsley jump up from the top step where she’d been waiting. Beaming, she starts to stride toward him.
It gives me a terrible idea.
“You know him?” Jaz asks, admiring Lawson’s tall, muscular frame.
“Gotta go. I’ll text you.”
“What—”
I’m already gone. I have to take it at a jog to beat her there, but I succeed, running up to Lawson just as Ainsley gets within spitting distance. Without missing a beat, I reach up and throw my arms over his shoulders.
“Hey, handsome,” I greet him.
Ignoring his bewildered expression, I lay a kiss on him.
With tongue.
“What are you doing?” he whispers when our lips part, those light gray eyes dancing with intrigue.
“You complaining?” I whisper back, then nip at his bottom lip.
Lawson chuckles. “Never.”
“Good.” I pull back with a mischievous smile. “Now how about you give me a ride?”
CHAPTER 21
LAWSON
CASEY TRESSCOTT IS A BIBLICAL BEAUTY. FORBIDDEN FRUIT. THE little sister. To taste is to commit one’s soul to eternal torment and damnation.
I’ve witnessed the utter devastation she’s wrought on poor dear Fenn, and I don’t envy his anguish. Although I’m still not sure what he did to deserve being banished from the Tresscott sisters’ good graces. Everyone is so hush-hush lately, which means they’re leaving my mind to fill in the blanks.
And everything my mind comes up with leans toward the depraved.
“I think you’re lost, little girl.” I eye Casey in the passenger seat as she puts her window down, letting the cool autumn air sweep her golden hair around her face like a wild conflagration. “You know Sloane would kill me for this.”
“Then don’t tell her.”
Uh-oh. I’ve seen that look before. She’s a girl determined to pour kerosene on the town and set it ablaze. The schoolgirl uniform only adds to the rebellious aura she’s emitting.
My gaze lowers to her bare legs, tanned and shapely. The hem of her skirt rides up a little, flashing a bit of thigh.
I shouldn’t be checking her out, I know. But forbidden fruit is appetizing to look at. Bet she tastes great too.
But I’d never go there.
I think.
If I weren’t sober, who knows. Luckily, I haven’t indulged in any party favors today, so my head is clear and I’m pretty sure I can trust myself not to break the bro code and poach Fenn’s girl, ex or not. I probably wouldn’t have let her in the car otherwise.
Okay, that’s a lie. Sober or intoxicated, I was curious the second she said give me a ride.
“And for whose benefit is this little excursion on the wild side?” I ask with a chuckle.
“So many questions…”
“Call me curious.”
I’ve certainly been kissed with less explanation, but rarely by someone as emphatically off-limits as Casey. Which is in no way a complaint. I could do with a disruption in the status quo, and I’m dying to see where this goes, even if I have a feeling I know the motive for her sudden rebellious turn.
“We wouldn’t be trying to inflict some existential damage on Fenn, would we?” I waggle my eyebrows. “You know you’re going to get us in trouble.”
Casey betrays a moment of hesitation before she steels herself again. “Would you care?” She glances at me with playful eyes. “You love trouble.”
“Guilty.”
I blow through the intersection rather than turn left toward the road that would take us back to Sandover. Casey notices but doesn’t voice an objection. She got in this car, after all. And I plan to make the trip worthwhile for her. Plus, it’s bound to stir up turmoil when her absence is noticed.
I can’t wait to watch the fallout.
“Anyway, this isn’t about Fenn.” Her voice turns bitter with his name in her mouth.
“Enlighten me, then. Who are we making jealous?”
“Jealous? Nobody. The question you should be asking is—who are we pissing off?”