Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
It escalated. Getting worse and worse between me and the Royals until they decided to put me in my place once and for all. The day I returned from spring break, Owen broke into my room, dragged me out of the shower, and
I stopped there. Sliding on my jacket, I put the note in the inside pocket where it’d be safe.
In the end, Owen Thasher wasn’t satisfied with daily, constant harassment. When he saw my sister wouldn’t be beaten, he set out to break her for good.
It was terrible for Winter that this school put everyone on a predictable schedule and those guys knew where she was every day... and that fact would be twice as misfortunate for Owen.
He’s a sophomore. He’s in general education classes this year. I shut off the lights, getting the last of my things as I made for the door. Once I get my hands on his class schedule, I’ll know how he spends the day and where he sleeps. Filling in the in-between will be easy.
I stepped down and locked my door.
“Oh, Lu-Lu Sinclair, you’re a Thor-damned tragedy.” Katie posted up on the opposite wall, sipping what I suspected was a low-fat white chocolate latte. “Cutout dresses are so three years ago. How are you not ashamed walking around in public like this?”
“Good morning, Katie,” I sighed. Katie’s outfit was a tie-waist shirt dress and suede boots. “Sorry to hear another outfit doesn’t meet your standards, but I clearly have good enough self-esteem to deal with it, or your constant put-downs would curl me up in a ball in that corner.”
“This isn’t about you anymore. I’ve got to walk next to you. Thor forbid anyone thinks I befriended some sad little Dreg who can’t dress herself.” She checked her phone. “Okay, I’ve got a thing at eleven, but the dean can wait. We’re going shopping.”
“I was going to do that later anyway. Make your meeting with the dean.”
“At this point, I can’t trust you. I’m taking you and I’m not hearing an argument about it.” Katie strode off, tossing over her shoulder, “Money is no object.”
“Are you asking me or telling me?” I cried.
“You should know me well enough by now to answer that. Keep up.”
For the life of me, I’d never understand the person who accepted Kate Langford’s application to guide innocent, unsuspecting freshmen and said she’d be a great fit.
I jogged to her side. “Thor forbid. I like it.”
“Chris Hemsworth can give me his hammer any time. He’s the god I worship.”
My Catholic education forbade me from continuing the conversation. “What’s on the student agenda today?”
“I’ve got to show you where your classes are and then you’ve got a meeting with your adviser to go over your academic goals for the semester. You’re most likely going to miss it. Fixing you will take all day.”
“What if I don’t want to miss the meeting?”
She gave me a look.
“Yes, yes,” I sang. “I know you better—”
Someone knocked my shoulder. “Oops, sorry.” Owen Thasher swung in front of me, gripping my arm. “You okay, lovely?”
My skin crawled. Throwing him off, I snapped, “I’m fine.”
His grin widened, raking me up and down. Hair shaved close to the scalp and pale blond eyebrows made him look a bit like a hairless monk. It disgusted me that he was handsome regardless. Wicked grin, strong jaw, and athletic body—the guy didn’t understand no because people rarely said it to him.
From the glint in his eyes, he didn’t think my outfit was a crime against humanity. “Haven’t seen you around. Freshman?”
“Yes.”
“Where you from?”
“A place where we execute people for being late.” I snagged Katie’s sleeve. “I have to go.”
I sidestepped him, dragging Katie after me. She freed herself outside at the bottom of the steps.
“Do you know who you just blew off? Owen’s father sells the luxury cars your stepdaddy wishes would wear his tires.”
“My stepdaddy doesn’t need Owen or his father. That guy is the shit that shit shits, and someone’s got to make him cry for it. You’re worse than self-involved if you pretend you don’t know what he is.”
“Calm down, Sinclair.” Katie pulled a compact out of her bag and puckered her lips at her reflection. “We’ve established your parents don’t like you very much, don’t go pissing away your only friend.”
“Since when are we friends?”
“You love me. I’m still deciding if you’re worth my time. So far, you’re off to a bad start.”
My jaw worked for a full ten seconds trying to form the words against that nonsense. I made no secret of my feelings for Katie Langford. When exactly did she turn that into love?
“I don’t deny the guy’s an ass,” Katie continued. “He’s got selective hearing. Funny that it only goes when a girl says no.”
My irritation leaked out. Katie wasn’t that self-involved. She saw what Owen was.