Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
My heart stutters to a stop and bile creeps up my throat. I do everything in my power to be a good girl and stay off everyone’s radar. The thought of being on Mr. Park’s radar sends terrifying chills down my spine. Shuddering, I hug my arms to my chest and hurry into the classroom.
With my head down, I make my way to my seat. I drop my bag onto the floor and sit down, hoping to disappear completely.
“Psst. Willa.”
So much for disappearing.
I gnaw on my bottom lip, pretending I don’t hear Levi call for me. A wadded piece of paper bounces off my head and scuttles across the floor. Unable to ignore him, I look over my shoulder to find Levi grinning evilly at me.
As if having to live with the monster wasn’t enough, I’ve been forced to share my statistics class with him.
He’s the absolute worst.
“What?” I ask, frowning.
One of his friends barks out a laugh. “Dude, your sister doesn’t like you.”
I’m not his sister.
I’m his stepsister.
Other than sharing a house with him, we may as well be strangers.
“She likes me,” Levi argues. “She just got her period, though, which is making her kind of bitchy. Didn’t you, Willa? Bloody panties all over the bathroom floor—”
Even though it’s stupid and he’s made it up, it doesn’t stop him and several friends to roar in laughter. At my expense. I cringe, quickly turning to avoid his mean teasing. This time, I’m desperate to see Mr. Park. Not because I want to relive the embarrassment of yesterday, but because he is one of the few people who can shut my stepbrother up.
“Mr. Paulson,” Mr. Park snaps, slamming the classroom door shut behind him. “I suggest you spend less time clowning around and more time studying. Fs on exams mean you won’t pass my class. Do you really want to spend the summer retaking this statistics class?”
Levi mutters something, but it can’t be heard past the raucous laughter of our classmates. Mr. Park walks over to his desk, opens a drawer, and tosses the tests on his desk.
“Nearly half of you will be going into winter break with failing grades in my class.” He points at one of Levi’s friends, Nick, and then thumps the pile of tests. “Pass these out, Mr. Henson. Your F is on top.”
Nick groans as he stands and then saunters over to Mr. Park’s desk. He winces when he sees his grade. As he begins passing out the tests, I attempt to keep my eyes averted anywhere than on my teacher.
It’s useless.
He looks like a vengeful god perched on the edge of his desk, pulsing with authority and dominance. One of the things I find so attractive about him is how he makes people like Levi seem weak and worthless.
Our eyes clash, seemingly against their will, and all sound fades around me.
I’m not imagining this.
Mr. Park’s gaze is cutting into me, hot and unapologetic. The fiery heat of it leaves a trail over my skin. The urge to look away prickles through me, but a stubborn streak, hidden deep within keeps me motionless.
I’m not imagining this.
His brows deepen in their frown and his lips press together. A sudden wave of panic skitters through me as I wonder if I said those words aloud.
Smack!
I jolt in surprise when Nick slams my test down on my desk. Precise red ink mars the top of the paper. 100% - Nice work, Miss Reyes.
Nice work.
My stomach flutters at the note. He’s never written anything on my work before. It feels like a secret message between the two of us. Glancing up, I find him watching me intently. A rare smile tugs at my lips. His own lips twitch and then he winks at me.
Winks!
Heat floods through me. I’m not going insane. My teacher, Callum, is flirting with me. This isn’t some fantasy or dream. It’s real.
“Willa got the only A,” Nick grumbles, tossing the last test on someone’s desk. “I wonder how she got that.”
The room erupts in a cacophony of sexual grunts and moans. Humiliation burns hot in my gut. My test—that I’d been elated over just moments before—crumples in my tight grip. Tears threaten, but I blink hard, fiercely keeping them at bay.
“Out,” Mr. Park growls. “Get out of my classroom right now.”
“Mr. Park,” Nick whines. “I was just kidding—”
“OUT!”
I flinch at the booming order. My palms are clammy and my heart is beating a hundred miles per second.
Nick mutters under his breath about what a dick Mr. Park is but doesn’t speak it loud enough for him to hear. The classroom grows deathly quiet as Nick leaves.
Is everyone staring at me?
I just want this day to be over with.
“Now that you’ve all had your childish fun, open your Chromebooks. You’ll find today’s assignment waiting. After the lecture, I expect you all to complete the assignment and pass it with flying colors.”