Total pages in book: 187
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184867 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 924(@200wpm)___ 739(@250wpm)___ 616(@300wpm)
Me: And what if I don’t? What then? You’re just going to force me?
Dad: Do you want me to take away access to your bank account? Because I will do it.
I’m really trying hard not to chuck my phone into the nearest tree.
Me: Fine. I’ll be fucking nice to her. Happy now?
Dad: Good. It doesn’t have to be this way, you know? You could just try to put in some effort.
Me: I’m going to class. Bye.
I turn off my phone before he can send any more texts, and I look at all the unmarked skin on my wrist, wondering if I should get another tattoo just to take the edge off the rage inside my heart.
Crystal
I knew I had to run in the opposite direction the second I saw those hazel eyes.
I couldn’t look at them for one more second without immediately being reminded of all the dirty things Caleb and Ares did to me on that bench in the maze. I can still feel them too … inside my pussy and throat, the mere memory enough to make me throb again, and I hate it.
I hate it so much I don’t want to think about it one more second as I barge across campus grounds.
“Hey, Crystal!”
Penelope’s voice stops me in my tracks. She and our friends are having a picnic in the grass, and all the guys from the Skull & Serpent Society are there too, though they don’t seem pleased to be there at all. I snort to myself.
“Hey,” I say, waving back, and I grin at Kayla, who’s there too. “Hi, Kay!”
“Come sit with us,” Kayla says, pointing at the blanket.
I suck in a breath and try to push away the evil thoughts floating through my head. I can’t keep avoiding them forever. I’ve already gotten so many messages asking where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing. I don’t want to lose the last semblance of normalcy I have at Spine Ridge University.
I blow out a sigh and approach them in the grass. “I forgot it was lunchtime. I didn’t bring anything.”
“We’ve got extra sandwiches,” Penelope says.
“Yeah, want mine?” Dylan holds up a half-eaten one.
“Dylan!” Penelope swats his hand down. “Gross.”
Alistair snorts, and Dylan throws him a foul look. “What? I was just being nice.”
“Thanks, Dylan,” I say. “I appreciate it.”
“See? At least someone’s nice about it,” Dylan says.
“Go cry about it.” Felix rolls his eyes.
Dylan’s face scrunches up, and he pulls out his lighter and holds it underneath Felix’s jacket. My eyes widen when the fire immediately burns a hole into the fabric.
“Jesus F—” Felix pats down the jacket until the fire is out. “What the fuck did you do that for?”
“Well, if that isn’t a warm welcome,” I mutter.
Alistair laughs out loud, and everyone looks at him like he’s gone insane.
But then slowly, more people begin to laugh, even Dylan.
“Bitches,” Felix adds, but then he briefly laughs too.
“It’s been madness since they’ve joined our picnics,” Kayla says.
“Tell me about it.” Penelope rolls her eyes. “If only they would behave.”
“Hey. I behave,” Alistair says, taking a bite of his sandwich. “And I like this. What is it?”
“Salmon,” Kayla says.
He immediately spits it out. “Why the fuck would you let me eat this, Dylan?”
“Don’t look at me.” Dylan shrugs. “Wanna swap?”
Alistair sighs out loud and swaps their sandwiches.
“See, I’m nice,” Dylan says in a chipper voice.
Penelope holds out a box toward me. “Here, pick out whatever you want.”
I grab a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. “Thanks.”
My stomach growls, and Kayla and Penelope look at me like they’re about to burst into laughter.
“Guess we got you just in time,” Kayla says.
I take a bite out of my sandwich. “This is delish. Reminds me of how my mom used to make them.”
“Same. That’s why I bring them to class.” Penelope winks. “So … got any plans tonight?”
“What?” I swallow down the peanut butter.
“You know, the text I sent you?” she asks. “About the club?”
Wait, did she?
I pull out my phone and check the texts.
Shit. She’s right. I completely forgot I said yes.
But that was yesterday … before those two devils came to knock my world upside down and steal my literal breath away.
“Sorry, I forgot.” I swiftly take another bite and chug down my water. “I’ve been busy.”
“With what? I haven’t seen you in the library in days,” Kayla says. “It’s almost like you’ve got some kind of secret lover.”
I almost choke on my water. “No, no, nothing like that. Just some stuff going on with my mom. Nothing big.”
“Your mom?” Penelope frowns. “Is she okay?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, putting on a big smile to hide the lie. “Anyway, what about the club?”
“You still up for partying with us?” she asks, biting her lip. “We’re going to Club RIVERA. Felix has a VIP pass because it’s one of his father’s clubs. Anyway, it’s gonna be a blast.”