A few days later
I tap my pen back and forth, but I can’t for the life of me focus on my homework. This paper isn’t going to fucking write itself, but dammit, my mind is somewhere else.
“I really don’t get this part,” Brooke says.
“What?” I mutter.
I almost forgot Brooke and Irina were here too.
“Oh nothing, I’m just really wondering why on earth I chose this class.”
I laugh. “I can relate to that.”
“No shit, what are we even doing here? Why aren’t we out there socializing, drinking, and having a fucking party? I thought that was what college was all about.”
“College kind of implies studying too,” I jest.
“Yeah, who even made that up?” She sighs. “I’m so done with this.”
Irina laughs. “You always say that, yet you’re still here.”
“Exactly. Why don’t I just stop?” Brooke whines.
I grab her papers and hand her a bottle of water. “Have a drink first. Take a breath. Try again later.”
She groans but still takes the bottle to chug down some water. “You’re always so calm and collected. I don’t know how you do it.”
I snort. “That’s just what I want you to see. On the inside, I’m a raging witch.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” she retorts, laughing. She spots someone behind us, and her eyes almost melt off her face. “Oh my God, don’t look. It’s those Phantom boys. I think they’re coming over here.”
“Wait, what?”
She slaps me with a book when I attempt to look over my shoulder. “I said don’t look.”
“Why not?” I hiss back, frowning. “Are you scared or something?”
“I don’t want to look desperate.”
My face contorts as I try to keep my laugh together. “Girl, why?”
“We danced, remember? At their party?” she says.
Oh right, I almost forgot Kai danced with them. But he only did that to get information out of them about me.
Brooke taps Irina’s shoulder. “Quick, does my lipstick look good?”
“You look fine,” Irina replies. “Who is it?”
Brooke whispers, “I think it’s Nathan.”
Oh boy.
And here I was, trying to keep my shit together.
After our altercation in his room the other day, I haven’t been able to think about much else. The way he looked at me, almost as if he could want more from me than just my body, still makes me shiver.
Something has changed.
Not just with him … but with me.
When I saw that little girl jump into his arms, I think it was the first time I saw him for the man he really is. Protective and loving. And that scares me.
I can’t help but turn my head, curious if he’s really on his way here.
Nathan marches into the place like he owns it in that preppy boy outfit of his, and my eyes instinctively follow wherever he goes. His swagger is unmistakable as he looks around, searching for something. I look up, almost wondering if it’s me he’s after. His eyes briefly connect with mine, and the pen in my hand stops moving. I can’t look away even though I know I should.
These fucking boys aren’t right for me.
They’re a foul distraction, nothing more than devils in disguise looking for trouble.
Yet I can’t seem to stop thinking about every dirty fucking thing they did to my body. Especially now that I know why.
It doesn’t excuse what they did, but for some reason, it feels like it all suddenly makes sense.
But they’re actively extorting you, Lana.
Nathan sets his eyes on Milo, who’s chatting on the couch with a guy I’ve never seen before. A guy with long black hair and a charming smile. Nathan talks to the guy like he knows him, and I wonder how many more friends those two have outside of the Phantom Society. If they told anyone about me.
That’d be ridiculous. You don’t want anyone to know about you. What if they find out what you really enjoy?
I bite my lip and focus on the paper again, but Brooke can’t stop staring at me, and it’s such a distraction.
“What?” I bark.
She smirks. “You’ve got the hots for him.”
I scowl. “No, I do not.”
Suddenly, someone throws a bunch of books on the table, and I look up to see Crystal standing in front of us. “Hey guys!” She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, revealing a rose adorning her hair. “Mind if I join you with to study? Sitting by myself is much less fun.”
We all look at her like we’ve seen a ghost.
“What? Am I not welcome?”
“Of course you are,” Brooke says, scooting back a chair for her.
Crystal narrows her eyes at us. “What are y’all talking about?”
“Nothing,” we say in unison.
She looks at us like we’ve lost our marbles. Maybe we have, I’m not sure.
“Ooookay,” she mutters. “That sounds like a mutual secret. Am I butting in to something?”
“Oh no, it’s no secret Lana’s got the hots for Nathan,” Brooke muses.
Crystal’s eyes widen. “Nathan?”
I slap Brooke’s arm with her own book. “The hell I do.”
“Your mouth says that, but your eyes tell a different story.” Brooke laughs.
“Oh my God, Brooke, you can’t just throw people’s secret crushes around,” Irina tells her.
“Too late,” Brooke muses, proud of herself.
Crystal sits down. “Well, tell me all about it.”
“No,” I reply staunchly.
“Why not?” Crystal asks, putting down her books. “Nathan’s a friend of mine. I want to know what he’s up to. And with Felix’s sister, no less.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” I say, fighting the blush on my cheeks with everything I’ve got.
Nothing I could ever tell them anyway.
Brooke swivels around on her chair and circles her pom-pom pen at me. “Oooh … she’s getting flushed. She’s totally kissed him already.”
Irina gasps. “Wow, is that true? He didn’t even tell me.”
“I never said anything—”
“You don’t have to. I can see it from the way you look at him,” Brooke interrupts.
“How do I look at him?” I’m getting a little aggressive now, but I don’t want anyone to know anything about anyone.
“Like you want to eat him up and then some.” She smirks.
Fuck.
“The sister of a Skull & Serpent Society member with a Phantom Society member?” Brooke says. Like it would be such a scandal.
I raise a finger. “Don’t. Say. That. Out. Loud.”
“Why?” Brooke muses. “Your brother isn’t here.”
“No, but those Skull & Serpent guys are everywhere, and I don’t know all of those fuckers who join that frat, so can you please keep your voice down?”
Her brow rises. “So you admit you hooked up?”
“No,” I retort.
Crystal smashes her lips together to hide a grin. “Lana?”
“What?” I still can’t help the blush from spreading on my cheeks. “I plead the Fifth.”
“What’s this heated discussion about?”
We all look up to see Milo casually swaying a bottle of water back and forth.
“Oh, don’t mind me, I’m just here for the tea.”
“What tea? There is none. Why are you here?” I ask.
“Nathan asked me to check on you. See if you need anything.”
My eyes widen, and they immediately connect with Nathan, who winks at me.
He actually fucking winks at me.
What the hell is going on here?
All three girls stare at me with blown-up cheeks before they burst out into laughter. “Oh my God, so it’s true!”
“Milo!” I stand. “Can you not?”
“What? You know I always do what I’m told.” He winks. “Do you need some water to cool down?”
“Since when do you two even care what I need?” I bark back.
“Oh … oh boy, this is getting hot,” Brooke mumbles to Crystal.
“Wait a minute, you know both of them?” Crystal asks me.
“Oh, she knows me all right,” Milo muses, licking his lips. “And she knows I’m always at her service.”
He grabs my hand and presses a kiss on top, and the girls practically swoon with excitement.
Good God.
I did not want this public display.
Not in a million years.
Yet I can’t even move as he layers it on extra thick and says, “My lady.”
