Heartless Legacy (Heartless Heirs of Canyon Falls #4)

104. Thea

Chapter 104

Thea

“ H i, Beautiful.” Finn greets me with a kiss on the cheek as I exit my class. Holden’s leaning against the wall across from the door, and Pax is over by the exit sign. “What are you two doing here?” I ask, choosing to ignore Pax’s presence.

Finn answers, “Waiting for you.”

“ Why ?” I draw out the word, immediately on guard.

“Because we missed you.”

“You just saw me on the ride to school this morning, Finn.” He’s taking this cohabitation thing to the next level. He lives with me. Rides to school with me. Sits with me for lunch.

He slips his arm around my shoulder and says, “A good boyfriend who truly cares about you wants to spend every moment with you.”

Oh god . Is he still competing with Wolfe? “A good boyfriend knows when to give me space. What you’re experiencing borders on obsession.”

“Just borders?” He frowns. “Then I’m not doing something right. I want to be full-blown obsessed.”

I chuckle at his answer, turning my attention to Holden. “What about you? Is he dragging you into his obsession?” Other than that one day last month, Holden still sits at the legacy table with Pax, but he spends all his time staring at me.

He pushes his glasses up his nose. “He doesn’t need to drag me into anything. I’m already there.”

“Really?” I joke, “I’m not feeling it.”

He smiles, but it looks forced. “Noted. I’ll do better.”

“That’s not what I meant.” I call out to his back, because he’s already walking away. My eyes fall to Pax. He hasn’t moved, hasn’t said a word.

I was about to tell him not to do anything drastic, but maybe they should.. I’ve been burned too many times. If they’re sincere, then that means being on my side. Hard stop. I’m not demanding a public claiming, but dammit, I’m worth a public claiming. I twirl the ring I wear on a chain around my neck.

I can’t say for certain what it is I want them to do, but words mean nothing. If , and that’s a big old capital I.F., if I’m going to try this again, their apologies need to be as big and as splashy as their fuck ups.

“What’s going on with Holden?” I ask Finn as he takes his seat next to me in class.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t give me nothing. I can tell when someone’s about to snap, and he hit that point days ago. So what happened?”

“Nothing happened. He’s probably exhausted from all the traveling he did over spring break. We’ve had a breakthrough in the team building challenge. Did he tell you he had to go to Colorado for your clue?”

“I didn’t ask him to do that, so if you’re expecting me to feel guilty, I don’t.”

“Good, because I don’t want your guilt, but I will take a thank you kiss.”

I put my hand up, blocking his path to my lips. “If I’m gonna say thank you with a kiss, then Holden’s the one who gets it, since you just said he’s doing all the work.”

“I’m helping.”

“Really? What have you done?”

“I helped him figure out that our clues are related, and I’ve been following prospects too, funneling the information back to Holden for your project. We’re a team on this.” He taps his lips. “So gimme my share of the profits.”

Finn’s getting way more time with me because of our living situation. Every time I tell him to go back to the dorm, he shows up with more stuff. “You live in my apartment and eat my food, I think-”

He moves fast, stealing a kiss before I can finish my sentence. When he sits back, I ask, “Have you found anything to lead me closer to this ultimate challenge item, or that even identifies what it could be?”

He shakes his head and leans closer as the teacher walks in. “Neither has any of the prospects I’ve heard talking about it. They’re starting to think it’s a hoax, like Holden’s dad said. Every time they find a clue, they hit a dead end.”

Finn takes my hand and squeezes. “But don’t worry. Holden loves puzzles. He’ll find us a tangible lead.” He says as he stretches his legs out for his customary nap. How is he even passing this class? He puts his shades on, as if that will fool people into thinking he’s awake. “He’d probably figure it out a lot faster if he’d take my advice and step away to let off some steam.” Putting my left hand in his lap, dangerously close to his dick, he says, “Take good notes.”

I ignore Finn’s obvious attempt to get me to feel him up. Focusing my attention on the professor and his lecture. There’s only one way that I know Holden likes to let off steam. That’s chasing me, which he hasn’t done since the maze. If trying to help me win this challenge has him stressed, should I offer him an outlet?

Pax

Finn walks into the bunker whistling. “Anybody thirsty?” He asks, walking over to the fridge. “I’m thirsty. I think I’m dehydrated.” He guzzles a bottle of water then opens a sports drink, finishing half of that in one go.

“Are you high?” I ask.

“High? No. Why would you ask that?”

Because that’s all I can come up with for why he’s so thirsty. If he were in his gear or workout clothes I’d understand, but he’s wearing an ascot and sunglasses. “You’re extreme thirst.” Holden says, explaining my thought process.

“Oh. Yeah.” Finn shakes his head. “I’m not high on any illicit substances, unless you count TPJ.”

“TPJ? Is that a new party favor on campus?”

He throws me a murderous glare. “What?” I ask, thoroughly confused.

“Thea’s pussy juice will never be passed around at a party on campus.”

He’s giving it a name? This dude. Instead of thinking of TPJ, I ask, “Is that why you showed up late for the fashion show this morning? You spent the night at Thea’s?”

Sitting, he says, “Spending the night? Uh, no. Thea and I live together.”

I choke on my spit, and rasp out, “You what?”

“I moved out of Vale Tower. Thea and I live off campus in this cute little condo.” He finishes the rest of his drink before adding, “Deacon lives with us too.”

I hear him. I understand what he’s saying, but I’m also not understanding what he’s saying. “The three of you live together? In a three-bedroom apartment. Like roommates?”

“Yes. But we’re not just roommates. Thea’s our girlfriend.” He mumbles. “My girlfriend and his sort of fiancé, but I’m gonna match that energy, too.”

Fiancé. That word smashes into me so hard I stumble backwards. I can see Holden having the same visceral reaction. “You’re.” I inhale, wincing at the pain in my chest. “Is that why you wanted to meet with us? To tell us you’re…you’re drafting a contract with Thea and Deacon?”

It makes sense. Finn’s been consistent about wanting Thea. He’s been saying for months that he doesn’t care about the fallout. If Deacon is moving to make things more permanent with her, now would be the best time for Finn to go for it. I force myself to look at Holden. Finn’s out. He probably is too. I waited too damn long to come clean. Took too much time to grow a pair of balls and try to fix things.

“Fix your face, Paxton. ” Finn says, with an exaggerated drawl and roll of his eyes. “Nobody’s ditching you. That’s why I called this meeting.” He kicks a chair towards me. “Now sit. We’re going to come up with a plan and we’re not leaving here until we do.” He glares at me. “And if for one second I think you’re not one hundred percent on board, if I get even a whiff of you playing us and being a spy for your father, I will kill you.”

“I’m not a plant.”

“Yeah, well, if that’s true, you’ll happily spend every second of every day proving it.”

I look over at Holden, who nods in agreement and says, “The first thing you’re gonna do is help us sabotage your contract with Eloise.”

Thea seems better. She’s smiling and joking with her friends, and sassing Finn and Holden every time I see them with her. They’re doing exactly what they said they were gonna do. Openly pursuing her, no matter what anyone else thinks.

They’ve tried to include me in their interactions and conversations, but it’s not as easy as it was before. Part of that is on me. I don’t feel I have a right to her smiles or to be a part of her happiness, because I haven’t done anything to earn it. I want her to choose to be around me because she wants to be. Not because Finn and Holden drag me along.

I watch as she carries her tray to her table, but instead of eating right away, she turns to look at ours, frowning at me, then at Holden. I expect her to dismiss us both, but she keeps staring until Holden looks up from his phone. Then she’s looking at me again. If looks could kill, I’d be dead. I don’t know what I did in the last two minutes to piss her off.

She leans over and whispers something to LJ, then leaves the table, carrying her food outside. Holden’s on his feet, seconds later following her. My curiosity gets the best of me. I go outside too, and find them sitting at a table far away from the other students.

Holden looks my way, but Thea turns his face back to her and leans in closer, whispering against his ear. He shakes his head while she nods hers. Then he’s gripping her jaw and leans in, kissing her. He’s gonna leave fingermarks on her face if he doesn’t ease up.

Before I can move to intercede, his grip loosens, his hands moving to cup the back of her head. When they break apart, some of the tension has bled from his features. Thea wraps her arms around him in a hug, then pushes her tray towards him before climbing to her feet.

She walks past me. Her I hate you look is back in place, as she says, “He’s fine, but I don’t suggest you let anyone get too close to him for the rest of the day.”

“You said he’s fine.”

“He is, and everyone else will continue to be fine, as long as you keep the grabby hands away from him.” She sighs, and some of the hostility drains from her voice. “Just block for him, Pax. He’s not in the right head space to play companion today, and he refuses to skip the rest of his classes. So I’m asking you to be a good friend and keep people away from him. Please.”

This is why I don’t deserve her. I realize how much it must’ve taken for her to ask me to help. “I will.”