Chapter 11
ELEVEN
I text Harley the next morning and tell him he’s a treacherous asshole.
I know he has training for his swim team, so I’m not expecting a text back, just the cold shoulder he’ll give me all day instead.
Cursing under my breath, I’m late to leave for class because without Avery here to drink coffee and snark with, I hit snooze too many times.
My phone pings and I check it while I lock the door.
I’m helping Ash get his head out of his ass.
I see how much you’re doing for us. I see how much Avery means to you.
I see that you’re one of us. He needs to open his eyes and see it too.
Fuck, even Morrison sees it and he’s usually too far up his own ass jotting down morbid love poems to see anything.
My heart does a weird little flip.
I don’t know how to answer it. Shrug it off, make a joke, or give him the same honesty? He texted me directly, not using the group message like he usually does, so I take a risk.
I’ll do whatever it takes to get us all out of here alive and together.
He doesn’t text back.
Somehow, it’s a relief, and when I arrive late to our first class he doesn’t say a word, just tips his chin to acknowledge me when I sit down.
We work in silence but it’s soothing to me now, I don’t feel any hostility from him at all.
When it’s time for lunch, he grabs me by the elbow and directs me to the dining hall.
Usually, I eat an apple in the library and work on assignments or hang out in the dance studio while Avery practices.
He grabs a tray and fills it with food. When he takes a bowl of the mushroom risotto I like, it’s obvious it’s for me because he hates mushrooms. My stomach has a strange buzz at the realization that not only is he choosing my lunch for me, but he knows my preferences well enough now to make the call.
We’ve never talked about it, I’ve never noticed him taking an interest, yet there’s no arguing with the tray of food he’s carrying.
I grab us both iced coffees to distract myself so I don’t misread the very basic act of kindness, and I’ve got my deluded expectations back down to zero where they belong by the time we’re seated together in our usual spot.
My stomach does not want to entertain the idea of food under his intense scrutiny, but I also can’t turn him down like that.
We don’t speak while we eat, which helps, and I manage a few spoonfuls without making a fool of myself.
Honestly, the risotto is so good that I start to think I’ll get through the entire bowl, except then Ash appears out of thin air and takes a seat next to me. I put down my cutlery with a sigh.
Harley sees the look on my face and says, “Just eat, Mounty. He’s here for lunch not war.”
I eat my banana.
Harley and Ash start up a random conversation about cars they’re interested in, though Harley seems to be more reserved.
Ash doesn’t look at me or try to speak to me and I focus on eating my lunch.
I’m busy texting Avery about our plans to go to Haven together when Joey takes a seat next to Harley.
I don’t acknowledge him and I finish the text.
I’m not going to show this evil dickhead any respect or fear. Fuck him.
“Does the Jackal know you’ve made some friends, Mounty?”
I hit send and then I lean back in my chair. Ash’s leg has tensed where it’s pressed against mine under the table. Harley is glaring at Joey and the muscle in his jaw is ticking. “I don’t answer to him, or you, Joey. Where have you been hiding this year? I’ve barely seen you.”
His eyes slide around the room in an awful liquid way, like he’s something not quite human, and his grin is nothing short of deranged. “Oh, have you missed me, my little Mounty love?”
I force myself to swallow the bile creeping up my throat. “I don’t think anyone misses you, Joey. I don’t think anyone could ever miss you—you’re something people are forced to endure. What are you here for?”
He picks up Harley’s steak knife and begins to play with it.
Harley watches him carefully and, knowing what family he belongs to, I’m fairly confident he can defend himself if Joey takes a swing with it.
However, Ash turns ghostly pale and looks like he’s going to vomit.
He knows if he stops Joey, or harms him in any way, it’s Avery who will pay for it.
What he doesn’t know is that I’m not about to let that happen—to either of them.
I don’t know why but I put a hand on his knee under the table and squeeze gently. He takes a deep breath.
Joey’s eyes stay fixed on me, his obsessive gaze making my skin crawl, but I don’t let it show.
He clearly doesn’t like it, but the smile stays on his face all the same.
“The twins and Morrison are going to the recital next week in the city and I’m celebrating in their absence.
Come to my party. I’ve missed hanging out with you and I think you should have a drink with me.
I’ll make sure they have your favorite whiskey. ”
I glance at Harley to see a little frown on his face, but his eyes still follow the knife. He’s solid, I’m sure of it, and it makes my answer an easy one.
“Sure, why not. Arbour will come with me and we can make a night of it.”
Joey grins like he’s won something, and it’s like I cease to exist to him as his attention shifts onto Ash.
There’s a moment of silence, all of us frozen at the table while we wait, and then Joey moves as if he’s going to put the knife down amicably.
He stares into his brother’s eyes obsessively, straight into the soul of his favorite victim, and then he flips on a dime.
Lightning fast, he moves to impale the knife still clutched in his fist through Ash’s hand and into the table below.
Well, that’s what he attempts to do except my reflexes are quicker and my own hand snaps out to catch his wrist. Harley gets a hold of his arm a fraction of a second later and the tip of the knife stops a breath away from Ash’s skin.
Joey pants like he’s getting off on this.
He licks his lips and grins at us. It’s disgusting.
I lean forward and whisper, “You may have tied his hands, but you haven’t tied mine. Push me and I’ll show you that being a Beaumont only gets you so far in this world.”
Ash and Harley have a raging argument about the party and I duck away from them both to head to my choir class.
I have to go to the party, I need to know what Joey is planning, and if Harley doesn’t want to come with me then I’ll go by myself.
I only offered to take Harley because I thought he’d insist.
Avery is laughing along with Blaise when I take my seat, and I smile at Lauren, Jessie, and Dahlia. They all look at me with the same awestruck fear they direct at Avery and it’s pretty fucking weird to have it aimed at me as well.
“Stop being nice to the sheep,” Avery teases, and I cut her a look.
“Your green-eyed monster is showing, Aves. You know you’re my favorite.”
She giggles and bumps my shoulder with hers. “The only green-eyed monster around here is Morrison and he’s too hungover to be any trouble.”
Blaise rolls his eyes and I notice how bloodshot they are. “Drinking on a school night? How very rock star of you.”
He groans and slumps down. “I had no choice. Ash borrowed my car to go fuck a Haven chick and Avery cornered me about my own evening activities so I tried to drown her out with bourbon. I think I’m going to join Harley in celibacy because I haven’t found a pussy yet that’s worth dealing with Avery’s lectures. ”
Avery makes a gagging noise as I stare at him, stunned. I can’t even fumble out a jab back, my brain just turns off at the arrogant ass. Miss Umber starting the class saves me, thank Christ.
“I have some exciting changes in your syllabus to announce! Usually, your final assignment for choir is to perform in front of the class but, this year, we’re joining forces with the music students and holding a concert for the entire school!
” She claps her hands like an excited toddler while she’s casually ruining my life.
This woman… this fucking woman and her ‘good ideas’.
“What the fuck is Miss Umber’s obsession with individual performances?” I hiss at Avery the moment the teacher’s back is turned.
Avery hums under her breath at me, lifting her shoulder in a nonchalant way, and my palms begin to sweat. I’ll just have to talk to her again and get out of it somehow.
Miss Umber hands out worksheets designed to help us pick which song we will sing, and then giggles when Blaise smiles at her. Avery scoffs and rolls her eyes, which only makes him turn up the charm. I don’t know how the older lady’s heart survives it because I am melting .
“The concert will be held at the end of the school year; choir students will sing in front of the entire school. Then the musicians will perform. I hope you all take this very seriously because, as always, the majority of your grade will be determined by your performance. No exceptions. If you’re not there, you’re not passing this class. ”
Oh, God.
I’m no longer sweating at Blaise’s hotness.
There is no way I can do this. No way. Next year I’m risking my fucking leg and doing track or something.
Maybe I should join Harley on the swim team?
I’m terrible at swimming and Ash would probably have an aneurysm over it but whatever.
Is it too late to switch out now? I’m spiraling, I know I am, and I have to grit my teeth to pull myself out.
Miss Umber starts directing the warm-ups and I don’t even try to pretend to join in. Once her back is turned again, I lean into Avery.
“911,” I hiss and she startles to look back at me. Blaise casts us both a curious look, but he doesn’t miss a single note in his warm-up.