Chapter 52
R en
Done, I took my final exam up to Mr. Sharpe and placed it on his desk. He smiled as he looked at the time.
“Great job, and I look forward to having you as a TA next year,” he said.
“Have a wonderful summer, Mr. Sharpe.”
“You as well.”
Stepping out of the classroom into the quiet hallway, I sucked in a deep breath. I’d survived my first year here. That was a triumph all on its own.
“I bet I’m still five points higher than you when everything is tallied.”
I turned to Theo, who was casually leaning against a locker with his arms crossed. He looked like a model for corporate America, just a much sexier version. “You already know how I did on my exams?”
The arrogant smirk never left his lips as I got closer.
“I don’t need to. Even if you got a perfect score on every exam, you’re still short.
Unless I didn’t get a perfect score.” He looked at his nails like he was bored.
“And I already know that I got perfect scores, so there is no feasible way that you beat me. Better luck next year, I guess.”
“Did you get the bonus questions?”
His eyes flicked up to me. “What bonus questions?”
I crossed my arms and looked at my nails to mock him.
“Oh, that means you didn’t notice them. Considering that there were enough to give me seven more total points, and I know that I also got perfect scores.
I guess that means I’ll win by two—such a shame for you to lose your crown to the new girl.
Better luck next year,” I said, smiling as I walked away.
“What bonus questions? Where were they?” Theo called after me, but I just put my hand in the air and waved.
I couldn’t believe I was flying home tomorrow, and Myles and Blake were coming with me.
Lizzy was going to lose her mind. I’d purposely not mentioned that the guys were coming.
I wanted to get the complete and authentic Lizzy response.
It still struck me as odd that my father showed up looking the way he did and then told Blake to take me home for the summer.
I hadn’t been able to reach him since, which worried me.
What if telling him I didn’t want to speak to him was the last time I saw him?
As angry and hurt as I was, I didn’t want that to be it for us. He was still my dad.
The sun was shining, and birds were singing when I stepped outside of Wayside Hall. The scent of spring was strong. The trees were already sprouting leaves, and the flowers were beginning to bloom in the gardens. Despite everything, this place was breathtaking.
“Walking around with your head in the clouds again?”
And then there was Nash. I turned to see him leaning up against one of the lampposts. I paused and looked back. That was weird. I almost expected to see Theo, but now Nash was milling about.
“Were you waiting for me,” I asked and instantly regretted it as the corner of his lip curled up.
“Why, Princess? Would you like me to wait for you?” He pushed away and parked himself in the middle of my path.
“Has Hell frozen over yet?”
“You act like you hate me, but I see you softening. One of these days, you’re going to stop resisting and beg me to fuck you,” Nash said, his voice somehow a soft, seductive growl.
I made sure to stay out of arm’s reach. Nash had an allure to him.
He reminded me of everything my parents told me not to eat or touch because it would hurt or I wouldn’t like it.
But some things I just really had to try for myself.
I’d burnt my finger that way, and I had no intention of doing that with him.
“There is a difference in being cordial because you’re never going to change and wanting to sleep with you.
I’m sure you have trouble with the distinction because you’ve never had someone reject you and still be nice.
Rest assured, me not jumping on you doesn’t mean your dick doesn’t have dozens of adoring fans.
Your ego will survive. Oh, and just so you know, I don’t have a magic portal to another world between my legs.
So, you can relax. You’re not missing out.
” I smiled and patted his arm. “Hard to believe, I know.”
I stepped around him, but of course, Nash followed and matched his stride to mine. “I promise you, Princess, one of these days, I’ll shut you up by sticking my cock down your throat.”
“Only if you want it bitten off.” I glanced at him, and he smirked.
“We’ll see about that,” he said, and those four words worried me more than if he’d spewed more ridiculous promises.
“What are you doing for the summer,” I asked, changing topics before he decided to prove me wrong right here on the pathway.
“I’m working on getting my new business set up, and my father is insisting I work at his company a couple days a week. Plus, I need to ramp up training to three times a day for the coming season. I’ve managed to shave three-tenths of a second off my personal best in freestyle.”
“Myles mentioned it, but hasn’t said what you’re doing. What is the business?”
“A nightclub and boxing gym, but they need a lot of work to get going.”
The breeze blew my hair around my face, and Nash grabbed the wild strand and tucked it behind my ear. I shivered as goosebumps rose on my body, and I had to clear my throat. He quickly jerked his hand away like he was shocked that he’d done it in the first place.
“Are you not going to take a break? Go on a vacation or something?”
He looked down at me as we reached the main doors. “Where would I go, and what would I do there?”
“I don’t know, sightsee, shop, or lay on the beach. Probably find twenty girls to sleep with or something.”
“I don’t like to sightsee or shop. I’m always in water, so I don’t need a beach, and I don’t have to go anywhere to get twenty girls.”
“That’s not the point,” I said, not going inside.
“Then what’s the point, Princess? Is jetting away for the summer and relaxing going to solve the problem of my father or stop the noose from tightening around my neck?
No, it’s not, and that’s my priority. Everything I do is to get out from under his control.
Otherwise, one day, he will kill me, and I’d prefer to kill him first. Have a good summer, Princess. ”
Nash turned and walked away, and I couldn’t help but watch him until he disappeared between two buildings.
I felt the weight of his words in my chest. I was positive that he meant what he said, and from the little I’d seen, I didn’t blame him.
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what living with a man like Lawrence was like.
No one should have to bear that kind of burden, yet he did.
We were still in high school, and it was as if he was already fifty and had swarms of men at his command.
It wasn’t hard to picture him in a suit and sitting on a mafia throne, whatever that looked like.
Sighing, I pulled open the door and almost ran straight into Liam, who was standing right inside the door.
“Jesus! Why are you standing in the middle of the way,” I asked, jerking to a halt.
“Why aren’t you watching where you’re going?” His face was so passive that I couldn’t tell if he was joking or genuinely sassing me.
“The sun was in my eyes.”
“But you were inside.” My jaw clenched as I fought to end this needless argument. “Are you ready to start your training when you get back, or have you chickened out?”
My back bristled. “I don’t chicken out. I’ll be ready.” His eyebrow twitched, the only sign of emotion he’d shown so far. Liam was ridiculously hard to read.
“If you’re looking for Theo, he’s lurking around Wayside Hall,” I said.
A ladder fell over in the foyer, making me jump and slam into Liam like a scared rabbit.
“Yeah, you look ready,” Liam said, and I quickly let go of his arms and stepped away, mortified.
“Sorry,” the maintenance guy said. They’d started the work early in the common areas and any rooms not in use. Some places just needed a fresh coat of paint, while others required more serious repairs.
“I didn’t see it fall.” The defense was weak, and I knew it, but I was sticking to it.
“I guess I know what to work on first,” he said and stepped to the side so I could walk past.
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll let it be a surprise. Catch you around, Rabbit,” Liam said, sarcastically.
He pushed open the doors, making a grand exit, and I shook my head in disbelief.
Why did they all have to call me something different?
Just pick one nickname and stick to it. I thought that Nash and Theo were prickly, but Liam was slowly moving up the list.
The dorm buzzed as people hustled around, dragging suitcases and laughing or chatting on the phone about their summer plans. It just made me more excited for tomorrow.
As soon as I stepped into my room, I practically ripped off my uniform and changed into jeans and a hoodie.
I had a date with Blake shortly, and I wanted to finish packing, so I was ready to go.
Humming as I worked, I stuffed the last remaining items I’d just washed into the suitcase and zipped it up.
There was still some time, and I sat down to finish my craft project.
I’d decided to create something that represented my friends and support system here.
I hadn’t scrapbooked in over a year. It was something my mum had enjoyed, and we could do together without using too much of her energy.
I stared at the pretty page with pictures of all the guys and something that represented them, as well as Ivy and Chantry.
I included Lizzy, too, because why not? I picked up the last pieces and stared at the cut-up Christmas cards.
I’d made each one a different shape and read them as I stuck them in the gaps.
Merry Christmas, Ren.
I hope you enjoy the Spanish dictionary, not that it will
help…lol! Joke…maybe. See you in a few weeks. I’d get studying if I were you.
Theo