Me: Wes did something bad to you, didn’t he?
Roux: He’s a bad man. Stay away from him.
Me: He tried to kiss me.
Roux: OMG!
Me: He also got arrested last night. Rumor is he slept with a freshman.
Roux: I hope he rots in prison.
Me: Are you okay?
Roux: Cal made sure of it.
Me: The Hoodlums don’t know?
Roux: I need Jordy and Roan here, not in jail for killing Wes Ewing.
Me: Hear you loud and clear, babe. Love you.
Roux: Love you too, sis.
I lift my gaze to find Cal sprawled out in his desk chair like he’s king of the school, his green eyes boring into me. He’s villainous in the way he smiles and the evil intent always emanating from him, but he’s a hero in his own dark, fucked-up way. My hero.
The sudden pain in my chest is from the surge of love and emotion toward this man assaulting me all at once. He loves me. He said as much in front of the class, though I’ve felt it for a while now in his actions. I may be able to stand up to people like Wes Ewing, but it sure does help when you have a partner willing to help.
My phone buzzes.
Chaos Hoodlum: You need extra credit?
He’s smirking, a playful look in his eyes. I can’t smile back, though. I’m overcome with the urge to cry. I don’t care if it makes me sound like an idiot. I can’t go another second without letting him know how I feel.
Me: I love you, Cal Hutton.
The smile falls when he reads the text. He sets the phone and pins me with an intense stare. His finger crooks, beckoning me over. I rise from my seat and walk over to his desk.
“Say it to my face, Charlie girl.”
“I love you, Cal Hutton.”
His smile is brilliant. “I need to tell you a secret. Come here.”
I lean forward, close to his mouth, uncaring if others see. His breath is hot as his lips near my ear. He kisses my cheek right beside my ear and then says, “I love you too, my beautiful bad girl. Don’t you ever forget it either.”
I pull away and grin down at him. “Never.”
“Good girl. Now go sit down or we’re going to be in big trouble.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I really might get fired if I fuck you in front of all these people.”
I manage to walk away, though everything in me begs to drop down onto his lap. Heidi glowers at me, but it’s easy to ignore her. Cal loves me. That’s all that matters in my world. When the bell finally rings, I’m dazed.
“Don’t forget,” Cal booms. “Mid-term test tomorrow before Thanksgiving break. Study your asses off or you’ll fail. Do you really want to be a failure just in time for Christmas? Your mommies and daddies might not leave you any presents under the tree. Stop worrying about town gossip and study.”
Everyone groans. Heidi rushes to his desk, claiming she has questions about her notes. I blow Cal a kiss and then leave to head to my next class. After I grab a book from my locker, I walk down the hall, my thoughts elsewhere.
“Bitch.”
I freeze at the harshly spat word. Grayson and his buddy Eli fall into step on either side of me. Ignoring them, I walk faster toward class.
“Ryan’s pissed,” Grayson fumes. “You really are a sick bitch to try and ruin their lives. You think you’re such a goody fucking two-shoes now.”
I glance over at him in confusion. “I haven’t spoken to Ryan since October,” I bite out. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not ruining his life.”
“Nah,” Grayson bites out. “Just trying to ruin his dad’s instead.”
Screeching to a halt, I face this idiot. “What are you talking about?”
“His dad got put on administrative leave,” Grayson snarls.
“So? It has nothing to do with me!”
“Word is your boyfriend Cal is responsible, so that makes you guilty by association.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snap, refusing to cower. “You can tell Ryan to forget I exist.”
“He’s obsessed with you for some goddamn reason,” Grayson gripes, softly smacking my cheek. “Forgetting you exist will be the last thing he does.”
I shove him away from me. “Get out of my face, asshole.”
He and Eli laugh. “Or what, whore?”
“Or I’ll make you,” Penny says, appearing out of nowhere, a can of Mace she keeps attached to her keys pointed right in his face. “Test me. I’ve been wanting to use this thing since I got it.”
Grayson fists his hands like he might hit her, which makes me tense up.
“I suggest you boys run along because my fists will hurt a lot more than that can of Mace,” Cal bellows from nearby.
Eli and Grayson bolt, disappearing into the crowd.
“Spoiler of fun,” Penny complains to Cal. “I really, really wanted to blind that asshole.”
“Another day, brat. Get to class.” Cal waves her off and then turns to me. “You okay?”
The bell rings, emptying the halls within seconds. Only a few kids linger.
“What happened last night?” I demand. “Apparently I’m getting blamed for it.”
He scowls. “How the hell would you get blamed for Wes fucking Brylee?”
“Ryan’s dad is on administrative leave. Somehow that’s my fault.”
Cal’s brows fly up. “That so?”
“Yep.”
“For once, I think the law is prevailing in our favor. I admit I led the cops to Wes’s doorstep, but last I saw of Michael, he was doing his job arresting Wes.”
“I thought this thing with Ryan was over,” I grumble.
“He’ll slip up in a big way and when he does, all this shit will eventually stick to him. His dad can’t protect him forever. One day he’s going to pay.”
“You’re right,” I say with a sigh. “I’m just impatient.”
He pulls me to him, grinning. “Would it make
