“Thank you. You have no idea how much I appreciate it.” The bell rings, signaling the end of class and we all get up, gathering our things.
Zheng smiles and steps forward. His arms open as if to hug me and instantly I stiffen. Josué intercepts the touch, reaching out to shake Zheng’s hand while pulling him into a bro hug. Zheng’s eyes widen in confusion over Josué’s shoulder.
“Thanks for helping my girl out, man. I’m glad she’ll have a friend around after I head back home.”
“Uh, yeah. Of course.”
Josué steps away and then tugs me toward the door.
“See you tonight,” I tell him, rushing to leave.
31 Rafael
I sit on the hood of my car, legs spread wide with Sabrina standing between them. Her manicured hands rest on the top of my pants and she’s leaning into me, trying hard to be seductive. Her perfume reeks like artificial fruit. The pungent aroma assaults my heightened sense of smell, making my eyes burn, but not an ounce of disgust shows on my face.
I ignore Sabrina as she trails her fingers up and down my leg. She thinks I’m lingering because I want to be in her fucking presence when in reality, that is the last thing I want. Keeping her close today is already biting me in the ass. She’s a stage-five clinger with a serious complex, but Isa’s Audi is four cars down and I want her to see Sabrina between my thighs.
I want her to see just how over her I am, so I wait.
“Yo. We heading out?” Jordy asks, tossing his bag into my backseat.
“Yeah, we’re going.”
He gives me a sideways glance until he spots Isa and the new fucker walking beside her. Realization dawns on Jordy’s face and he does me a solid as Des exits just behind them. “Come on, fucker. We’re running late,” Jordy shouts, drawing my girl’s attention. Fuck. She’s not my girl, I remind myself though the piece of me that is my wolf disagrees. The urge to claim what’s mine thrums through me.
Isa’s head jerks toward Jordy’s voice. Then she spots me beside him. Hurt flashes in her eyes but she’s quick to mask it. What the hell does she have to be hurt about? I might not admit it to anyone else, but she’s the one who dropped me. She showed up with some random, held his fucking hand, and now wants to act like this is all on me?
Not happening.
I grip Sabrina’s hips and draw her closer. Nuzzling her neck, I keep my eyes locked on Isa’s as I let my other hand wander until I’m palming Sabrina’s tight ass.
She moans in my embrace and presses herself closer to me. “Rafael, you feel so good.”
I bite back my scathing response, hating the feel of her body pressed against mine when it should be Isa instead.
I scrape my teeth along the column of her neck. She visibly shudders. So fucking dramatic, but it works to my benefit.
Isa stands there, ten feet away from her car, watching us. It’s like she’s frozen in place and I take full fucking advantage. When Sabrina’s hand dips down to stroke my dick over my sweats, I shift, making sure Isa has a nice view.
Her cheeks heat, a pretty pink blush staining her cheeks, but whether in anger or embarrassment I have no fucking clue.
Josué calls her name. When she doesn’t respond, he tugs on her hand and draws her to her car. My wolf lunges inside me, wanting to shove him away from what’s ours.
Her eyes stay locked with mine the entire way, a metallic sheen in them, until she finally steps inside and the tinted windows block her from my view.
As soon as her car leaves the lot, I push Sabrina away and stand up.
“Hey—” she squeaks.
“I gotta go.” I’m already rounding my car and opening the driver side door.
“Oh. Okay. Call me later!”
I grunt. I won’t call her, yet she’ll still be waiting for me tomorrow when I get to school. So damn predictable.
32 Isabella
I got the job.
Just as Josué and I are walking in the door, I get a text from Zheng.
Zheng: My aunt said you can work tonight as a trial run. If it works out, the job is yours. Closing shift 3x a week.
Me: THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!
“You look happy,” Josué says as we drop our bags beside the kitchen island.
I grab two glasses from the cupboard and fill both with water before handing one to him.
“Thanks.”
“I am happy. Zheng said I got the job. Finally, something good. Ya know?”
He nods but his brows are pinched together as he looks down at his glass. “I don’t want to rain on your parade, but are you sure this is a good idea?”
I stiffen. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
He runs a hand through his dark brown hair and lifts his gaze. “Isa, you’ve been through a lot.”
“I know that,” I snap, not liking the direction this conversation is going. Not two minutes ago I was elated. Now, he’s popping my balloon and for no reason.
I chew on my fingernail. “I’ll be fine,” I tell him, determined to make this work. “Today was a good day. No panic attacks. Work will be a cinch.”
He doesn’t look convinced, but he lets the subject drop. I check the time and notice I have forty minutes to get ready and be at the diner. “I need to get ready. Do you want to drop me off and you can keep the car in case you want to do anything?”
He shakes his head. “No. I’m getting picked up by someone from Clan Feloidea. I’ve been putting it off, but since you’ll be working I let them know I was free. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
I nod. “I’ll be fine.”
He still doesn’t look convinced but says nothing as I jog upstairs to change.
Suzy’s is
