"I haven't started on the essay yet. But I'm slowly building my portfolio now."
"Good. That's good." She nods in approval. "Once you're done, you can send them to me so I can have a read-through."
I nearly squeal in delight. "That'll be great, Ms. Langham. Thank you so much."
There’s a big grin on my face as I step out of the room a minute later. Deciding to make a pit stop to the girls' bathroom, I respond to Brayden's text, telling him I'll meet him and Quinn in the cafeteria in five minutes.
I round the corner—only to come to a halt with my jaw hanging open at the scene a few meters away.
Jamie and Carson.
They're not just talking. He has her pinned to the wall, nuzzling her neck. When his hand moves under her skirt, my eyes just about bulge out of their sockets. "So fucking wet for me."
"Jamie," Carson moans softly, her fingers digging into his arm. "Someone might see us."
A hard kiss is his response. "Let them. So they'll know who you belong to," he growls, the stark possessiveness in his tone sending goosebumps down my arms. "Now, come."
Not wanting to continue feeling like a voyeur, I make an about-face and quickly head back in the direction I came from.
The bathroom can wait—because holy crap! Jamie and Carson. When did that happen?
Wait. Is Carson the "mystery girl" Giovanni had mentioned at Parker's party? But isn't she dating Liam's football teammate Tyler Johnson? Oh, that's right. They broke up over the summer, and he quickly moved on to Delaney Woods, the drama club president.
Apparently, she did, too. With Jamie.
Reeling, I touch my cheeks, knowing I don't have to stare in a mirror to see that they look flushed—hell, probably my entire face. I might be a virgin, but I am by no means innocent. I'd watched porn out of curiosity when I was fourteen. And I had done some "things" with Liam. Besides, I see people making out at parties all the time.
But seeing Jamie and Carson make out felt different. It felt more...intimate. Thus, the feeling of being a voyeur. Like what I had just witnessed was more than a casual hook-up.
Chancing a glance over my shoulder to check that they haven't caught up to me, I fail to notice the tall figure heading toward me until their hands grip my arms to stop me.
Startled, I snap my eyes up and clash gazes with a pair of familiar dark ones, my heartbeat halting for a second. "Parker."
He opens his mouth but closes it when something behind me catches his attention.
I stiffen. Is it Jamie and Carson?
My reaction makes him frown. "What's wrong?"
"Having a moment, I see," a male voice drawls behind me before I can respond—Jamie's.
I freeze even more. But when Parker's frown deepens, I shake it off and whirl around. Discreetly, I glance around for Carson, but she's nowhere to be found.
"Looking for someone?" Jamie asks me, cocking a brow.
"Nope." I force a smile, which falters when my eyes drift to the unmistakable hickey on his neck. I feel the heat creep up to my cheeks.
"Peaches, why are you blushing?" Parker narrows his eyes at me before shooting a hard, unyielding gaze at Jamie, as if it's his friend's fault.
He has no idea how true that is.
Jamie snorts. "Whatever the reason is, I'm sure it has nothing to do with me." But then, he also narrows his eyes at me. "Or does it?"
Actually, it has everything to do with you and Carson… God, I need a brain bleach.
"I have no idea what you two are talking about," I say flippantly. Then stride off before they can press the subject even more.
CHAPTER 17
Sawyer
Parker is on his phone next to his Lexus when I step out into the parking lot after the last period ended. I plan to continue walking and pretend not to see him, but the stark look of concern etched all over his features compels me to approach. He looks like he needs help.
"Parker, what's wrong?"
Ending the call, his haunted eyes find mine. "Mom's gone missing."
My eyes pop wide in alarm. "She snuck out?"
Dianne is in no condition to go out of the house on her own. I can't imagine the trouble she'll court out there.
"I need to find her." He goes to open the driver's side of his car.
"I'm coming with you." I don't even think twice. I'm already rounding to the passenger's side.
"Where can she be?" Parker grinds out as he peels away from the parking lot. "Damn it. I told Janna not to let her out of her sight."
"Maybe she went to the bathroom, and your mom used the opportunity to sneak out. Sometimes, you can't avoid these things, Parker."
"I know that." He blows out a breath. "I just… Fuck!" He hits the steering wheel with his free hand, making me jump.
Cautiously, I put a hand on his arm. "We're going to find her, okay? She couldn't have gotten far."
"Unless she drove her car."
"I didn't even think of that," I say quietly. Then something occurs to me. "I think I know where Dianne is."
He whips his head to me. "You do? Where?"
"What if she went out to buy some liquor? Aria and I had caught her about to do just that last week, remember?"
Parker curses under his breath before flooring his car.
We reach the nearest grocery store in record time. He haphazardly parks the Lexus in the parking space, then we get out in a hurry.
"That's her car," Parker says, pointing to a red BMW a few parking spots away. "She's inside."
"Let's get her."
Hurrying inside the store and ignoring the customers' curious looks, we find Dianne still in her silk robe at one of the checkout counters, holding three liquor bottles and arguing with the cashier.
Oh, this is bad. This is really, really bad.
"I have money. Don't you recognize me? I'm Dianne Holloway!" she cries. "I just left it at home. Call my son.
