I knew and disliked. “What the fuck, Raine?” In one movement he was in front of me, pinning me against the wall. “How fucking dare you accuse me of shit like that?” Anger vibrated through his whole body, and his hands came down either side of me. His fingers flexed next to my head like he wanted to grip my throat, but he was holding himself back.

“It’s true, though. Isn’t it?” My voice came out as a cracked whisper. “Please, Carter. Just put the money back, apologise, and we can move on. I…I like you.”

“You like me?” His voice was low and dangerous. “You’re accusing me of fucking stealing, and then you tell me you like me? Like you expect that anything could happen between us?”

My lip trembled, but I stayed strong, meeting his eyes defiantly. “I know you want me. You can lie to yourself all you want.”

“I. Don’t. Want. You.” He snarled the words at me. “This?” His hips ground against me. “Nothing but a natural reaction. Fighting makes me horny. It’s nothing to do with you. Why would I pick you, when I could have any girl I want?”

“That’s a lie.”

He stepped away from me, his jaw clenched. “Who the fuck do you think you are, Raine Laurent?”

I gathered the tiny piece of courage inside me. “I’m the best thing you’ll never have.” Then I moved around him and walked away, tears blurring my vision.

Behind me, I could’ve sworn I heard the urgent caw of a raven, but I didn’t look back.

I was done.

18

Lunchtime in the cafeteria, sitting with the football team, I turned Raine’s words over and over in my mind. I’d spent the night unable to sleep, constantly flipping between rage and confusion at her accusation. I needed to get to the bottom of what was going on.

As if the universe was taunting me, Chris spoke up. “Who’s that?” He leered over my shoulder, and my stomach churned. Somehow, I knew who he was looking at.

“That’s Raine, you dick.” Xavier cuffed him around the head.

“Who’s Raine?” Kian looked confused. Like he didn’t know.

“She’s literally been at school with us forever. She was in your maths class for three years.”

“The one who gave half the football team a blowjob?” Chris spoke up again, and my jaw clenched. Counting to ten inside my head, I forced myself to remain calm, or at least give the appearance of being calm.

I caught Xavier’s sidewards glance at me, which I ignored. “Yeah, that was her,” I heard him mutter.

Tuning out their discussion, my head turned of its own volition, and a spark of pure lust raced through my body as I took her in. She was strolling over to the food counter, Lena right next to her. Her uniform was still the same—still ill-fitting, but it was the way she carried herself with confidence that made all the difference. Her chin was lifted, her shoulders set back, making her full tits look even bigger… My dick stirred, and I lowered my gaze to her feet instead. She was wearing low heels, instead of her normal flat shoes, making her legs look long and sexy. There was nothing else different, except her hair wasn’t in its normal ponytail. Instead, it fell down her back in long, shiny waves that I itched to run my fingers through.

This girl was messing with my head, plain and simple.

Looking closely, I noticed the telltale signs of nerves beneath the confident veneer—the way she kept licking her lips, and the apprehension in her eyes. What was her game plan?

“Is she single? I wanna tap that. The geeky girls are always grateful for it. She’s gotta be a sure thing, too, since she’s been on her knees for half the team already.” Chris was practically drooling. His words sent a shot of rage through me, and I had to grip the sides of my chair to stop myself from punching him in the face.

“Dunno, mate.” Xavier shrugged. “Ask her.”

“Yeah, think I will.” Before I could even open my mouth, Chris was sliding out of his seat, and sauntering over to the counter where she was waiting to pay. I watched, unable to look away, as he waited while she paid for her food, then fucking carried her tray for her. All the way over to a table on the opposite side of the cafeteria. He said something to her, and she replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

I held my breath until he returned to our table and flopped back down into his chair, all sulky. “Shot me down. She’s seeing someone else.”

My mind went straight to the event that had been stuck on repeat in my head ever since I’d found her crying on the school steps. The slap, the way she’d left me without a single backwards glance, jumping straight into Cassius Drummond’s arms like she belonged there. She’d told me that she wasn’t with him, but she’d lied to me before. I wouldn’t put it past her.

“Did you know she was seeing someone?” Xavier caught my eye.

“Why would I?” I glared at him, and he held up his hands.

“No need to bite my head off. Just thought you might know, being her neighbour and all.”

“You’re her neighbour?” Chris stared at me.

Xavier huffed out an incredulous laugh. “How do you not know this?”

“Whatever,” he muttered.

Across the table, Preston, who had been silent up until now, cleared his throat and spoke to me in a low voice while the conversation continued around us. “Can I have a quick word? In private?”

“Yeah, of course.” Glad for an excuse to get away, I immediately stood, grabbing my bag. Preston threw me a small smile before he glanced over at Kian, who gave him a reassuring nod. My curiosity piqued, I followed him outside. It was a cold day, so there were only a few other people around. He led me to an empty table in the far corner of the courtyard. Taking a

Добавить отзыв
ВСЕ ОТЗЫВЫ О КНИГЕ В ИЗБРАННОЕ

0

Вы можете отметить интересные вам фрагменты текста, которые будут доступны по уникальной ссылке в адресной строке браузера.

Отметить Добавить цитату