“Hey, Kingsley, let's go for coffee.” The way Serena talks makes it sound like an order instead of an invitation. She gives me a side glance, then continues, “We didn’t have time to catch up yesterday.”
Kingsley gives me a questioning look, which has me sputtering, “Sure, go ahead. I’ll see you later.”
I’m just about to start walking away when Grayson takes a step to the right, blocking me in the same way he did the day before. “Don’t runoff. Join us.”
Another order? Geez, don’t these people know how to ask nicely?
“Yeah, come.” Kingsley hooks her arm through mine and gives me a pleading look. “Please.”
Why have coffee with people you don’t like? Biting back the question on the tip of my tongue, I nod and let her pull me toward the restaurant, desperately hoping Falcon isn’t still there.
When we sit down, Grayson takes the seat next to me and then proceeds to scoot his chair closer to mine. Having very little self-control left, I roll my eyes and purposely look at Kingsley.
A tug at my hair has me scowling as my eyes snap to Grayson.
“You’re hurting my pride,” he pouts.
“I don’t care about your pride.” The words are out before I can filter them.
“Ouch, that’s cold, babe.” There’s something about the smile on his face which makes me feel uncomfortable, and I move my chair closer to Kingsley’s and farther away from his.
“I don’t blame her. It’s not like you inspire any warmth, Grayson.”
When I hear Mason’s voice, I glance over my shoulder so quickly, I almost sprain my neck in the process. Seeing Falcon and Lake with him, my heart sinks to my little toe.
“Let’s not start something again,” Serena drawls with a bored tone. As soon as her eyes land on Falcon, she pouts. “We should have dinner tonight. We have a lot to discuss.”
My eyes dart back to Falcon, and I watch as he takes a deep breath. Lifting a hand to his face, he brushes his middle finger over his eyebrow. “Yeah, that’s never going to happen.”
My head swings back to Serena, and it’s beginning to feel like I’m watching a tennis match.
Her eyes narrow, and her mouth turns down at the corners. “I don’t think your mother will be very pleased to hear how rude you are to me.”
As my head turns back to where Falcon is, I actually hear the click right before a burning pain engulfs my neck. “Ahh! Crap.”
“Yeah, we should leave,” Kingsley states, taking advantage of the moment to leave. She gets up, then reaches for my arm.
“No, wait,” I almost whimper the words as the burning sensation is joined by a sharp ache underneath my right ear. “I just pulled a muscle.” I let out a soft groan as I carefully raise my hand to my neck, so I can support my head.
“Seriously? This is not the time, nor the place to put on an act,” Serena snaps.
Not having the energy, I ignore her snarky comment and slowly begin to get up from the chair.
“Let’s go to the nurse’s office. Maybe she’ll have something we can put on your neck to relax the muscle,” Kingsley says as she takes hold of my left arm to help me into a standing position.
“It’s torture just watching you stand up,” Falcon growls.
Before I know what’s happening, an arm hooks under my knees and another wraps around the middle of my back. I let out a squeak as the movement of Falcon picking me up jars my body, causing another flash of hot pain to engulf the back of my head. Letting go of my neck, I slap Falcon against the chest as I scowl up at him.
“Slowly, Falcon,” Kingsley gasps.
“You want to carry her?” he snaps at Kingsley.
With my eyes wide, and the up-close view I have of his jaw, my body and mind freeze.
“I’ll carry her,” Grayson offers which snaps me right out of the shocked state I was caught in.
“No.” At the same time, Falcon growls the word, it explodes over my lips.
“I mean… uhm… I… I can walk,” I begin to sputter when the students in the restaurant all look at us. “There’s nothing wrong with my legs.”
Falcon lets out an impatient breath through his nose and his arms tense under me. Without another word, he stalks toward the doors, and as soon as we’re outside, he grumbles, “You could help a little. It’s not like you weigh nothing.”
I glare up at him as I wrap my arms around his neck, resisting the temptation to strangle him. “It’s not like I asked you to carry me,” I snap back.
Glancing down at me, a sexy smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth.
Don’t give me that sexy smirk, thinking it will make me swoon.
As if the jerk can hear my thoughts, the grin keeps growing.