“Bryan is saying that one of the guys dared Cole to seduce you and that he has a month to …”
My eyes narrow on her. “A month to what?”
“Play with you. Were her words.”
_________________________________
Second period, I walk in earlier than usual. I grabbed my books before first period so I wouldn’t have to make the extra trip to my locker.
I’m pissed at Cole for what Bryan is saying. A part of me doesn’t want to believe I’m a dare, but the other part says that is why he is so adamant about not leaving me alone.
I choose the chair in the back by the corner and sit down. The chairs to my right and in front of me are both occupied. I smile, knowing he won’t be able to sit near me. It drops off the moment he walks in. Dressed in a pair of blue jeans and his black zip-up hoodie, he demands attention. His dark hair is looking freshly fucked, and I hate that my first thought is that Kaitlin did it. His blue eyes land on mine like he knows where I am, and he walks toward me.
“Get up,” he orders the kid next to me. He grabs his books and scrambles away. “Hello, sweetheart,” he says, sitting down.
I ignore him and look straight ahead.
He leans over his desk. “What’s wrong?”
I turn to face him, and my eyes narrow. “A month, huh?”
His dark brows pull together as if he’s confused. I don’t elaborate. He can figure it out himself.
He goes to open his mouth, but the teacher gets our attention. She writes an assignment on the board before she excuses herself from the classroom. I pull out my pencil, a piece of paper, and the textbook. I start to read when the book is snatched off my desk. I look up to see Cole slamming it to the floor. All the kids turn around to look over at us as the sound bounces off the walls. I ignore them. His hard blue eyes are glaring at me.
He figured it out. Good for him.
“Mature,” I snap, leaning down to grab it, but he kicks it out of the way. “Cole …”
“You don’t really believe that shit, do you?” he snaps.
“Why wouldn’t I?” I demand. “It makes perfect sense all of a sudden. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.”
He gives a rough laugh. “Maybe because it’s not true.”
I snort. “Like I believe you.”
“Austin,” he growls my name.
The kids are all still turned around facing us as we argue in the corner. Their eyes going back and forth between us. A few even have their phones out, and you can hear their fingers typing away.
“Cole,” I challenge.
He leans over, his face inches from mine. “We haven’t done a dare without you being present since I caught you that night in the cemetery.”
I glare at him. “Bullshit.”
He smiles, and it’s wicked. “Do you not remember what just went down the other night at the clubhouse? They didn’t even know how I knew you. Let alone dare me to fuck you, sweetheart.” And with that, he sits back in his seat and opens his book.
I continue glaring, hating that he is right. I hadn’t thought of that. They had no clue he had blackmailed me. Well, Deke did. But as far as I’m aware, one can’t dare another without the others present. They have to draw for them.
I look at the guy sitting in front of Cole. His wide brown eyes are on me. “Will you hand me my book?” I ask. His eyes dart to Cole who still stares down at his. “Please,” I growl. Cole had kicked it over under that boy’s desk.
His eyes go back to mine, and then he spins around, facing forward, giving me his back. Ignoring me. All because he’s afraid to help me out due to Cole. “Good grief,” I growl as I shove out of my desk and go over to his. Bending down, I pick it up, and Cole slaps me on the ass.
I spin around to glare down at him, and he’s giving me a smirk. “Bastard,” I hiss.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
COLE
Come lunchtime, she’s still mad at me. And I love that she doesn’t even try to hide it. It turns me on.
I sit across from her, next to Deke, and she seemed surprised. I had a reason for it.
“So how were your three days off school?” Deke asks her.
“Awesome. I didn’t do shit,” she says, dipping the fry into ketchup and smiling. Becky laughs.
Deke looks at me, and I give him a simple nod.
He smiles and dusts off his hands then grabs his phone. “Hey, girls. Smile.” He holds up his phone, and like the girls they are, they lean into one another and smile as he snaps their picture. “Perfect,” he says and then starts typing away on it.