Without giving them another second of my time, I turn around and walk to class. What Carter did was ridiculous and uncalled for. He’s going to need to do a hell of a lot more than apologize to get back in my good graces—if it’s even possible at all.
BY THE TIME THAT school lets out, I’m exhausted. If it wasn’t for the essay I need to have written by tomorrow, I’d take a nap as soon as I get to Knox’s house. Unfortunately, that’s not an option.
I grab my bag from the locker and make sure my laptop is in it. Once I have everything I need, I head outside and across the street. Knox told me to meet him behind the school, but as soon as I turn the corner, I hesitate. Standing with Knox is none other than his ex, Hailey.
A part of me considers turning around, maybe going back to my car and sending him a text to meet me there, but something compels me to stay. Knox is my boyfriend and if I want to be near him, no one should keep me from doing exactly that.
I take a deep breath and walk toward them, smiling as his eyes land on me. He looks slightly uncomfortable, but manages to mask it.
“Hey,” I greet him.
He grins and pulls me close. “Hey, you. Everything good?”
I nod. “Carter was a bit of a pain in the ass, but what else is new.” The way his body tenses is evident, and I know a change in conversation is needed. I turn to Hailey, who is watching me skeptically. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Delaney.”
“Yeah,” she sneers, looking me up and down. “I know who you are.”
“Hails,” Knox warns, and the nickname reminds me of how much history they share together. “Be nice.”
She rolls her eyes. “Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
With that, she flounces away, leaving us alone together. There’s a weird tension in the air, but I don’t think it’s because of us. He’s mentioned before that Hailey is a total train wreck. That she tends to get herself into messes
and drag those closest to her down as well.
“Well, she seems pleasant.”
He snorts. “Oh yeah, she’s a real dream.”
The two of us walk back over to Haven Grace Prep, where my car waits in the parking lot. Since the day that we took a drive up the coast, I’ve learned to trust Knox’s driving completely. Despite the fact that he tested the theory of 0 to 60 in 2.5, I’ve never felt safer. We put the top down and I stood up, letting the wind blow through my hair. It was liberating.
I hand him the keys and climb in the passenger side. Maybe I’ll be able to squeeze a nap in before I need to focus on my grueling essay.
THINKING I’D BE ABLE to concentrate while even in the vicinity of Knox is a pipe dream. Between the way he keeps kissing me, or takes his shirt off because it’s too warm in here, it’s fundamentally impossible. He grabs a beer from the fridge and brings me a bottle of water.
“How’s it going?”
I groan softly. “It’s not. You’re horribly distracting.”
He smirks. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“That’s debatable. If I don’t ace this essay, I could fall out of the running for valedictorian.”
“Do you even have competition?”
I nod. “Byron. He’s like a quarter of a point behind me.”
“Byron?” he mocks. “He sounds like the kind of kid with his pants pulled up to his chest.”
“He is,” I tell him, not able to hold back from giggling.
Knox comes closer and places a soft kiss to my lips. “Then you’re bound to win.”
“How do you figure?”
“You’re much more fun to look at.”
He pushes the computer from my lap and gently grabs my face, using his other hand on my back to pull me in closer. It’s slow and sweet, with his mouth claiming my own. The way he makes me forget the world around me is dangerous. Still, I’ll never forgive myself if I don’t graduate as valedictorian. I’ve worked too hard and come too far to lose it now.