“Sure.” And I feel strong inside when I remember how weak he is for my pussy. Yeah, she and I are not the same at all. “So you spend a lot of time together?”
“Whenever he can manage it. He’s pretty busy.”
No shit. She starts flipping through a mystery book like she’s thinking about checking it out, while I can’t stop staring and wondering why the two of them are spending all this time together. Has he been trying to get in her pants, too?
Part of me loves the idea of Quinton going nuts, knowing the school’s headmaster has a hard-on for precious little Aspen. It must drive him out of his skull. Is that why he won’t let her out of his sight? I mean, she’s not in any danger around here anymore. Why is he up her ass all the time?
Is it because he hates all this time she’s spending with Lucas? Maybe he doesn’t trust him. I wouldn’t, either, but then I know he has nothing against fucking the girls around here. Does Quinton know that, too?
“He’s not as bad as he seems. Lucas, I mean.” She’s still going on and on, lost in her own world where she’s the star and everybody revolves around her. “At first, I figured he was a total monster, but things are different now.”
She giggles to herself. “And now that I’ve met the rest of his family, it’s easy to see where he gets that edge from.”
He even introduced her to his family? I figured maybe he has a thing for her, but now I’m thinking it’s bigger than that. What is so special about this girl?
Why can’t I be the special one for once?
Jesus, get it together. Preston would hate it if he knew I was letting myself get distracted. Nash deserves better than this. I can let myself obsess over Lucas later.
I lean a little closer to her but make it look like I’m reaching for a book. “I’m surprised Quinton doesn’t mind you spending all that time away from him,” I whisper.
I can’t help it. He’s still glaring at me. I’m not even sure if he’s blinking.
She snickers. “His bark is worse than his bite. Most of the time.”
Something tells me I don’t count. Is she this naïve? Or just stupid and self-centered enough to think everybody is as lucky as she is?
“But seriously,” I continue, still whispering, “how does he handle you spending time with Lucas and not with him?”
She lifts a shoulder. “Sometimes he’s there with us. He does like to follow me around most of the time. We have to compromise.”
How fucked up are these two? I only thought I knew before now. “I see.”
“Don’t let him get to you,” she murmurs while flipping pages of her book. “Time will change things. It always does. Once he sees you’re just a normal person, he’ll get over it. I keep telling him life is too short.”
Like Nash’s life. I want to take this book I’m holding and smash it against her head until there’s nothing left of her but blood and hair and bits of skull. She took Nash away and has the nerve to stand here and talk about time healing everything.
“Thanks,” I mutter. “I mean, that’s good to know.”
The sound of Quinton clearing his throat cuts through the otherwise quiet space. I guess we’re being too secretive for him. Now that I know she’s basically cheating on him with Lucas, I can understand a little better why he always acts so jealous. If he feels helpless because his slutty wife can’t keep away from Lucas, he’ll want to take it out on people like me who haven’t done anything wrong.
I can’t believe he would fuck her. What’s wrong with him? She’s not even all that pretty. Does he stick his dick in all the girls around here? I bet I’m not even the first one he’s fucked on his desk.
“I’d better go.” Otherwise, I’ll never get out of this without hitting her. I’ve been pretending long enough for now.
“Oh, okay. Thanks for hanging out with me.” She’s insufferable. Unimaginable. Smiling at me with those wide eyes like she’s being genuine. I remember a time when she wasn’t smiling. Only that memory is enough to keep me from screaming now.
Brittney lets me check out the book Aspen recommended, which I care about even less than I did before. “Good to see you,” she says with a smile. “See you soon, I hope.”
“I’ll bring this back on time,” I promise, though I’m not really paying attention. What the fuck is so special about that girl? Why is everybody so into her?
It’s easy to forget there was a time I felt sorry for what she went through. It’s not like I asked Nash to see the video. Who would want to watch that?
“Come on. You’ll love it. It’s rough and hot. Just pretend that's not your brother fucking her.” He laughs a little too loud, a little too hard, and the sound makes me shiver with disgust. I can’t tell if he is kidding or not—his sense of humor has always been a little dark, but this?
“I don’t think so. Can’t I take your word for it?” I rub his arm and give him the sort of smile he likes—flirtatious while biting my lip. “I thought we were hanging out tonight so we could spend time together.” Not to watch a video of some poor girl getting tortured and raped and whatever else.
He only hinted at it, telling me he didn’t want to ruin the surprise.