Micah dug into his burger. “Who knows. But it will definitely create fireworks,” he said as he munched. “Shit, it will be memorable as fuck.”
I found it impossible not to sneak glances at Ava and Brock’s table, despite how hard I tried to resist. My willpower when it came to him was pathetic. The other Elite might have chosen to sit with Mads and me, but that didn’t mean Brock and Ava were alone. A few other football players and Ava’s squad gathered around.
I didn’t know if Ava noticed, but Brock seemed to be looking at me each time my gaze roamed in his direction. So many questions relayed through those quick glances, and I ached for five minutes alone with him, except I knew we wouldn’t get much talking done. Those few moments would be spent doing sinful things to his mouth.
Relief poured through me when it was nearly time for my next class. Mads and I took our ritual pit stop to the bathroom, Micah trailing behind us.
Outside the girls’ bathroom, no Ava in sight, Mads spun around and put a finger into Micah’s chest, halting him. “We’re going to the bathroom. Alone,” she emphasized at the playboy who would have happily trailed us inside.
“You got five minutes before I come in there,” he warned, which didn’t really hit the mark when he grinned as he did.
“There is such a thing as smothering.” Mads quickly put her hand over his mouth as it opened and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t think about giving me some snappy retort about smothering me in some perverted position.”
Micah lifted a brow, his eyes dancing with humor and hints of desire.
My best friend ripped her hand away from his mouth. “Did you just lick me?”
“Just a little taste. As good as I remember.”
I rolled my eyes and shoved past them into the bathroom before things got kinky. Mads followed a second later, shaking her head. “He is unbelievable.”
I glanced at her reflection in the mirror. “Are you going to admit that you still have a thing for him?”
She sighed, leaning her butt against the sink. “Depends, are you going to admit you’re in love with Brock?”
I grimaced as she pulled out her routine after lunch cigarette. “Is it that obvious?”
She put the smoke in between her lips and flicked the lighter. Flames jumped to life. “Only because I know you and I’ve known Brock most my life,” she mumbled with the cigarette still clenched in her mouth and then lit it.
I groaned and locked myself into one of the stalls to pee.
“Grayson told me what happened with Carter and your mom. Are you okay?”
Flushing, I waited until I was at the sink to reply. “I think it might be a while before I’m truly okay. But for now, I’m just happy to not be alone. I don’t know what I would do without you or them.”
She held the cigarette between her fingers, a trail of smoke floating into the bathroom. “There was a reason we came up with that stupid plan. It’s like the universe knew how much you would need the Elite.”
I turned on the water and washed my hands. “I’m not sure I believe in fate, but if I did, I’d say destiny or whatever is a twisted son of a bitch.”
“I’m just happy you’re here.”
That made one of us. Being back at the academy was harder than I envisioned. Seeing Brock… made me want to run for the hills.
Mads boosted herself up on the sink, taking a long drag on her cigarette. “What did Aunt Liana do when she saw you?”
“She was a little confused,” I admitted, drying off my hands.
Her eyes grew wide as if to say,oh shit. “I imagine you gave her quite the shock, seeing you standing there.”
“God, she is so nice.”
“She is. She is going to freak out when she learns the truth. And I mean that in a good way. To get a child back after all that she’s lost…”
“I thought this was what I wanted, but now I’m not so sure I’m ready,” I stated.
“You don’t have anything to be nervous about. I get this is some life-altering shit and probably scary as hell, but if you don’t take this step, can you honestly say you won’t regret it?” she posed.
I met her reflection in the mirror as a defeated breath left me. “No.”