She turns to go back downstairs and I give her a tap. When she glances over her shoulder and winks, she says, “Who said anything about sleeping?”
Damn.I suddenly have the urge to be a better person every day. How can I not when I get rewarded with that?
ChapterTwenty-Five
SCAR
“Ready?”Crew asks as I swipe my messenger bag off the couch.
I step into one boot, then the other.“Yup.”
Reaching for my bag, Crew holds it back. “I’ve got it.”
I’m on my tiptoes in front of him when I press my lips to his. “Such a gentleman.”
“Only with you. Mark my words,only with you.”
Things are still unsettled between Crew, Jagger, and me. We haven’t really talked and honestly, I don’t see any reason to. Whatever we’re doing is working, so why fix something that isn’t broken?
Three days ago, I learned of Riley’s place at The Academy, and to say I was shell-shocked would be an understatement. Riley’s not your typical badass girl. I recently learned that her dad, Samson Cross, is a covert investigator for the CIA. I’m sure Riley gained some of her skills from him and it wouldn’t surprise me if she continues to follow in his footsteps, even if she doesn’t want to.
Crew opens the door, letting me go out first. It’s unusually warm right now, with only a few patches of snow, but neither of us are complaining. The downfall, we have to walk because there isn’t enough snow for the sleds.
Holding Crew’s hand, we cross through the yard to head onto the trail. The slamming of the front door behind us has our eyes shooting over our shoulders.
Jagger jogs toward us while Neo walks at a leisurely pace. We stand there, waiting for them, and I squeeze Crew’s hand; my way of telling him I’m present for him, too.
When Jagger catches up to us, Crew hollers to Neo, “Hurry your ass up.” Neo’s response is a beastly growl and he continues walking slowly, and I’m sure it’s just to piss us all off.
“Don’t be a dick,” Jagger shouts at him, but Neo just lifts his middle finger and flips him off.
Crew tugs my hand. “Let’s just go.”
Two minutes later, his voice comes from over my shoulder. “It’s too early for this shit.”
I’ve learned that when you ask Neo to do something, he won’t do it. If you just ignore his childish behavior and act like you don’t give a damn, he usually gives in.
Crew leans forward and glances at Jagger, who’s on the other side of me, before tossing my bag at him. “Here, dipshit.” Jagger catches it with two hands and flings the strap over his shoulder. “You’re on bag duty today,” Crew says. “I’ve got ten pounds of books in my own bag.”
I glance between them, feeling a strange contentment. It makes me insanely happy when they do little shit that shows they’re not bothered by this situation—Crew acknowledging Jagger is a part of my life, and Jagger acknowledging Crew is, too.
We reach the school with a good ten minutes to spare. Seems we gave ourselves too much time for the walk and we’re here early. Neo isn’t pleased, but he drops on the floor in front of his locker and pops his earbuds in, pretending he’s the only one who exists.
Jagger kisses me on the cheek and swings my bag over my shoulder. “I’ve gotta go print something in the library so I’ll see you later.”
When he leaves, it’s just me and Crew—and the many students filling the halls, but they don’t matter. Crouched down, I shuffle through my bag and pull out the books I need before stuffing my bag inside my locker and closing it.
“Gimme those.” Crew takes the books from my hand and drops them to the floor in front of my locker, stacking his on top of mine. He takes my hand and pulls me down the hall while my giggles echo off the rows of lockers.
“Where are we going?”
Instead of responding, he stops walking, reaches behind me, and turns the handle to the janitor's closet, then he walks me inside.
“Crew! We can’t.”
His face nuzzles into the nape of my neck, and he hums. “Oh, yes, we can. Ever since I saw you riding Jagger the other day, I’ve been craving the same attention.”
“In here?”