“So, how’s things been back at Emery-Rose?” Claire asks. “Run into Caleb?”
I blush. I’ve managed to keep our sex a secret from everyone—Riley, even. But it’s no secret that we’re… different. I don’t even know how to classify us. Are we dating? His possessiveness has ramped up ten degrees. He literally growls at anyone who so much as glances in my direction. Yet, I haven’t seen him outside of school since Monday afternoon.
A stolen kiss or two before class, his hand on my thigh at lunch… other than that, nothing.
“Ooh, Riley, she’s turning red. What is happening?” Claire leans forward.
“They’re dating,” Riley tells her. “After a tumultuous start.”
Claire grabs my wrist. “Really? Margo, that’s great!” She squeezes hard enough to bruise. “After all, you never shut up about him. It’s like you willed this to happen against the odds.”
I smile, pulling my wrist away. I put my hands under the table. She knows about my history with him, but her reaction isn’t quite what I thought.
“What about you?” I ask. “Any new boys at your new school?”
“Where do you go?” Riley asks.
“Lion’s Head.” She grins. “There’s some cute guys there, Wolfe. They’re deliciously rich.”
“Is that all you care about?” I laugh.
“No, the size of their—”
“Claire!” I squeal.
Riley snorts. “I suppose that’s an important factor.”
“Our girl wouldn’t know,” Claire confides, leaning across the table toward Riley. “She’s never had sex.”
Riley shrugs. “That’s not a bad thing.”
“It is if the guy you want is the hottest piece of ass in school…” Claire raises her eyebrows. “Isn’t that right, Margo?”
I tilt my head. “What do you mean?”
“Just that… you know, I’d expect to be his girlfriend, he’d be quite demanding in bed and all. And I know you aren’t really comfortable…” Claire pops a piece of gum in her mouth.
“We should go.” Riley flashes me the time on her phone.
“Ah, shoot.” We both stand, and Claire rises a beat later. “It was good to see you, Claire.” I shake off the last bit of our conversation. “They mentioned I would be ungrounded soon. Hopefully that means we can get together on a weekend with Hanna.”
Claire grimaces. “My weekends are pretty packed. But Hanna would love to meet up! I’m sure you two can arrange something.” She darts around the table and wraps her arms around my waist. “Good to see you, sis.”
Riley and I walk back to the car, and she elbows me.
She says, “You didn’t tell her about any of the bad stuff.”
I shrug. “Why worry her?”
“The girl didn’t seem worried about you.”
“Because I didn’t tell her that Caleb was an epic bully and got everyone to call me Sheep…” I roll my eyes. “Some stuff is better left unsaid.”
“Sure.”
We park and hurry back to the side door that we had left propped open, slipping back into the women’s locker room. It was a weird way out, I’ll admit. But it’s one of the only doors that isn’t monitored, since the gym classes usually go in and out through the gymnasium entrance.
I grab our bags from my gym locker and pass Riley’s back to her. We walk out, and I grind to a halt when I register who’s waiting for us.
Caleb.
“Skipping class, love?” He pouts. It’s dangerous. “Without me?”
Riley edges around us, shooting me an apologetic look. “Talk to you later.”
Leaving me alone with the devil.
“I had somewhere to be.” I dig my pass out of my pocket. “It’s fine anyway.”
“Ooh, a pass. Riley’s librarian cousin, no doubt.”
I blink at him. He appears relaxed, but I feel the tension between us.
He’s pissed, but he’s hiding it well.
“How do you know Amy is her—”
“Cousin?” He lifts one shoulder. “It’s no secret.”
We walk down the hall.
“Where’d you go?”
I shake my head. “You really want to know?”
“Well, I’m not asking just to hear my own voice.”
At the door to the academic wing, he holds me back. “Are you still getting picked on?”
“Are you asking because you’re concerned?”
He slides his hand through my hair. “I’ve decided that the only person who can be cruel to you is me.”
“It’s better,” I manage.
I am absolutely livid that he can be callous and turn me on at the same time. My body reacts to him like a tightly wound wire. One touch and I come alive.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he says, releasing me. “And maybe you’ll answer my questions.”
“What’s tonight?” I follow him up the stairs, toward my next class. “Caleb.”
He winks. “You don’t want to tell me where you went? Two can play that game, love.”
I suffer the anticipation through the last two classes—including the art class, with Caleb sitting stiller than a statue beside me. Getting answers from him is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone. Pointless and impossible.
He goes up to Robert near the end of class, whispering something.
Robert nods slowly. “I suppose. I’ll need to speak with my wife.”
Caleb returns to his seat. He smirks at me.
“What was that about?” I whisper.
“Nothing to worry about,” he says. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
The bell cuts off any further interrogation. Caleb slides off his stool and strides out the door, leaving me behind. No backward glance, no hovering like the last few days. He’s just… poof. Gone.
Robert clears his throat. “Ready?”
“What did Caleb ask you?”
He shakes his head. “Just had a personal question.”
He’s not going to tell me. I try not to let that sting too much.
Once we’re home, I retreat to my room. My phone has been unusually silent. No Caleb, no Riley… no Unknown.
I do have a text from Claire, though.
Claire: So great to see you, Margo!! Really missed you. Hanna sends a kissy face. Want to meet up next weekend??
I grin at my phone.
Me: I’ll double-check, but it should be fine! Yay!
I set my phone down to change out of my uniform. It chimes again, and I grab it, already smiling. The smile slides off my face when I see who this new text is from.
Unknown: Do you ever get tired of being fake?