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My face tells him too much.
“Investors Club,” he clarifies.
“You can tell me at the next meeting.”
He shakes his head. “Meetings are for club members only. Without an invite.”
“My dues are paid.” I grab the door handle and swing it open, and of course, Justin follows.
“Yes,” he replies, “Bryce can be generous with his time and money.”
On the landing, I spin on my heel, and he collides into me. That was a mistake. His hand lands on my shoulder, and I shake it off. “I received an email from Prof Getz,” I explain heatedly.
“No, you received an invite to join. You didn’t read the fine print.” Justin tugs my hand to make me walk forward, and I let him get away with it as the shock washes over me.
“This is how it works.” He holds onto my hand. “You are invited, and then once you prove you can pay a small fee, you’re considered by the standing members for full membership.”
I stamp my foot on the bottom step. “That’s not right. I paid. I had my own money to pay.”
“Right or wrong,” he explains, “Rules keep the riffraff out.”
My eyes narrow on him. “You can be an asshole.”
He smiles deviously. “You want to debate it?”
“I’m already dealing with snob boy. I don’t need you.” I look Justin up and down in the same way he checks me out. My gaze stops on his black turtleneck. “And what is it with the black clothing? Is emo still a thing?”
“I like your skirt.” He curls his lip. “Did you make it? Can the hem rise any higher?”
I yank my hand out of his. I forgot Justin was still holding it. “Kids like you would have gotten your ass kicked at my old school.”
“Brawn versus beauty.” He leans in. “Fine, you can use your brawn to get into another club.”
“I’m not fucking you,” I hiss.
He sighs dramatically, holding his hand to his chest. “That’s a relief. I like to collect art, not STDs.”
He grabs my wrist before my hand makes contact with his face.
“Tsk, tsk, little tiger,” he replies, “You’re slowing down. That’s what happens when people become pampered. They lose that hunger. That desperation to win.” His breath plays against my ear. “To join the club, you must perform a chosen task. Tonight. Think of it as light hazing. H-A-Z-I-N-G. It means to…” He shuts up when he sees the glare I’m aiming at him. “Never mind. You’ll learn what it means later. Anyhow, everyone has to do a task. It’s how we release excess physical energy at Stonehaven without fist-fighting and copulating like stray cats in the streets.”
“I’ve changed my mind,” I whisper, “You are the dick of the bunch.”
“I like that,” he says, holding the door open for me. “That quote will appear under my yearbook picture. Meet me outside the computer lab, Astrid. You know when, and wear your sexiest panties.”
