The truth is that I’m just as happy to see her. My skin actually itches with my need to touch her, and I glower so furiously at the guy occupying the seat next to her that those around him must get whiplash. There’s a general movement to vacate the seats near Piper, which causes the old, half-senile teacher droning on about Manifest Destiny to look up in confusion.
When he sees it’s me, he goes right back to droning.
I like knowing that everyone at Astley High is terrified of me. Though clearly, it didn’t stop Ray from punching Piper, and that thought has my hands curling into fists.
Then I notice Piper looking at me nervously, so I sit back in my seat and adopt a relaxed air that I’m far from feeling. But I’ve gotten pretty good at that in the past twenty-four hours, ever since I started on my quest to make Ray pay, while spending the rest of my time between Piper’s thighs.
I may not be relaxed, but I’m definitely happy, and Piper isn’t the only reason for that. It’s surprisingly enjoyable to plan a murder.
It was a lot of fun being at the hospital threatening Campbell while knowing Dane was busy setting up surveillance at his house.
Dane is a pro at the tech stuff, and has been ever since he realized how bad of a shot he is. And the only thing worse than adead soldier is a useless one, as Tragen always says.
Campbell has probably already texted his wife to warn her I’m coming. And she’s probably contacted Ray to warnhim. Hopefully, by the end of the school day, I’ll have an address. I’ll shoot the guy and get back in time to spend the night at Piper’s.
Now, I can fully focus on my red-headed cricket, who’s currently scribbling a long list of dates that there is just no way she’ll ever manage to memorize. I slink an arm around her and whisper, “How was the chocolate cake?”
She at once breaks out into a coughing fit that has her turning as red as her hair. Then she gasps, “How did you know?”
I smirk. Dane told me he and Liam had run into her at the cafe, and I’ve stalked her enough over the years to know that the few times she’s gone to that place, she had their chocolate cake. And by the way she’s spent the past thirty seconds coughing, I have a feeling my educated guess is correct.
“I always know,” I breathe in her ear, causing her to shiver.
“They were all out of… uhm… healthy food,” she stammers.
My smirk deepens. “Does that mean youonlyate chocolate cake? You naughty cricket.”
“Oh, but…” Her eyes widen. “I thought… didn’t you know?”
“I do now.”
I can’t help but chuckle at how confused she looks as she tries once more to focus on her notes. But focusing on anything feels just as impossible for me as it appears to be for her. I can’t wait to be back in her room, ripping off her clothes and burying myself in her. Everything about her is so fucking hot, and I can’t understand how I never saw it before. Her messed-up eyes fluttering behind her thick horn-rimmed glasses, her soft, clear skin dotted with freckles and so quick to grow red, the way I can guess at the outline of her nipples through her shirt because she doesn’t wear a bra, her ass as she wiggles it in her chair when she concentrates. Every single fucking thing about her. All I want isto nibble on her shoulder, to decorate her neck with more of the bruising hickeys she’s tried to cover with a scarf. I want to pull her thick long red curls back as I pound into her, and…fuck. I just can’t wait anymore.
“You have to pee,” I whisper in her ear.
“Huh?”
“You have to pee,” I repeat. “Tell Mr. Allison you have to pee.”
“But I don’t,” she says, frowning in confusion.
This girl. Can she really be so clueless?
I dig my hand under her ass and pinch her. A squeak slips out from her mouth.
“Hmm?” asks the ancient history teacher, staring over his glasses in our direction.
“Piper has to use the restroom,” I say.
“What? But I don’t—ow!”
Another pinch, and she seems at last to get the hint. She hurries out, and I wait a few moments before slinking out too.
Piper is waiting for me in the hallway, her arms crossed.
“You pinchhard,” she huffs. “You know, I understand the English language. Youcouldjust talk to me. Have you ever thought about talking?”
“Have you ever thought aboutnot?” I ask, grabbing her by the wrist.
