Her brown eyes lift to me. I narrow mine. I don’t like this girl. She keeps seeking me out like I’m supposed to do something or say something. I’ve barely interacted with her and I’m definitely not interested.
She shrivels in on herself like she’s not sure what to do next. She toys with her fingers and looks down at the ground. Coming to some sort of decision, she raises her gaze.
“I was actually hoping to talk to Luke.”
“What about?” Harper steps in front of me like I need protecting. It’s cute as fuck and I plan on making her come twice in the bathroom during the next period. I grab her hips and pull her back against me.
Penny bites her lip. “It’s private.”
Harper lifts her eyebrow, but doesn’t say anything.
“I swear.” Penny swallows and her gaze pings off me again before meeting Harper’s with a pleading look. “It’s nothing bad. It’s just... private.”
The first bell rings.
“Looks like you’re out of time.” Caden pulls open the door for us.
“Uh,” Penny wrings her hands as the others pass her into the building.
I maneuver Harper in through the door and ignore the pleading look on Penny’s face.
“Wait.” Harper stops me and turns back to Penny. “Is it about the party?”
She shakes her head.
“Can you tell me?” Harper asks.
Penny glances at me before shaking her head.
Harper blows out a breath. “I might trust you, but not enough to think you won’t pull some shit. I don’t care if you think Luke is the love of your life. He’s not available. He’s mine.”
Penny’s mouth opens. She looks mortified.
I push Harper into the building. We meet the others at our lockers.
Harper steps away from me and joins Caden at his locker. She deserves a reward for the way she claimed me. I glance back and Penny joins the other girls. She looks visibly upset and gesturing with her hands. Her friends comfort her and lead her away.
Maybe she thought she could steal me away from Harper. Maybe she thought Harper was her in.
I don’t give a fuck. I’m done playing games with girls. Sidney was the biggest mistake of my life. I regret giving Sidney any indication that she might be special to me. When she was just convenient.
I gave her too much power and now it’s up to Harper to bring her down. If it were up to me, we’d be the ones bringing her down and we probably will. Harper doesn’t have the fortitude to do what has to be done.
But that’s what draws me to Harper. What makes me want to keep her. I don’t need her to be hard. I crave her softness. She doesn’t need to be vicious when I can be vicious for her.
We’ll see what she can do with Sidney, but this battle might come back to us.
I lean back against my locker and watch as the others say goodbye to Harper.
Caden leans over and whispers something in Harper’s ear. Her cheeks flush red but she’s got that eager look in her eyes. He tips her chin up and kisses her.
There’s no hot flare of jealousy. No need to yank her out of his arms.
But if someone else touched her, I’d make sure they regretted it.
Jack draws her into him next, giving her a hug. She snuggles into him before he kisses her.
Eli tips her chin up. “Set your wannabes straight, kitten. We don’t need any more issues.”
