Page 81 of Play The Game

Working him hard.

I’ll fucking stab the bitch.

Avery cackles at me, running her fingers through her hair even though it’s already perfect. I scowl at her, but with the toothbrush in my mouth I just look stupid.

The bathroom door opens and Harley blinks at us both, his eyes bloodshot and bleary.

“You could fucking knock, you Neanderthal,” Avery snaps, but he just shrugs.

He kisses her cheek as he passes by her, then cups my cheeks as he kisses me. When he moves to the toilet, I shove Avery out of the bathroom so he can get ready in peace. He’s so fucking tired I might stab someone on his behalf today.

I hope Annabelle pisses me off and it’s her blood on my knife.

Avery heads out for our classes, but I wait for Harley to finish up. He takes twice as long in the shower and I make the decision that he’s taking the day off. He can sleep in my bed all day.

He stumbles out of the bathroom in his uniform, and I point at the bed with a stern look.

“In. Now. Don’t argue with me, Arbour.”

He smirks lecherously, but the yawn that takes over his face destroys any chances of flirting his way out of this. He pulls his tie off, smirking again, then I watch and drool while he strips down to his boxers.

Fuck, temptation has a name and it’s Harley fucking Arbour.

“I need to get to class but you’re sleeping today. I’m not asking,” I say, but the raspiness of my voice ruins the stern words. He walks over to me, his eyes burning my skin with the intensity of his gaze, and I gulp.

“I’m fine, babe. I wouldn’t mind spending the day in bed with you though.”

I gulp again and shove him into the bed, my hands lingering a little on him by accident. Totally an accident.

I tuck him in, ignoring the looks he gives me even as my cheeks flame, and I kiss him softly. “We need to sort Ms. Vivienne out next. I’m finishing the bitch and getting you back.”

He smirks. “Whatever you do, make sure I’m there to see it.”

TWENTY-FOUR

No matter how much I try to distract myself, there’s no ignoring the whispers that follow me or the fact that they only get worse now Annabelle is campaigning. If I spot her in the hallways, she scurries off like a fucking cockroach because she knows I’ll break her in half if she so much as opens her mouth in front of me.

Avery watches her every move, waiting for an opening to destroy her. I try my best to forget about her. As long as she’s not trying to touch one of the guys, she’s not my problem.

A week after Diarmuid's break in, I’m woken in the dead of the night again, only this time it’s Blaise stroking my hair away from my face, whispering sweet words into my ear until I’m shivering and reaching for him.

“My brother was born this morning and my mom called me. She wants me to go see her, I think she’s fighting with Dad over it. I’ll be back in a few days, Star.”

I blink up at him and then press my lips to his gently, a sweet kiss to say all the things I can’t speak out loud to him; I’m sorry, I’m worried, I hope you’re okay… I love you.

“It’ll be fine, Star. I just didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye. I’ll text you when I land,” he murmurs against my lips, his fingers still stroking away like he knows the anxiety that’s curling in my gut.

I need to get past my worries about being away from them, but with the threats we have nipping at our heels I just want us all together and watching each other’s backs.

“Come home the second it gets bad, Blaise,” I whisper back, and he shrugs, nodding a fraction but in that distracted way that tells me he’s already preparing to be in his father’s presence again.

When Avery and I meet Ash and Harley for breakfast in the dining hall, Ash is in a foul mood.

I quirk an eyebrow at Harley, and he scoffs at me. “Isn’t it obvious? His boyfriend is gone so he’s pouting.”

The look Ash gives him is so fucking cutting, I’m surprised Harley doesn’t actually bleed from it.

“He’s just gone home to meet his replacement sibling at his mother’s demand, but the woman is so fucking spineless that the second his father starts his bullshit, she’ll cave and send him away. Sorry for being concerned he’s going to come home in a pine fucking box.”