Page 191 of Lessons in Cruelty

Milo, the super cute guy at the taco stand, recognizes me as soon as I walk up, and gives me a wide smile.

I met him a few month’s ago when Teagan invited me to the strip mall’s Fourth of July tailgate party. They do random events like that a few times a year, all sponsored by the liquor store.

It was the first time since I came back to Agony Hollow that I let my hair down…and for one night, it didn’t feel like I had the fucking Devil breathing down my neck.

It was amazing.

“Back for more, huh?” Milo asks.

God, how I blush.

“If you mean the best tacos in town, then yeah.” I sound stiff, and my smile feels forced and flimsy.

Milo doesn’t seem to notice how uncomfortable I am, or how ambiguous he’s being. “Thought you’d had your fill after last time.”

“What can I say?” I give an uneasy laugh. “Nothing beats free food.”

His face drops for a moment before he recovers. “Of course.”

I don’t know if it was the way he saw me scrounging around in my jeans for change to buy a taco when I was here last time, but he told me someone had sent their order back, untouched, and gave it to me for free. I’d been embarrassed as hell. I hadn’t expected the food to cost so much, else I wouldn’t have joined Teagan.

But Milo did it so casually, like it was nothing, that even the shame at being broke as fuck faded before I’d taken the food from him.

He joined me and Teagan for a quick chat later that night when the queue outside his taco stand had disappeared, bringing us free drinks. A soda for me, a beer for Teagan. But five minutes in, customers started queuing again, and he had to go back to work.

Milo glances up at the gray clouds building overhead. “Looks like we’re finally getting some rain tonight. Cool things off a bit, yeah?” Before I can answer, Milo’s gaze switches to Bastian. “This your dad?”

“I’m the one with the credit card,” he says.

Milo frowns as if he doesn’t get the joke, and opens his mouth to say something. But as soon as Bastian’s hand lands on my lower back, Milo decides not to speak.

“Three tacos, nachos, and a Corona.” Bastian turns to me, shrugs. “Can’t have nachos without beer.”

I glance at Milo, but he’s staring at Bastian like he wants to punch him.

“Make that two,” I say.

Milo raises an eyebrow at me. He knows I’m underage, but then his eyes go to where Bastian’s hand is still grazing the small of my back, and he just shakes his head.

What, Milo?

Just a professor buying his too-young student some alcohol in broad daylight. Nothing to see here.

As he turns away to prepare our order, Bastian turns to me, ducking his head until his lips brush my cheekbone.

“Told you I’m a bad influence,” he chuckles into my ear.

It takes all my willpower not to blush and turn away. I tilt my head back just far enough to make eye contact and wish I hadn’t.

Flecks of gold stud Professor Rooke’s irises, visible even with his dilated pupils.

I think back to the white powder I saw in his bathroom the other day.

Horny, or high…or both?

I lick my lips, and his gaze darts to my mouth.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”