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I snap out of my reverie, forcing a smile. “It’s done,” I say, the words twisting something inside me.
We’re not done, not by a long shot. But Annabel doesn’t need to know that. No one does. Well, not except Sasha and Channing, but at least I know they won’t be in any hurry to reveal what happened in her room.
“So Jared?” I change the subject. “Do you like him?”
“Well, yeah, I guess. I mean, he’s cute, and he seems into me…”
“I sense a but there.”
“There wasn’t that spark.” Her expression falls.
“But it was only your first date.”
“Yeah, but I always imagined when I met the right guy, I’d feel… more, you know?”
I do.
Because it’s exactly what I felt with Bexley down by the lake, the first night we met.
“Well, don’t write him off too soon. Besides, no one says you have to marry the first guy you date.” My breath catches.
Annabel won’t have to marry anyone she doesn’t want to… but I will.
The next day, I hatch my plan. I don’t even know what I’ll find at the Town Hall, but it seems like the best place to start. I spend the day flitting between classes. At lunch, I eat with Cade and the Electi in their private dining room. Bexley is deathly silent as he watches me with Cade, although I do catch him smirking a couple of times when my eyes meet his, and I know he’s remembering the other day. But there’s something else too, a dark cloud shadowing him. I want to ask him what’s wrong, but I can’t, not in front of everyone. So I wait until our final class together.
Cade walks me to the door, making a show of pushing me up against the wall and kissing me. His mouth is too hard and his touch too desperate. He starts grinding against me, moaning into the crook of my neck.
“Cade,” I hiss, slamming my hands into his chest. “Not here.” My smile is tight as I glare at him.
“You care too much what people think, babe.” He plucks a strand of my hair between his fingers. “If I wanted to fuck you right here for everyone to see, I would.”
“I need to get to class,” I say, trying to avoid an argument. As I try to leave, he snags my wrist at the last second.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” His brow goes up.
Biting back a sigh, I lean in and kiss his cheek.
“Better. I have shit to take care of tonight, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I nod. At least he’ll be distracted while I pay the town archives a visit. Nervous energy pings through my stomach, but I manage to force a smile.
“Soon, Mia. Soon I’ll have you under me.”
My stomach lurches. He’s growing impatient. I see it every time he looks at me.
Just then, Bexley passes us.
“Kingston,” he says smugly.
“Easton.” Cade tenses. “Fucking asshole,” he murmurs as soon as Bexley disappears into the room.
I fight a smile, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. I shouldn’t encourage Bexley, but it reassures me to know he isn’t going to just lie down and take whatever Cade doles out.
I ease out of Cade’s grip, and this time, he lets me go. His heavy gaze stalks me until I’m all the way inside class.
Spotting Bexley in the back row, I move past him to an empty space a few seats down. His hand brushes mine as I go, sending shivers zipping up my arm. I want to meet his eyes, but I don’t, forcing myself to keep looking ahead.
No one will know anything happened. But I know. His touch lingers, stays with me for the rest of the class. And although I want to be beside him, laughing with him, feeling his thigh pressed up against mine, this is enough.
