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Adonis flicked over my shoulder. “Now isn’t the time for this conversation,” he gritted.
“Doesn’t have to be a conversation. Tell me yes or no.”
“No. And to save us both some time.” He blew out a breath. “I’m not going to.”
“What does that mean? You’re not going to what?”
Sighing, he looked away, then met my gaze. “I’m not going to tell him.”
“Are you saying you want me to do it?”
“I’m saying I was wrong,” Adonis replied. “My job isn’t all I have. I also have Victor. I’m sorry, Luna, but as far as I’m concerned... yesterday didn’t happen.”
I went still. “So that’s it? You won’t give him a chance to surprise you? To forgive you?”
“I’m not willing to risk that he won’t.” Adonis straightened and schooled his face with a finality that chilled me. “Now, unless you’ve got questions about the assignment or the reading, we have no more to discuss.”
I gave him my back and claimed a seat in the front row without a word.
The class slowly filled up with yawning zombies and chipper morning people.
What I wouldn’t give to be a sophomore sitting in on Saylor and the Handmaidens’ general classes. I couldn’t watch the fallout from that morning’s glorious sucker punch, but the guys promised to keep me updated.
Me: What am I missing?
Lucien: Not a thing unfortunately. Or fortunately? None of them have showed up for class.
Me: Not a surprise. Saylor wouldn’t want everyone seeing her with a busted lip. Piper will want to avoid Everleigh, and Katie will want to be there for Piper. Is everyone talking about what happened?
Lucien: They’re talking about nothing but. You were right, Lady Luna. Public opinion is not on Saylor’s side.
My fingers flew across the screen.
Me: What are they saying?
Lucien: Some are saying it’s sick that she copied Ashton after these lists got him murdered. A few are laughing at all of them. Saylor and her friends aren’t liked among the Dregs, and they’re pleased to watch them tear each other apart. But the rest are on Piper’s side. To sum it up, no one is on Saylor’s.
“Phones away.”
Adonis’s order tripped me up mid-reply.
I left the text unsent and tossed my phone in my bag. Lucien and I would pick up the conversation later. That night. On our date. I loved all those words together and on their own. I loved even more picturing what we’d do on our date that night.
The Rogues weren’t the dinner-and-a-movie type. The first time Lucien took me out, we went to a vampire club where he finger-fucked me on the dance floor to multiple orgasms. The first time Rafael and I went out alone, we sat car-side eating empanadas and fried plantains while blowing up cars and ratting out affairs. The only thing I expected of that night was that it’d blow my expectations out of the water.
Taking out my things, I glanced around looking for Victor.
Not here.
Worry trickled into my good mood. Victor said he was grabbing food in the café, then meeting me in class. Why would he ditch? Was he avoiding me because he was more upset about me and Rafael than he let on?
“All right, everyone.” Adonis clapped, bringing the class’s attention to the front. “Today, we’re starting a new section. After weeks of enduring me analyzing and critiquing your work, it’s now your turn.”
I reached in my bag and pulled something out. I unwrapped it—the crinkling making Adonis glance at me and quickly look away.
“You have a list of twenty books that I attached to your syllabus. Choose whichever interests you and, here’s where it gets interesting, you’ll also analyze it in whichever way interests you,” he said. “You choose the lens through which you’ll critique this work.”
I twirled the lollipop stick through my fingers. It was a huge jawbreaker of a thing. Swirls of pink, green, red, and white coated a caramel center, promising a treat inside as tasty as the one outside.
Adonis glanced at me again, then looked away. “Yes, Mr. Marks?”
“This isn’t one of your tricks, is it, Professor? You say we can choose the research topic, and we think it’s going to be an easy paper, then we’re all crying the day you hand them back. Because our weekly papers are pass-fail, and I’ve never worked harder on anything in my life.”
The class cracked up. It was funny... because it was true.
Adonis chuckled along with everyone else. “No tricks here, Mr. Marks.”
I pressed the lollipop to my lips and licked—slow, sweet, and thorough. Rainbowy sweetness coated my tongue.
“You can choose the topic, but I said nothing about e-easy.”
I caught his slip of the tongue as quick as his eyes ping-ponging me again.
Adonis cleared his throat. “I’ve read all twenty of these books cover to cover, at least four times each, and analyzed them through every angle. Your challenge is to bring something new to the discussion.”
