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“I’ll do your hair this weekend,” I promise Shelby, keeping my hand resting on her forearm in comfort. I turn my back on the guys and carefully pull out my laptop for the class. Dread settles in my gut. I prepare myself for the worst, so I’m able to keep my façade in place when the big reveal comes.
It’s only a few minutes later that Hudson and Zaiden make their way into the classroom. They waste no time, coming up and sitting behind us as well. Z doesn’t even try to hit on Shelby today which tells me whatever they have done today is enough damage in his eyes that he doesn’t have to add any fuel to the fire. Fanfuckingtastic.
They don’t say anything, even after the professor makes his way into class and starts his lecture. They let the apprehension build throughout the entirety of the class. Giving me nothing but low chuckles as they whisper amongst themselves. I can feel their pointed glares burning into the back of my neck, but refuse to cave into my desire to turn and look at them again.
My anxiety churns in my stomach and I can’t help but tap my foot in a nervous beat under my desk, even as I force myself to take complicated notes on the chapter we started. At least I’ve gotten good at compartmentalizing my thoughts enough that I can still manage to take decent enough notes to get me through the semester.
My phone vibrates halfway through class and I almost smile. Shelby gives me a questioning look and I smile. “Vanessa,” I whisper and she grins. I hear a scoff behind me and wince, recognizing Hudson by that small sound alone. He must despise the fact I still talk to his twin.
I pull out my phone to check Vanessa’s response to my offer of another movie night like we did last weekend. It isn’t the same as having her here, but it was still fun. My face drops and I tuck my chin into my chest so Shelby doesn’t notice.
The message isn’t from Vanessa at all. It’s from Carson.
Carson:Be in my room and waiting by the time I finish my class or I swear to god Brielle.
My hands start sweating as another message comes through.
Carson:Do not speak to ANYONE between now and then. I don’t need you to make this situation even worse.
Oh fuck. Whatever the guys did, it’s bad. Worse than I thought. Maybe even worse than I could have prepared for. I force myself to continue breathing evenly when my whole body is begging for me to hyperventilate. No matter how deep and slow I breathe, it feels like my brain isn’t getting enough oxygen.
Carson:And you better start thinking of ways to make this up to me.
Tears spark in my eyes at that last message. He wouldn’t really push for more after last weekend, would he? The most he will do is make it look like we can’t get enough of each other. Maybe put his lips on me again, mark me as his, but stop at that. Just enough to make sure everyone knows I belong to him, unequivocally.
The back of my head aches with the memory from last week when he slammed me against the wall. It was just an accident. He hadn’t intended for it to happen. He didn’t mean to hurt me. Right?
I fight to convince myself that the version of Carson I saw last time wasn’t real. The monster he hides that promises he’s capable of much worse than just blackmail. I try to tell myself that I’m just being overdramatic and the fear I felt wasn’t warranted.
I’ve known Carson my whole life. He wants me. He wants me to choose him. He won’t really hurt me. Not on purpose.
I type out a simple response. Just agreeing to his demands. His class gets out a half hour after my own so I know I’ll beat him to the house. I have time to prepare myself, to come up with a strategy. Anything to minimize the damage.
I slip my phone back into my pocket and don’t let anyone around me pick up on my sudden unease. Worse than anything the guys could have made me feel on their own. Let them think my worries are all about whatever they planned.
Class passes in a blur and by the end of it, I almost have myself convinced it won’t be as bad as I’m making it out to be. Carson might be mad, but it isn’t like he will really put his hands on me or do anything I won’t agree with.
The professor dismisses our class and people are quick to pack their stuff up and head out of the classroom. All except the four guys behind me. I know even if I were to run out of here, they would just manage to corner me in the hallway again. At least here we won’t have as many witnesses to carry news of this interaction back to Carson.
I take a deep breath and force an amused smile on my face as I hear them make their move.
A large frame towers over me, the gold of the bracelet glinting on Z’s wrist as it catches the light. I fold my hands on my desk and turn up to meet his cold green eyes. “What do you all have in store for me today?” I ask lightly.
His dark chuckle washes over me. I always appreciated their dark sides, the way they only ever came out to protect me. But they no longer hide anything from me. Don’t try to make me see them in the best light. The fucked up part of me kind of loves it, even as all that darkness is being aimed at me right now.
It affects me in ways it most definitely shouldn’t. Ways that I now regret never exploring with any of them before I lost the chance to.
“Sorry, Sunshine Girl.” The nickname now sounds caustic rather than affectionate. “You can’t blame us for this one.” He smirks maliciously. “Your boyfriend may have some explaining to do though.”
He slaps the school newspaper on the desk in front of me. My eyes blur as the headline makes the air in my lungs constrict.
A Pedigree Won’t Keep You STD Free
Apparently Cartier isn’t the only C word the Montgomerys are worried about this fall.
There’s no way Carson is going to let me off with just a fake blowjob and hanging out with his frat friends to make a good impression. Oh no. I have no idea where to even start with how to make him forget about this. Nothing about this is going to be easy to fix.
“Wonder just where Carson has been sticking his dick to pass on something like that to you,” Hudson drawls sarcastically. “Or maybe it was the other way around. If you’ll fuck for status, you’ll fuck for anything, won’t you?”
