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“And what did they need to know?” I demand.
“Where you went when you disappeared, and why. A little about your background.” I stare at him in horror. That’severything. “But only so they could be mindful and respectful with you, Malia.”
“What do you mean? Why do you need to be…mindful of me? With me. Whatever.” I shake my head. Bhodi steps forward and grabs my hand, looking at me with a sense of urgency.
“You’re important, little dot.”
“Why?”
He opens his mouth to – hopefully – explain, then closes it again.
“If this Girl Scout meeting is quite finished, we have work to do,” a new, acidic barb joins the fray. My professor.
The others all jump like they’ve been caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing, but I cross my arms and frown. It’s my battle stance, and I’m pissed off! I thought I was actually about to get some answers.
“Actually, we weren’t done here.”
“Too bad, princess.”
“Excuse me? What did you just call me?” My arms uncross and my hands fall to my hips, ready for a fight.
“Stop acting like a spoiled, entitled brat. So what, you managed to somehow trick three boys into kissing you. Congratulations. You’re a real player.”
“I didn’t trick… It wasn’t like that.” Was it? The professor’s words turn me into a tailspin of confusion.
“Prof—” Reef’s tone is reproachful, but he ignores it.
“Can we stop with all this school-yard drama and cut the crap. We have a job to do, and we need to get going. Who’s staying with Malia?”
“I am!” All three of them shout at once.
The professor shakes his head. “I’m surrounded by idiots.” If I wasn’t so emotionally heightened right now, I’d absolutely appreciate hisScarfrom the Lion King reference. He’s definitely the villain of this story, so it fits him well.
“I don’t need babysitting,” I insist. “If you all need to go, just go.”
“Someone will be with you at all times.”
“Why?” I groan.
“Because I said so!”
Geez, okay Dad. Keep your hair on!
“You could stay with her,” Bhodi points out with a sly smile. The prof’s answering glare could wilt the most robust flower.
“Bhodi. You’re staying. The rest of you, in the car, let’s go.”
“What! No!” I cry before I even know what or why I’m protesting. Bhodi gives me an amused smirk.
“Don’t worry, little dot. We’ll have lots of fun. I know how to make you happy.” He winks and I blush, unable to miss the suggestive innuendo of his statement as memories from the lake flood my mind.
Judging from the pissed off expressions on Cove’s and Reef’s faces, they know exactly what he means too.
The professor looks absolutely murderous.
* * *
Being left behind with Bhodi isn’t a bad thing. Once the others have gone, he takes my hand and drags me into the house, depositing me neatly on the sofa.
