Page 38

I laugh. “I’m not that brave,mo mhuirnín.” Because I have no doubt if I called Aurora a bitch, she’d jump across the table and strangle me. “I called your face a bitch. Different.”

“Do you know how long it takes for someone to bleed out when you slice through their carotid artery?” She lifts a challenging brow.

“I do,” I tell her.

“Well, do you know how long it takes me to have a knife sticking out the side of your neck?”

“How long?”

“Less than a minute,” she says.

“I have no doubt. Which, again, is why I didn’t call you a bitch. I said you have a hot resting-bitch face.” I shake my head. “What are your plans after we finish school?” I need to change the subject before she really does try to jump over the table.

“I don’t know,” she says.

“We graduate in six months. You have to have some plans. College? Travel? What are they?”

“I’m expected to go to college,” she says, looking away.

“But you don’t want to?”

“I’m not academic. I don’t want to go through another four years of pretending to be something I’m not,” she admits.

“What do you meanpretending to be something you’re not?”

“My parents think I get grades all on my own. But Dante’s been doing my assignments for me since the fifth grade.”

“That’s… wow, okay. Why?” I ask her.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m stupid. I can’t do it.” She shrugs.

“One, you are far from stupid, Aurora. Whoever put that idea into your head is a fucking moron. And two, you can do whatever you want. You’re a fucking Valentino,” I remind her.

“Wow, you sound just like my dad.” Aurora laughs.

“I just had my tongue in your ass. Trust me, I’m nothing like your dad.”

Her face blushes, and her eyes widen as she looks around to make sure no one heard me. “Oh my god!” she hisses at me.

“Yeah, that’s what you were saying, by the way. Not once did the name Connor come out of your mouth.”

“Oh, I’m aware.” Aurora smiles proudly. “It did take effort not to say it, though, so don’t be too hard on yourself. You fought the good fight.”

Something shifts in Aurora’s eyes as her glares settles over my shoulder. When I turn around to see what she’s looking at, she’s already out of her seat and walking past me.

“Fuck.” I get up and follow her.

Aurora picks up a cue from the pool table, and then hits some guy over the back of the head with it as he’s caging some girl against the wall. He lets go of the girl and turns around. “What the fuck? You little bitch. You’re going to pay for that,” he yells, taking a step towards Aurora.

“Yeah? And who’s going to make me? You?” She laughs, still clutching the stick in her hands.

When I see his fist come out towards her, I shove her out of the way, blocking the blow and throwing one of my own. My knuckles connect with his jaw. He was actually going to hit her. I see fucking red. Before I know it, I have the guy on the ground. Hitting him over and over again.

“Connor, stop.” Aurora grabs my arm and tries to pull me back.

I stand and look at her.

“I don’t need you to jump in and defend me.” She glares at me, before turning to the guy on the ground. Kicking at him with the toe of her shoe. “And you’re a fat, fucking ugly bastard. Try picking on someone your own size.”