Page 50 of Knot Your Romeo

“And you? How do you feel about Romeo?”

“Sorry, but he's easy to turn down. It helps that he has the personality of a snake. Though, I admit, the physical attraction was there for me. At least, at first. But believe me, it is now very one-sided.”

Beck stares at me for a long moment, something shifting in his expression.

“Jolie—“

But before he can finish whatever he was going to say, my phone buzzes with a text.

Jude: Missing you already. See you at lunch?

I smile despite the heavy conversation, and Beck notices.

“Your date?” he asks.

“Something like that.”

There’s a moment of loaded silence before Beck clears his throat. “You should get to class.”

“Right.” I reach for the door handle, then pause. “Beck? Why are you suddenly interested in my relationship with Romeo?”

His dark eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, and for a moment I see something raw and vulnerable there. “Because I care about you. More than I should.” The admission hangs between us, but if I’m honest, the entire conversation was loaded with implications neither of us is ready to explore.

I get out of the car on shaking legs, trying to process what had just happened.

Beck Silver. Not only a successful businessman and Alpha of Alphas. He is also the man who left me money like a paid companion, and now he’s just admitted he cares about me.

The morning passes in a blur of lectures and note-taking, but I can’t stop thinking about Beck’s words. When lunchtime arrives,I’m so lost in thought that I don’t notice Cerise and her friends until it’s too late.

“Well, well,” Cerise says, stepping into my path outside the science building. “If it isn’t the little housekeeper’s daughter.”

I try to sidestep her, but two of her friends move to block me. “Excuse me, I need to get to—“

“You need to listen,” Cerise interrupts, her perfectly manicured hand shooting out to grab my hoodie. In one swift motion, she yanks the hood down and pulls the elastic from my ponytail. My hair tumbles down my back, the dark waves spilling over my shoulders. I’ve been growing it out for three years, and it’s longer than it’s ever been.

“Look at that,” one of Cerise’s friends breathes. “No wonder Romeo can’t stay away.”

“I don’t—“ But before I can get the words out, Cerise pushes me to the floor.

“Amber, get the scissors from my bag,” Cerise orders, her hands keeping me down.

“No!” I yell as her knee presses into my back, replacing her hands.

“Cerise, I don’t think—“ the friend starts.

But Cerise fists my hair in her hands and pulls my head back. “Get them. Now.”

“Please,” I gasp, trying to twist away. “I've done nothing—“

“You’ve done everything,” Cerise snarls. “Getting in that car every morning, batting your eyes at my boyfriend, making him think he needs to protect you.”

“Your so-called boyfriend was fucking another girl at his brother’s party,” I spit out, anger overriding my fear. “Did he tell you that?”

Cerise’s grip on my hair tightens painfully. “Liar. He wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Then why are you so bothered about me if he wouldn’t cheat on you?” The logic of my question only makes her angrier. I hear the metallic snick of scissors opening behind me.

“We just need you to not be so pretty,” Cerise says, and I feel the cold metal against my neck. “It’s not my hair he’s attracted to,” I whisper desperately.