Page 89 of The Forbidden Note

Cadence is hanging out by her locker with her friend Serena. The brunette in the leather jacket gives Finn a quick glance before smiling at me.

“Hey,” I say, lifting my chin.

A nervous grin flits over her face.

While her friend looks uncomfortable, Cadey doesn’t. She walks boldly toward Dutch. My brother moves into her as if they’ve been apart for years rather than just first period.

I notice Sol hanging back, looking moodier than usual.

“Had a good class, babe?” Dutch asks, slipping an arm around Cadence’s waist and giving her a kiss.

“Yeah, you’d know if you’dattendfor once.”

“I’ll steal your notes.”

“To do what? I never see you take any tests.” She holds the side of his face, her giant wedding ring sparkling bright enough to blind someone.

Everyone passing by stares at them. Most of the guys are staring at Dutch in confusion. Most of the girls are staring at Cadence’s ring, which Dutch made sure could be spotted from the moon.

I wonder when Jinx will break the news of their marriage to the masses. Dutch paid her off and told her to keep her virtual mouth shut, but there’s no hiding how much he loves Cadey. Everyone knows something’s up and that ring is just confirmation. I heard several girls weeping after finding out my twin was off the market for good.

I wish he wasn’t.

Now that Dutch is settled down, Jinx seems more obsessed with me. I’ve noticed my name ramping up in her app. If I wasn’t paired with Miss Jamieson, I wouldn’t really give a damn, but things are getting complicated. Having more and more eyes on us won’t spell anything but trouble.

“Let me hold your purse,” Dutch says, reaching for Cadence’s bag.

I scoff as my brother swings the purse over his head and walks with one arm over Cadey’s shoulders.

Those two are freaking obnoxious.

We take off beside them, heading for Cadey’s next class.

At that moment, three jocks stalk into the hallway. They’re tall and bulky, walking squares in puffy letterman jackets. One carries a football under his arm. It’s obvious to me, from the moment they spot us, that they’re looking for a fight.

“Heads up,” I mumble, tapping Sol on the shoulder.

Dutch pushes Cadey behind him.

Finn pauses to bookmark his e-book before pocketing the phone.

The jocks come closer, crap-eating grins on their faces.

My fingers coil. The rivalry between the music and the sports department is legendary. Since dad is practically the ambassador of Redwood, music has gotten most of the financial support and media buzz.

The jocks have always resented us for stealing their thunder.

I don’t feel sorry for them.

Maybe if they didn’t suck so much, they would get more acknowledgement.

“Yo,” the meathead at the front says, swaggering over to us, “which one of you is the lucky bastard who bagged Jamieson?”

Immediately, the hallway goes quiet.

Fights are rare at Redwood.

Here, it’s more convenient to throw money than fists.