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That doesn’t mean I can’t hurt him. Just like he hurt me. How he made me learn my lesson. I have a few things to teach him, too.

Right after I figure out what the hell Eddy wants. “What is it this time?”

“I—you—the next—” he stutters and stops.

My jaw tics. My hands press to my waist, digging into the thick fabric of my coat.

I tilt my head, and somehow, Eddy’s face turns even paler. I can practically see through his skin. He takes a hesitant step back, scratching his chest.

“I’m sorry.” The other students are busy chatting behind me. They don’t hear him whisper. “I’m sorry, Shiloh. For what I said yesterday. Please, I apologize. Profusely. I was wrong to say those things. Really wrong.”

What’s gotten into him? We settled this yesterday.

Unless… “Did you tell anyone about our conversation? Am I going to get kicked out of school for being Kaleb’s sister?”

“No, no.” His eyebrows shoot up, then down. His pupils are huge. “As I said. I was wrong. You’re always welcome here.”

That’s the one thing I care about.

My teacher might be a perv. Given my dad’s determination to ruin us, my days in this college are probably numbered.

But I need this one-on-one, or more like two-on-one practice.

The theories in our books have failed to help me. Kaleb—as much as he’d like to believe he has it all figured out—doesn’t have all the answers.

Talking to actual people who don’t have apicture-perfect life, seeing the world through their eyes, this is it. This is my last resort.

When I’m miles away from here and Kaleb needs me, or when I get lost in my own head, I’ll remember this day. I’ll remember how to handle challenging situations.

“Okay, sure. I forgive you.” I don’t sound too convincing. Eddy is on my shitlist. There’s no coming back from it. “Can I go inside already?”

He pinches his trembling lips, sucking in a breath through his nose. “Was that the plan all along?”

“Yes.” Why is he fucking with me? What am I here for if not to practice? “Professor Dempsey promised I could sit in on this last one.” My eyebrows lower and my voice takes on a deadly twist. A Kaleb kind of twist. The way he’d talk to my father. “Are you sure you didn’t say anything?”

“Nothing, nothing.” His hands snap up to hide his face. “Don’t hurt me.”

Would you look at that? Two nights with Kaleb, and I already give off serial killer vibes.

Mission accomplished.

So that Eddy won’t die of a heart attack on the spot, I add, “No one’s going to hurt you. As long as you talk about Kaleb respectfully, you’re safe. Don’t, and I’ll hunt you down. I’ll make your life miserable. You can count on that.”

“I won’t.” His voice breaks. He takes a step back. “I won’t.”

“Good, then you have nothing to worry about.”

“S-swear it, Shiloh. Give me your word that I won’t be harmed.”

Next thing he’ll do, he’ll ask for a pinky promise. The clock inside the clinic says it’s five to eight. The volunteer patient should be here any minute and I’m here wasting time.

On Eddy.

I have to do this, or he’ll start screaming and ruin everything. “I swear.”

“On your life.”

My pocketknife is hidden in the pocket of my dress. I’m tempted to break my vow to Eddy and kill him for being such a pain. For taking forever.