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That cunt was gunning for Riley. I’m getting the sense that she might be part of what’s happening at school here with Riley. If she thinks because she’s a female that makes her safe from me, she’s going to get hit upside the head with more than a ball. I don’t give a flying fuck who or what you are when you cross someone that means something to me. All bets are off. You’re no longer innocent. And unfortunately for the blonde, Riley means a lot to me. More than I’m even willing to admit to myself just yet.
“Go change,” I tell Riley as the blonde starts to get to her feet while holding her face. Dodgeball is over for the day. I’m not leaving the court without Riley.
“She’s going to be pissed,” Riley says, not doing what I told her.
“Maybe she’ll think next time before she tries to throw a ball at your face.” Riley’s eyebrows rise. There is no missing the aggression in my voice. I can’t mask it. “She the one fucking with you?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Her response tells me all I need to know.
“It does.” I turn to fully face her. “When it comes to you, Riley”—I lean down getting closer, wanting her eyes on mine—“everythingfucking matters.”
14
RILEY
“Is he always so intense?” Angel whispers to me.
I glance over at Nikolai, who is sitting at the next table over in the library with his feet kicked up onto another chair. As if he can feel me staring, he looks up at me.
I glance away, trying not to make it too obvious that we’re talking about him. I see him smirk out of the corner of my eye. Why does he have to be so damn handsome?
“Yes,” I answer honestly. Nikolai is intense and serious most times. But I’m finding that he gives me little glimpses of a different side of him. One I don’t want to share with anyone.
Plus, I don’t even know Angel that well. We’ve only become somewhat friendly recently after Nikolai pointed out that she was the girl in the cafeteria that helped him find me in the library. We don’t share any classes, but I have seen her around. She’s often by herself, never falling into any of the cliques.
“Did he really nail Becky in the face with a ball?” Angel fights a smile. Ah, she doesn’t like Becky either. We might really get along.
“It’s dodgeball.” I shrug. “These things happen.” Angel puts her hand over her mouth to suppress her laughter. Yes, Nikolai did it on purpose, but I’d never rat him out. “Have you had problems with her too?”
“Yeah.” Angel rolls her eyes. “You’d think since she is dating my brother I’d get a pass, but my brother can be as cruel as her.”
“Wait.” I shake my head because that’s a lot to take in. “Brent is your brother?”
“Twins.”
“Dang.” I didn’t see that coming. “My brother was a dick too.”
“Was?” Well, crap.
“I have no contact with him.” I don’t add that it’s because he’s dead. And that I’m not sad about it in the least.
“That sounds nice.” Angel blows out a breath. “I’ll never get that luxury. Not with my family.” She shifts in her seat. I get the sense she doesn’t want to talk more about her family. I can relate.
“You think anyone else is coming?” I glance around the empty library. School let out twenty minutes ago. I’d signed up for the book club a few weeks ago trying to put myself out there more. I need to learn to be more social if I plan to go off to college.
“I’m gonna guess no.”
“Well, I guess that means it’s just the two of us.” To be honest, I’m really not that upset that it will only be us.
“And your shadow.” She tilts her head toward Nikolai. I burst out laughing but quickly cover my mouth, remembering we’re in the library.
“He’s not too bad of a shadow,” I admit.
“So you guys are a thing?”
“I don’t know.” I chew on my bottom lip, wondering what we are myself. Nikolai confuses me half the time. Even with his little comments, like about my gym clothes. That comment is still lingering in my mind.
“I think you guys are adorable together. It’s like opposites attract.” She picks up a book in front of her. “One of my favorite tropes.”