Page 98 of Riot Act

My heart skips a beat when he looks up, sees me, and sweeps his tongue over his bottom lip, wetting it.

“You’re coming to the house tonight,” he tells me as I walk past him.

“I can’t. I have a chapter to write, as you well know.”

“And as you well know, I told you to get your work done after class so your evenings are free.”

My cheeks are suddenly hot. “I have to help my father with his restaurant. He’s opening this weekend. He’s nowhere near ready. The walls haven’t even been painted.” I dump my stuff onto my desk, opening my bag to retrieve my textbooks.

“Looked pretty painted to me. From what I could tell, all he needed to do was take the plastic off the furniture. And straighten the sign.”

My head snaps up. Pax stands by his desk, taking his books out of his bag.

“What the hell are you talking about? How do you know what state the restaurant’s in?”

He pouts. “I may have swung by there. Mountain Lakes is small as hell. A new place to eat is bound to garner some attention from the locals.”

“Youare not a local. You are a Riot House boy, who doesn’t deign to eat with the mere mortals of Mountain Lakes.” My mind’s going a mile a minute. A cold panic climbs up my spine. “Wait. So. You saw my dad?”

“I did indeed.”

Oh fuck. Fuck, shit, fuck.I try to sound calm when I hiss, “What did you say to him?”

He grins wickedly. “I was polite, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“OfcourseI’m worried about—”

“All right, guys. Butts in seats, please. We have a stupid amount of ground to cover today!” Professor Radley hovers at the front of the class, wiping the lenses of his glasses with a small black cloth, which he tucks into his pocket. “Presley, why are you still standing there, gaping like a fish out of water. Sit down so we can get started.”

I am gaping. At Pax. He went to the restaurant? Hespoketo my dad? “You shouldn’t have done that. Why? What were youthinking?”

“Presley, I’ve literally never had to say this before...” Professor Radley looks bemused. “But please stop harassing Mr. Davis. For once, he is in his chair and his mouth is shut. Let’s move this along quickly before that changes, shall we?”

The entire class snickers.

Pax has the audacity to smirk at me as I sit my ass down. The gall of the guy! I can’t believe him. Econ drags worse than Christmas Eve for a five-year-old. I keep waiting for the bell to go, distracted as hell, countless scenarios running through my head.

Pax, being absolutely evil to my father.

Pax saying something he really shouldn’t to my father.

Pax mentioning that we’ve been hanging out together. Or…fucking? There’s no way he’d tell my father that we’ve beenfucking. Surely? No one in their right mind…

Even as I think this, I realize my mistake.

Since when has Pax Davis been in his right mind?

“Okay, gang. Assignments are due by the end of next week. I know we’re really close to the finish line, but let’s not get lazy now. The race isn’t over until youcrossthe finish line—” Professor Radley pretends to slow motion run, right as the bell goes, and I’ve never wanted to scream so badly in my entire life. I need to get the hell out of here.

Pax is up and out of the door before anyone else. I foolishly think that I’ve been spared any further baiting from him, but I’m wrong; he’s waiting in the hallway, tapping on his phone screen, frowning. I attempt to scoot past without him knowing but he steps forward, still looking down at his phone, blocking my path.

“If you’re trying to sneak around, maybe try wearing a hat?” he suggests. “Something that hides all of your hair. It’s kinda hard to miss.”

“What the hell are you doing? Get out of the way.” I step to the right but Pax steps forward, blocking me at the same time. He’s still frowning down at his infernal phone.

My temper gets the better of me. I snatch the device out of his hands. “If you’re gonna screw with me, you might as well give me your full attention,” I snap.

Murder flashes in Pax’s beautiful, terrifying eyes. “Give it back, Chase. We’re not in fucking kindergarten.”