Page 23 of Sour Lollipops and Sweet Nightmares (The Society #1)

Straightening up, I rolled my shoulders back and slipped one hand in my pocket where I had my pepper spray, while lifting the other to knock on the door.

It was surprisingly easy to do.

Standing there while I waited for someone to answer, however, was not. I almost jumped out of my skin when the door flew open.

An attractive guy with brown hair looked down at me. The more he saw, the more his lip curled in disparagement.

Until he leaned against the doorframe and tsked, “You lost?”

I felt lost, standing here in my faded blue cardigan while Mr. Designer Jeans judged me.

“No.” I lifted my chin and pushed my glasses up my nose. “If you could get Issac Kratz, that would be very much appreciated.”

I was polite yet firm.

Mr. Judgy brows pulled together. “ You are here to see Issac?”

Why did he say you like that? As if it were so unbelievable that someone like me would dare call on someone like him. I had just as much merit as any other girl, not that this guy cared. There were a few things I learned from my mother’s dating history. There were two kinds of men.

The ones who only looked at physical appearance—like this guy—and the ones who looked at the whole package. Unfortunately, the whole package type was not the majority, and typically didn’t fall within the college age range.

The same could be said about girls. However, most girls would date someone they weren’t initially attracted to once they got to know them.

“Yes,” I confirmed. “I’m here to see Issac.”

He snorted, “Why would he want to see you?”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

Why was this guy giving me trouble? I expected an argument with Issac to get my things back, but I wasn’t about to argue with someone to talk to him.

“You have a smart mouth for someone who dresses like my grandma.”

That was insulting. Who was he to judge me? I happened to like my jeans—even if they were a little worn and didn’t fit right—they were comfortable, as was my cardigan. Not all girls walked around with their breasts hanging out.

“You don’t even know why I’m here.” For all this guy knew, I was Issac’s tutor or I was partnered with him in a class.

“Don’t care.” He shrugged.

Okay, that was fair. Some people didn’t want to be involved in others’ business. Yet he still didn’t move. He didn’t call for Issac to come to the door. He stayed where he was, judging me with his stare. It was very uncomfortable.

“Soo,” I asked, unsure. “Can I talk to Issac?”

“Who’s stopping you?”

He was. Wasn’t he? Did I misread something or miss a social cue?

“Are you going to go and get him?”

He tipped his head back at the staircase I could see behind him. “He’s upstairs, third door on the left.”

Did that mean I was supposed to go in, because he was in my way? Or was he simply telling me where Issac was? I might’ve been better off going in with Jimmy.

Before I could ask for clarification, he walked away, throwing a “Good luck,” over his shoulder at me.

I stared through the open doorway.

He wanted me to go inside? I hadn’t planned on that. But what did I expect? This wasn’t one child asking if another could come out and play. We were adults, and adults went into the house.

Sucking in a deep breath, I lifted my foot and stepped across the threshold into the den of hell.

The house wasn’t as evil as I thought. It was surprisingly normal.

There were a couple of guys playing a video game in the room on my left, three more were snacking in the kitchen on my right, and one guy was sitting at a desk by the stairs studying.

All of which were typical college kid activities.

Okay, this wasn’t so bad.

The pounding in my chest calmed down as I headed for the stairs.

“Well, well, well,” a voice purred from behind me, sending a chill up my spine. “If it isn’t Georgia Pyne.”

My hand froze on the banister.

Crap.

I knew that silky smooth tone.

My head felt heavy as I twisted my neck to the figure leaning against a wall to my left. “Levi.”

“I like the way you say my name.” His silver eyes twinkled with a dark gleam. “You’re not scared of me, are you, Georgia?”

I did not like the way he said my name. Nor did I like the way he was looking at me. Someone as beautiful as him should not be that terrifying. I almost preferred Issac to Levi. At least I was aware of what I was getting with Issac.

Possible violation and torment. But when it came to Levi, there was something hidden. He came across as a fun-loving, charming guy, but he wasn’t. Levi was the razor blade in a piece of candy.

“Jimmy knows I’m here.” I don’t know why I said that. It just came out.

“Jimmy?” a smirk curled the corner of his lips. “Oh, you’re the psycho chick he was talking about.”

Okay, so he was Jimmy, but that wasn’t important right now.

He tipped his head to the side and cocked a brow. “I don’t think Issac would like you talking to other guys.”

Why would he care? “I guess you should stop talking to me then.”

“What makes you think I care what Issac wants?”

I was pretty sure Levi only cared about what Levi wanted.

He pushed off the wall and took a step towards me.

“Stay back.” Letting go of the banister, I held my finger up in warning. “I have more pepper spray.”

“Whoa,” Levi held up his hands. “What’s with all the hostility?”

Seriously?

“Have I ever done anything to hurt you?”

“Yes!”

“Pfft,” he waved dismissively. “Name one thing.”

“You were going to make me do…” I looked around the faces watching and leaned in to say in a hushed tone, “Things to your friend.”

“Was I? Or did you overreact to a bit of teasing?”

That was insane. “I did not overreact. I was protecting myself.”

“From what?” His tone was innocent, but his grin was pure sin. “I never touched you.”

Well, technically he didn’t, but… “You were going to.”

“You sure about that, or did you pepper-spray me out of panic?”

I mean… I did panic. But I had good reason to. “What Issac did was not okay.”

He couldn’t argue that.

“Well, you did threaten to post a picture of Ravi naked.”

I did do that. I wouldn’t have actually posted it, but I did take the picture. “That doesn’t excuse what Issac did.”

“Issac gave you exactly what you asked for.”

What? “I did not ask for anything.”

“Yes, you did,” he argued. “We all saw how you were looking at him.”

Were we in the same room? “I was not looking at him.”

“So, you aren’t attracted to Issac?”

“I mean… he’s attractive,” they all were, “but I’m not attracted to him.”

“If you weren’t attracted to him, then you wouldn’t find him attractive.”

“That’s not what I meant. Issac is good-looking…”

“So, you think he’s good looking?” Levi interrupted.

“Yes… no… that’s not the point.” I stomped my foot on the floor. “Issac had no right to touch me like that.”

“You find him attractive but don’t, he’s good-looking but he’s not,” Levi sang while rolling his eyes. “You really need to stop sending mixed signals.”

I was not sending mixed signals, was I? Kash did approach me for sex. And Jimmy invited me up to his room. Was I giving men the wrong idea? Could this all be my fault?

No!

I shook my head. “Stop twisting things.”

“Hey.” His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I’m not the one who’s confused.”

Maybe he had a point? I read situations wrong all the time. “I didn’t want him to do that.”

“Maybe you should’ve told him to stop then.”

“I did.” Didn’t I? Even if I didn’t… “I was crying.”

“Some girls cry. Intimacy can be an emotional thing,” Levi said so casually that I began to question everything.

That was true. Intimacy, in particular for me, was difficult. Perhaps I got it all wrong? Levi wasn’t being cruel right now. Which he would be if they were out to get me. If anything, Levi was being extremely understanding, even if he was all for tormenting me in the cafeteria.

I rolled my eyes over Levi’s stance, looking for a sign of trickery or deception.

The only thing I found was a friendly smile.

It was alluring and welcoming like the rest of him.

I couldn’t stop staring at him. He was so pretty, with his soft, kissable lips and thick, dark hair. He didn’t want to hurt me, did he?

For some reason, I didn’t flinch when he reached out and grabbed my hand. I just stood there, looking down at his hand on mine as tingles shot up my arm.

“Listen,” Levi tipped his head, drawing my attention to the bright sparkle in his eyes. “Do we look like the kind of guys who need to force girls to do anything?”

Well, no, they didn’t. Any one of them could get any girl or guy they wanted. So why would they need to come after me? Who was I? I was the bad guy here. That was who I was.

“Come on,” Levi held his arms out. “Let’s hug it out.”

Sighing, I stepped down the few stairs I’d climbed and wrapped my arms around him. “I’m sorry I pepper-sprayed you.”

I shouldn’t have overreacted like that.

“It’s okay.” He rubbed his hand down my back. “There was no permanent damage.”

Something in the back of my mind screamed at me to stop touching him and run away.

It was like an itch that I couldn’t quite scratch, or the innate sense of danger that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand.

Somewhere deep inside, I knew this was wrong, but I couldn’t make myself step away from him. It was like being lost in a fog.

“What is happening to me?” Even my voice sounded far away. Or maybe I was whispering? I couldn’t tell.

Levi chuckled in my ear, “You should be glad I’m not his second.”

Who’s second, and second for what? “I don’t understand?”

And why was I still hugging him?

“You’re adorable.” Levi pulled away and pinched my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You should go apologize to Issac. I know he’d like that.”

I don’t know why, but that sounded like a good idea.

I nodded, “I will,” and headed up the stairs.

What a nice guy. Most people wouldn’t be that understanding. I misjudged Levi.

As I rounded the corner at the top of the stairs, the cloud fogging my brain lifted, and my eyes narrowed.

Wait a minute…