Page 33 of The Deception You Weave

I laugh at the two of them, wondering how I didn't see the likeness before.

"Where are we going?" I ask as Luca leads me toward the parking lot, where Leon, Colt, Ella, and Violet are waiting.

I can't help but laugh at the look of complete awe on Ella's face as she stands between the two guys.

"To a place off campus. Thought you might like to get away for a few hours."

"Yes," I all but shout.

"Come on then." He pulls open his car door for me and I drop down as West and Brax climb into the back. The others pile into Leon's car and we take off.

Just before Luca turns the car out of the lot, I spot Kane emerging from the building. His eyes almost immediately finding mine through the window as if he knew exactly where I was.

A shiver runs down my spine, my blood heating from just that simple connection alone.

His face is sad and it makes me want to demand Luca to stop the car so I can talk to him. But I know he won't hear me out, he's already made that abundantly clear.

Ripping my eyes away, I try to focus on West and Brax's banter in the back seat, but it's hard to focus when my desire, fear, and concern all collide and send me into a tailspin.

* * *

"I am so ready for a bit of girl time," Ella says, her arms laced through mine and Violet's as we walk into the mall side by side later that day.

Our lit class was about as tense as I expected it to be with Luca and Leon on full alert in case Kane pulled any shit. But other than watching us, he made no attempt to talk to me or even get close.

Fine by me.

Even Colt seems to have joined in theWe Must Protect Letty At All Costsclub. I'm not sure if that's Luca or West's doing. It really could be either at this point.

But no matter how many guys I've got looking out for me, I fear it'll never be enough.

When Kane decides he wants to get to me, he will, no matter how many members of the football team are watching my back.

Kane doesn't play by the rules, he never has. He plays dirty, and he always wins.

Just the thought makes me shudder.

“So what’s first, dresses or swimsuits?” Violet asks as we walk deeper into the colossal building.

“S-swimsuits?” I stutter, narrowing my eyes in Ella’s direction. She never said anything about needing a freaking swimsuit for the Delta party.

“Hell yes, the Delta pool parties are legendary.”

My heart sinks into my shoes. I don’t want to walk around in an itsy-bitsy bikini.

“Oh… I think I’ll pass on the swimsuit.”

“Nonsense. Come on, we’ll get those first.”

I groan as the two of them draw me toward a store full of them.

“We are going to find you the perfect suit, Let. Those boys won’t know what’s hit them,” Ella all but shouts.

I refrain from asking which boy in particular she's talking about because right now I don’t want to think about any of them.

By the time we walk toward the dressing room with an armful of swimsuits each, I can’t deny that a little of their excitement has started to seep into my veins.

Of course I want to be at the party, I want to celebrate the guys' first success of the season—because of course they’re going to win—and if that means a few extra shots to get over my fear of showing off some skin, then so be it.