Page 39 of Wicked Ends (Hellions of Hade Harbor #4)

Arianna

The next day at school, I was finally able to breathe easy. Marcus had promised to stop his obsession with chasing me, for now. I could stop dreading that the dean was about to walk in and fire me on the spot.

I made it through classes and was heading to lunch with my friends when Sally turned to me and exclaimed, “Oh! That reminds me. Someone called for you.”

“Called where? The school?”

She nodded. “Yep, I guess we can thank Bill’s little viral video for that.”

I paused mid-step. “Who?”

Sally slid me a sideways look. “He didn’t say. Maybe a secret admirer?”

I stopped walking completely. More likely a ghost from the past that I’d hoped, in my most delusional moments, to never meet again.

The memory of my last night in my hometown played on repeat in my head most nights.

I’d analyzed every single second, from the sound Dale had made when he fell to the way the blood soaked into the carpet.

The truth was, I couldn’t know for sure.

Was I a murderer or a wannabe? Finding out the answer to that would end my terrible curiosity but also destroy my life in the process.

Someone calling for me could be anyone from my past, or the cops, or a PI, or him . I felt ill at the thought.

“He wanted to know your address or cell.”

“And?” I could taste pennies in my mouth.

“I told him that we don’t give out personal information, and anyway, he had the wrong person… wrong name. I mean, he mentioned the piano video, but he clearly had you confused with someone else.”

I let out an unsteady breath.

“What did he say?”

“He kept insisting that he talk to you, or have confirmation that you were here, asked for your extension, that sort of thing. I told him, like I tell the guys who phone sometimes about my brother—get a warrant if you want an honest answer.”

I nodded. Sally reached out and took my hand.

“Is everything okay with you? You could tell me if it wasn’t.”

I shook my head. “It’s fine. Thank you for doing that, and for letting me know.”

“It’s fine, anyway, I was hardly lying. Any old psycho could call up anyone and try to find out their information. It sucks.”

We followed Bill and Wade into the dining hall. The place was busy, as always, with the high, corniced ceilings sending the laughter and chatter of students ricocheting around.

I grabbed a limp-looking salad from the offerings on display, paid, and sat.

Don’t freak out. It could have been anyone, I tried to tell myself.

It might not be him. But who else would call about me?

There was no one else in the world who cared enough to try to find me, or there hadn’t been before I’d come to Hade Harbor.

Now? I could almost believe that there were a few people who might notice if I disappeared overnight.

Kenna, for one, Bill, old Earl at the Night Owl. Marcus?

Across the dining hall, there was a table drawing attention, mostly from the female members of the student body.

The Ice Gods’ table. I was well aware of it.

Everyone was. I’d also become more familiar with who was who after reading the campus newspaper this morning, which featured a play-by-play of a recent game, and headshots of the players.

The Ice Gods were hard to forget. Now, I glanced over to see who was sitting there and met a warm, probing hazel stare.

Marcus sat with his arm over the empty seat next to him, nodding now and again to what his friend, Asher Martino, was saying.

Cayden West, the star forward, sat across from them, his arm around a pretty redhead, and Beckett Anderson strolled in their direction holding two lunch trays, while a dark-haired student led the way.

The Ice Gods and their girlfriends made space for Anderson and his girlfriend, but all the while, Marcus’ gaze stayed on me.

Cayden twisted around to follow his friend’s gaze.

His mouth moved, and though I was too far away to hear what was said, I could guess, as the rest of the table turned to stare at me.

My cheeks heated, and I dropped my inspection, feeling caught out.

“So, are you going to see him again?” Sally was asking Bill.

I tried to concentrate on their conversation, but it was like there was a string tied to my attention, tugging in Marcus’ direction continuously. He had a shiny red apple in one hand and a knife clutched in the other. The way he held it made it look a lot more dangerous than a dinner knife should.

After a while, I risked another glance up. The table of Ice Gods had resumed eating, talking comfortably with each other. A girl approached, young and fit; her whole vibe screamed cheerleader. She stopped behind Marcus, and everything inside me stiffened.

She shifted her tray and jerked her head toward the empty seat beside Marcus. The Ice Gods were silent, waiting for him to make a decision.

I felt like I was holding my breath while I waited for him to decide whether to let the pretty cheerleader sit right there next to him, where his arm was resting across the empty seat.

Then Marcus nodded and pushed the chair out, inviting the girl to sit.

My breath whooshed out, and I turned away. I couldn’t help the sting in my chest. Jealous. I was jealous of that girl… not only of how beautiful and young she was, but how she could approach Marcus in public and sit with him.

The jealousy was cloying and unwanted, but at the same time, undeniable.

“You’re not hungry?” Sally remarked.

I glanced around to see that I was the only person at the table who’d barely started on their lunch.

“Not really,” I murmured.

Sally raised an eyebrow. “I can’t blame you. Everyone knows the salad here sucks. It’s fries, or nothing.”

“Agreed. I hit the gym every morning to make sure I can have the fries here,” Wade said.

Bill snorted. “Stop trying to remind everyone that you have a six-pack.”

Wade smirked and clasped his hands behind his head. “Actually, it’s more of an eight-pack these days.”

Bill tossed a fry, and it hit Wade in the face.

As they messed around, just like who couldn’t stop themselves from wiggling a sore tooth, my gaze returned to the Ice Gods’ table.

The girl was still sitting there, eating her lunch now and speaking to a new girl, someone with white-blonde hair. Asher Martino was playing with her long fall of tumbling curls.

Marcus was nowhere in sight.

He’d left the table. He’d let that girl sit, but then he’d gotten up and left.

Something horribly like relief hit me. Okay, I had a problem, it was official.

I took a bite of salad, my appetite returning as Sally peered up over my shoulder and raised an eyebrow.

“Mr. Bailey, can we help you with something?”

I nearly choked on my mouthful of lettuce. I checked over my shoulder. Marcus loomed behind me. I coughed, and Bill passed me my cup of water. I dragged some down, hacking loudly.

Great. Smooth.

“Just wanted to give my favorite teacher a little something,” Marcus said, his voice full of his usual dark amusement. “Since she’s new and all.”

“I didn’t know you were on the welcoming committee, Mr. Bailey,” Wade said, staring Marcus up and down and sitting up straighter.

I could picture him sucking in his so-called eight-pack when faced with the sight of Marcus, star goalie, in a tight T-shirt.

“Now you do, Professor,” Marcus said, a sardonic lilt to his voice. Then his hand appeared in front of me, and he placed the red apple down on my tray.

“Welcome to HHU, Professor Moore. I’m looking forward to playing with you for the rest of the semester…”

Shock worked through me at his audacity; why, I had no idea. I already knew the guy had no boundaries, but still. My poker face was shit.

Marcus left that ambiguous statement hanging for a long, loaded moment.

“Playing with her?” Wade repeated dubiously, after a shocked pause.

A few beats passed where Marcus failed to elaborate, and I was sure everyone’s imaginations were running wild.

“I play guitar,” Marcus finally explained, and there were nods around the table.

Relief had me sagging back in my chair.

“Well, thanks,” I said and glanced up at him.

He was smirking down at me, completely aware of the mini heart attack he’d just given me.

“Are you guys prepared for the game tomorrow? I heard the Sinclair twins are quite formidable,” Bill said. The change of subject was very welcome.

Marcus nodded. “We’re ready, and we’re not taking any chances. They’re a good team, but we’re better.”

“Ah, the confidence of youth,” Wade mused, a hint of condescension in his tone. “I remember it well.”

Marcus cocked his head at him. “Really? It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Professor?”

Sally snorted loudly around the mouthful of soda she’d just taken. Wade patted her back unnecessarily hard and glowered at Marcus.

“Not that long, thank you. Anyway, class is starting soon, you should run along. I’m sure you have better places to be than standing here talking to us teachers.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure, Professor,” Marcus said, but he did leave.

He passed behind me. His hip brushed my shoulders, and I could have sworn it was on purpose. Just that one fleeting touch sent heat dripping down my spine.

“You don’t have to eat that if you don’t want to.” Sally nodded toward the apple. She held her hand out. “You want me to have it? I forgot to get one.”

“Sure.” I went to pick up the apple and froze. There was something carved in it that I hadn’t noticed before. I picked it up, keeping it angled away from the rest of the table.

I’d rather eat you.

I panicked and did the only thing I could think of—took a huge bite, trying to cover the entire area where the words were carved into the red skin.

I chewed my huge mouthful as Sally watched me with wide eyes.

“Sorry, I guess I felt like an apple after all,” I said when I managed to swallow the enormous lump.

“Okay, that’s cool,” Sally said and shot me a grin.