Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
“Go ahead.”
It feels like a dare the way he says it. Like he wants me to. And then I meet his gaze, and I can feel the heat hit me. I suck in a breath, and he sees his opening. He grabs me and backs me up against the brick wall, bringing his body far too close and caging me in.
“Don’t,” I warn him, turning my face so I don’t have to look at him. “Don’t you dare.”
“I still want you, Brynn. Nothing’s changed for me.”
“Everything has changed for me.”
“Is everything okay here?”
My heart lurches and I shove him away, moving away from the wall as Annabel Lee’s gaze moves between us.
I swallow and look down at the ground. “Yeah. Great. I was just leaving.”
Without looking at either of them, I make my way down the hall and away from the auditorium.
And because his fiancée’s friend is here this time, he has to let me go.
Chapter Forty
Brynn
When I first leave school, I feel a strange burst of energy from my run-in with Killian.
I’m not sure it makes sense, but I don’t question it because I need that energy to get some schoolwork done.
Addison gets home hours later. I’m happy to see her, but having the place to myself, I was finally able to focus and go over the material I missed in class earlier.
“Hey,” she says, flashing me a smile as she puts her schoolbag down and starts to unload it.
“Hey,” I say back, mustering a little smile.
“Are you feeling any better?”
I nod. “Yeah. I’m sorry about last night. Everything happened really suddenly, and my former roommate was sleeping, so I just… I didn’t have anywhere to go.”
Actually, that reminds me Stacie never texted me back.
I put down the black and gray clicky pen I found in my bag. I think I accidentally stole it from the lounge when I was there today because I’ve certainly never seen it before, but it writes like a dream, so I’m keeping it.
I grab my phone and shoot a quick text to Stacie. “If the answer is no, that’s fine, but I do need my half of the security deposit back.”
I set my phone aside and turn my attention back to Addison. “Anyway, you’re an angel on earth and I appreciate you so much.”
“Well, I’m not that much of an angel,” she says, taking a seat on the edge of her bed and curling her leg beneath her other leg. “I knew about Sloane and Killian, and I didn’t warn you.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured.”
I didn’t want to say anything, but while I was lying in bed not sleeping, I had a chance to go over things, and I realized everyone knew.
When the Blue Bloods kidnapped me, Hex was essentially telling me Killian was going to fuck me over and making sure I’d keep my mouth shut anyway.
Ryan and Addison obviously knew.
I don’t know if Aubrey knew, but I’m pretty sure all the Blue Bloods did. It really feels like I’m the last to know, when arguably I should have been the most informed.
“I’m so sorry, Brynn. I wanted to tell you. I tried to hint and guide you without telling you, but…” She sighs. “You know about the Blue Bloods?”
I nod.
“Well, everyone says he is one, and when you interfere with a Blue Blood’s shenanigans, the outcome tends not to be so good for you. They’re total bastards, they will ruin your life—or take it—without blinking an eye.”
“I know. I understand why you didn’t say anything.”
“I just hate that you were blindsided like that.”
I nod. “It wasn’t the best, but I’ll survive.” Then, to lighten the mood a little, I tell her, “The worst part is we didn’t get to have Double Ryan night.”
Addison smiles. “Aw, don’t you worry. We’ll have Double Ryan night without him. Fuck Killian Walsh.”
Fuck Killian Walsh, indeed.
___
Killian texts me again before I go to bed, but I don’t answer him.
I can’t bring myself to delete the message chain yet, and I didn’t really read the messages I ignored earlier because my brain was just too foggy, but as I’m lying in bed in the dark, unable to sleep, I decide to scroll through them now.
The first one was last night after we left the apartment. “I’m so fucking sorry, Brynn. I didn’t want it to go like this.”
Yeah, me neither.
“I don’t think you should stay at the Zeta house. Why don’t you let me get you a hotel?”
Should have said something before I left with Sloane, but you didn’t want to say anything in front of her, did you? Asshole.
“Can you fucking answer me please?”
No.
“I’m worried about you.”
I roll my eyes.
“I miss you.”
Ouch.
My lips tug down sadly.
“I don’t want it to go like this.”
Me neither.
“I don’t want to lose you.”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes before I can read the next one.