Текст книги "Unspeakable"

Автор книги: Michelle K. Pickett

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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 21 страниц)

I looked in the mirror the next morning. My dark hair was a mess. The normal waves hung limply to my shoulders. Dark circles surrounded my eyes, their hazel color washed out from lack of sleep. I sighed. I didn’t have the energy to care what I looked like. After I ran a brush through my hair, I twisted it into a messy bun at the back of my neck. I dabbed a little makeup around my eyes to hide the circles and slashed on some mascara. A swipe of lip gloss and I called it good.

I pulled on a pair of sweats, a pink tank top that said, Zombies Eat Brains (You’re Safe), a zippered hoodie, and my hot pink sequined tennis shoes and forced myself to go to school.

“You look like crap,” Jenna said. I glared at her and grabbed my books out of my locker. “And I am going to burn those shoes the next time I’m at your house.”

“Thanks. You’re a sexy beast, too.”

She leaned her shoulder against the locker next to mine. “Missed you last night. It wasn’t nearly as fun without you.”

“Thanks. Brody show up?”

“Yeah.” She sighed. I swear her eyes glossed over and pink cartoon hearts floated above her head. I wouldn’t have been surprised if violin music had started playing, cartoon rabbits scampered around her, and bluebirds landed on her shoulders. It was sickening… I was totally jealous.

“So, what’s he like?”

“Eh.”

I glanced at her. “What’s that mean?”

“He’s the tall, dark, and handsome that smutty romance novels describe. He must top six feet, and he seems to be the whole package—brains, looks, and wicked funny. All the girls swooned over him.”

“A real ladies’ man, huh?” I rolled my eyes.

Jenna shrugged a shoulder. “I guess. He stayed for one game and then left with Tanya.”

“Great taste in women. I suppose if the stories about him are true, he’s gonna know how to find the easy girls.”

“Time will tell, I guess. See you in history.”

I shut my locker and jumped when I came face to face with Jaden. “So Jenna’s gaga over the new guy, huh? Big surprise. She’ll go after anything with a pulse. Sometimes, I wonder if a pulse is even needed.” He laughed at his lame joke.

“I’m late, Jaden. I’ll see you at lunch.”

He pushed off the locker and fell in step with me. “I’ll walk you to class.”

We were silent on the way. When we got to my classroom, I looked over my shoulder. “Bye. Save me a seat at lunch.”

Jaden grabbed my wrist, pulling me backward against his chest. He wrapped his arm around my waist, nuzzling his face behind my ear before turning me around and kissing me. His mouth was hard against mine. Putting my hand on his chest, I pushed him. He smirked and walked away.

I turned and walked into class. My eyes met Brody’s. He rolled his and made a disgusted face. “I like your shirt,” he said when I reached the table.

I had to look down to remember which one I was wearing. “Oh, thanks. I wore it just for you. You know, to comfort you in case of a zombie attack.”

He laughed. My heart nearly stopped at the sound. Dear God, it was like music from Heaven.

It was movie day in biology. I was looking forward to sleeping during it. Folding my arms on my book, I laid my head on top of them, closing my eyes. Near the end of the movie, Brody scooted his chair close to mine and interrupted my nap. “So, you date the captain of the football team. You’re one of those,” he said quietly.

“One of what?” I asked, not bothering to open my eyes.

“A bimbo jock chaser.”

“Hmm, and you’re one of those.”

“I can’t wait to hear this,” he murmured. “One of what?”

Sighing, I opened my eyes and looked at him. “A piss poor athlete who’s jealous of the real jocks. At least you know you’ll always have a job when you finish school.”

“Oh?” Brody looked at me and quirked an eyebrow.

“Yes, Mr. Victor, I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, ‘Those who can, do, those who can’t, teach.’ So you don’t have to worry about your athletic shortcomings. You can rest easy with the knowledge that you’ll always be able to teach.”

Brody laughed. “Nice. I’m glad to know I’ll be a productive member of society.”

“That remains to be seen. How was Tanya?”

He grinned and shrugged a shoulder. “I’ve had better.”

“Ugh, you’re a pig.”

“You asked.” He leaned close to my ear and murmured, “So you’ve been asking around about me?” He tapped his pencil on the table.

My heart skipped a beat.

He can’t possibly know that. I’ve only talked to Jenna and Tim. They’d never tell anyone I’d asked about him.

“You’re delusional. Why would you think I’ve been asking about you?”

“You know my last name. I didn’t put it in your contacts when I gave you my cell number,” he whispered. He was so close his breath fanned over my neck, moving wisps of hair. His cologne swirled around me, sun, salt water, and something all him. “And you know about Tanya.”

Smiling at him, I used my thumb to flick off the top of my pen and reached over, drawing a large circle around his name on his homework.

“No, Mr. Victor, I just know how to read. You should learn. And everyone knows about Tanya. She’s as easy as you are.”

The bell rang. I shoved my things in my bag and threw it over my shoulder, walking away without looking back. But I wanted to look back. He was quite nice to look at, but he was off-limits. He was also maddening to the point I wanted to scream. So I kept my eyes focused straight ahead and settled for picturing him in my mind.

I can’t believe I’m stuck with him in biology for the rest of the year. Ugh. I wonder how much a hit man costs. I have my college fund… maybe that’d be enough.

Jenna was waiting for me outside biology. “I see you and Brody are talking. Anything interesting?”

“Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?” I teased with a smile. “Don’t worry. It isn’t like we were having a conversation about anything important, unless you consider him calling me a bimbo important.”

“He did not!”

“Yeah. He’s already activated my bitch-mode, and I’ve only known him two days.”

Someone chuckled behind me. I looked over my shoulder and let out a frustrated sigh when I saw Brody.

“He’s behind us, isn’t he?”

I smirked at her. “Now’s your chance, Jenna. Ask him out,” I said loud enough for him to hear.

She elbowed me in the ribs, glaring at me before ducking into her classroom. Laughing, I waved and jogged up the stairs.

“Where should we sit?” he asked when I turned the corner into my next class.

“What are you doing? We don’t have this class together,” I said through clenched teeth.

Brody twirled his pencil between his fingers. “We do now. My schedule changed. So, where do you sit?”

I didn’t answer him. Walking to my seat, I threw my books down.

Brody looked at the girl in the seat next to me. “Bummer. I thought we could be table buddies again.”

“You do realize this is AP English, right?”

“Yes. Oh, look! There’s an empty seat behind you. We can pass notes during class.” He winked as he walked by.

Ugh, he gets more annoying every time he opens his mouth.

I turned in my seat and looked into his eyes. And forgot what I’d wanted to say. His eyes were such a brilliant shade of blue, framed by the longest, blackest lashes I’d ever seen. Girls would kill for his lashes.

He quirked an eyebrow at me when I didn’t say anything.

“What class do you have after this one?” I finally asked.

“Computer science. Should I save you a seat?”

“Thankfully, we don’t share that class.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you didn’t want me in your classes.”

“Ya think?” I turned toward the front, grinding my teeth when I heard him chuckle softly behind me.

As soon as English class was over, I grabbed my bag and walked out of the classroom, trying to disappear in the crowded hall.

“What’s wrong with you? You look like you’re going to explode,” Jenna said as soon as I walked into American history.

“Two words. Brody. Victor.” I ticked them off on my fingers.

“What about him?”

“Evidently his class schedule was changed, and we now share the same English class.”

“You lucky bitch!”

I moved out of the way of someone trying to get down the aisle before looking at Jenna and nearly yelling, “Lucky? He called me a bimbo! How am I lucky to be sharing classes with him?”

“Do you sit together in English, too?”

“Ugh! Are you listening to anything I say? He’s a tool.”

“Yeah, but he’s a gorgeous tool.” She laughed.

I dropped into my seat. “Can’t deny that.”

This day sucks.

I didn’t realize how much my day was going to suck until I walked into my next class.

“I saved your seat for you.” He gave me an amused grin. I wasn’t sure what was so funny to him. I was pissed.

“Why are you here? How’d you know I was in this class… and where I sit?”

“I figured it was a good bet that since we are in the same AP biology and English courses that we’d share other AP classes, as well.” He shrugged a shoulder. “As far as knowing where you sit, I asked.”

My heart skipped a beat, and not in a good way. “Who’d you ask?” I whispered.

“Why? Are you okay?” Brody stood and reached for me.

I flinched away from his hand. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”

“You’re pale and look—”

“Who’d you ask?” I asked him again. If Jaden found out he’d been asking about me, it was going to cause problems… for both of us.

“I didn’t ask anyone. I saw the seating chart on the teacher’s desk.”

I sighed. “Good,” I said, distracted. Putting my books down, I slipped into my seat next to Brody. “That’s good.”

We didn’t speak to each other the rest of the class period. It wasn’t until I was gathering my things to leave that he spoke.

“I guess I’ll see you after lunch in AP calculus,” Brody said, walking past me.

“Yeah, lunch will give me time to mentally prepare myself for your annoying presence. I’ll save you a seat.”

After lunch, I sat in my usual seat in calculus. I looked up just as Brody walked into class. I moved my messenger bag from the seat next to me. He hesitated, looking around. I looked down and flipped through my textbook. Seconds later, I felt him pull out the seat next to me and sit down.

“I thought you were kidding about saving me a seat,” Brody said.

I shrugged a shoulder. “I figured I was fighting a losing battle. There are other open seats. You aren’t obligated to sit here.”

“Am I welcome to?”

I glanced at him. “What do you mean?”

“Do you want me to sit here?” he asked quietly.

“Why would I care where you sit?”

He grinned. “Just curious why you saved the seat for me.”

“Like I said, there are other open seats. Take your pick. And for the record, I didn’t save the seat for you. It’s an open seat. No one sits there, so it didn’t need saving.”

He folded his arms behind his head and leaned back in the chair, stretching his legs out in front of him. “I like this seat. I think I’ll stay here.”

“Whatever,” I muttered. “What class do you have next period?”

“Why? Are you gonna save me a seat?”

What constitutes the insanity plea for murder? Could I strangle him and claim temporary insanity?

“Nope. I want to know if this torture is going to continue.” I flipped through my notepad and tried to ignore him. Impossible.

He laughed, and I felt a little flutter of something in my chest. I bit my bottom lip to hide a grin.

When calculus was over, Brody and I went our separate ways. I was sure I was done with him for the day, and I let out a sigh of relief. I hated how he made me feel off balance, how he was able to get under my skin. And I especially hated the flutters I felt whenever he laughed or leaned close to say something. It confused me. Like it or not, I was with Jaden and even if I wasn’t, Brody had a reputation. I wasn’t looking for a one-night hook-up, not even with the gorgeous Brody Victor.

I walked into the library for independent study, a glorified name for study hall. Most seniors skipped out on the last hour. I usually spent it in the library, working on homework. The less time I spent at home, the better.

I always sat at a table in the back of the library where it was quiet and isolated. Putting in my ear buds, I turned up my iPod. Spreading my calculus notes out, I flipped open my textbook and started working out the homework problems. Concentrating on solving the problems, I didn’t notice him until his shadow fell across my papers. I looked up, and my heart skipped.

I watched Brody’s lips move and him gesture with his hands.

I pulled the ear buds from my ears. “Really? You’re here, too? Look, this is my area. There are dozens of cubicles in the library where you can study. Find one, preferably the one farthest from me.”

“What happens if I like this side of the library?”

“Brody.” I sighed. “Your village called. They want their idiot back. Run along now.” I flicked my fingers like I was shooing a fly away.

A ghost of a smile crossed his lips just before he winked at me and walked by. “See you tomorrow, Willow,” he said over his shoulder.

Ugh, tomorrow. I think I hate school.

Friday night. Another night of football. I’d love going to the games if I could spend the time with Tim, Jenna, and our other friends, eating too much junk food, gossiping, and ogling the football players in their tight uniforms. Instead, every move I made was watched, scrutinized, and reported to Jaden later.

Then there was the inevitable fight. There was a party if our team won—the Cassidy Cougars were undefeated, so there was always a party—and Jaden would want to go. I couldn’t because of curfew, which would cause a fight. Every Friday, it was the same thing. It would’ve been so much easier if I drove myself to the games each week, but Jaden insisted on driving me himself. Possessive.

“Hey,” Jenna said, sitting down next to me. She handed me a Coke.

“Ooh, caffeine and sugar. Just what I like. Thanks.”

“Where’s your watchdog?”

“Karen is two rows up, directly behind me.” I sighed.

Tim wandered over and sat next to Jenna. He was loaded down with candy and the biggest cup of pop I’d ever seen.

“Think you have enough sugar to get you through the game?” I asked with a smile.

“I’m not sure. I think I’ll make it to halftime, but beyond that remains to be seen. Here, I bought this for you.” He handed me a stick with a big blob of pink cotton candy on the end.

“Yum! I love cotton candy. Thanks. You are officially my best friend.”

“Hey!” Jenna scowled. “Brought you a Coke, remember?”

“Hmm, I guess you guys are even then,” I said, shoving the pink sugar in my mouth. “This is good.”

“Hi, Willow,” a smooth-as-velvet voice glided over me, making me shiver like a finger had just slid up my spine. I turned toward him, cotton candy filling my mouth and a handful melting between my fingers, making them a sticky mess.

Swallowing the gooey candy, I said, “Oh, hi, Brody.” His eyes followed my tongue when I ran it across my lips, licking the sticky sugar from them. Something fluttered deep in my stomach. “What do you want?”

“Just stop to say hi,” he said.

I looked next to him. Sarah sat pressed against him, her hand high on his thigh.

Ew, she really gets around.

“What happed to Tanya?”

He shrugged a shoulder. “That didn’t quite work out.”

“Ah, so you’ve moved on to your next conquest. How nice for you.”

“Something like that.”

“Well, I advise you to get a good supply of penicillin. You’re gonna need it.”

“That’s so sweet. You’re worried about my health.” He reached up, slipping a lock of hair behind my ear, and a grin pulled at his lips. “Don’t worry, I have it covered. Literally.”

“Ugh. You know, after meeting you, I’m thinking of becoming a lesbian. You’re disgusting.”

Laughing, he stood. “Later.” He walked away, Sarah following him like a puppy with her tongue hanging out.

“He’s with Sarah now? He’ll do anybody,” Jenna said, popping a piece of popcorn in her mouth.

“I guess so.” I shuddered.

He’s gonna drive me insane by the end of the school year.

When the game ended, I waited for Jaden on the sidelines like always. He jogged over to me, but instead of giving me roses and kissing me like always, he left the roses on the bench and jerked me to him. His fingers dug in to my arm, and I bit the inside of my cheek against the pain. He whispered in my ear, “Wait for me in the car.” He let go of me so fast I stumbled backward.

Great. He’s in a mood.

I wandered back to where Jenna and Tim were standing. “What was that?” Jenna asked.

“No idea.” I shrugged a shoulder.

Tim glanced at the players’ bench. “No flowers tonight? That’s new. He always gives you roses. He’s pissed about something. What’d he say to you?” Tim forced another stick of cotton candy at me.

I shoved some of the spun sugar in my mouth and talked around it. “He told me to go wait in the car. That’s it.” I pushed more of the sticky candy in my already full mouth. I ate when I was nervous or upset. I was both. Jaden had a temper, and I was afraid I was on the wrong side of it.

“Let me drive you home, Willow. You don’t need to put up with his crap. Let’s just leave.” Jenna pulled me toward her car. More cotton candy went in my mouth.

“I can’t just leave. He’ll harass me until I talk to him. I’ll just get it done with now.” Another bite of cotton candy. The big cloud of pink sugary goodness was already half gone.

“Dump him, Willow,” Tim said under his breath. “You don’t need him or his hang-ups. Your relationship isn’t healthy. No one should be that possessive.”

“I know.” I sighed. “I know.” I shoved a huge piece of cotton candy in my mouth. “I need to go. I’ll text you both later,” I said.

I wish I could explain it to you. Tell you everything. Why I can’t leave Jaden.

Jenna’s face was pinched with worry. She raised her hand and waved. Tim just shook his head and turned to leave. Neither of them understood. I knew Jaden was an idiot. But even though he had his bad traits, he was a good guy—somewhere deep, deep inside. When we first started dating, things were different, better. He was loving and caring.

I answered the door, and a shy smile curved my lips. He was gorgeous as always. His cologne drifted in with the breeze. I took in a big breath. He smelled spicy, woodsy.

“Hi.”

“Hi, Willow. You look beautiful. Every guy is going to be jealous of me tonight.” Jaden reached out, took my hand, and helped me down the porch stairs and into his car. He slipped into the driver’s side and turned to me. Cupping my cheek, he kissed me. So soft, tender, and filled with emotion.

The driver’s side door swung open, startling me out of my memories. Jaden jumped in the car, his hair still wet.

“That was fast. You didn’t blow-dry your hair,” I said, looking at his face set in hard lines. Jaden always dried his hair after his shower.

He grunted something in reply. I couldn’t make out what he said or even if it was an actual word. He started the car and peeled out of the parking lot, the car fishtailing in the gravel. I grabbed the dash for support.

“Jaden! What’s wrong with you?”

He drove toward my house, not even asking about Jamieson’s party. Pulling in my driveway, he threw the car in park, jerking us both forward.

“I saw you talking to him.” They were the first words he’d said since getting in the car.

“Who? Tim?” He knew Tim and I were friends. He’d never had a problem with it before.

“No. Brody Victor. Sitting there, on the bleachers, where everyone could see.” Jaden’s hands gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.

“We talked all of two minutes, and it wasn’t even friendly. We don’t even like each other, Jaden.” I laid my hand on his arm.

“It didn’t look like nothing. He touched your hair.” He pushed my hand away, and I flinched at the sound of his raised voice in the small space.

“He was with Sarah. She was practically hanging off him,” I yelled. “I’m so tired of this possessive crap. Get over it.” I got out of the car and slammed the door.

He rolled down his window and yelled, “Watch your mouth and check your attitude. You have no say in this relationship, Willow. The sooner you figure that out, the better it’ll go for you.”

He screeched out of the driveway and down the road. I sank to the porch steps. My elbows on my knees, I put my head in my hands and fought the tears that threatened to fall.

Breathe. You’re strong. Breathe. You won’t be broken. Just breathe

“How’d it go with Jaden last night?” Jenna asked.

I looked down and wiggled my toes in the lavender footbath my feet were soaking in. Jenna and I were having our monthly spa day. I loved the pedicure, soaking my feet in the silky water that smelled so good, and then having them massaged. There was nothing better in the world. It was total bliss.

“So? Are you gonna tell me or what?” she prodded when I didn’t answer.

“He was pissed that I was talking with Brody. He saw Brody reach out and push a piece of my hair behind my ear, and it sent him into a freakin’ fit.”

“You talked to him for like three seconds!”

“Doesn’t matter. Jaden saw it. Can we not talk about him? I want to enjoy my footbath.” I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes.

“Okay, let’s talk about Brody,” Jenna said.

“Why?” I opened one eye and looked at her.

“I can’t believe you share five classes with him. That’s fan-freakin-tastic!” Jenna practically shouted.

“Shh! Jeez, Jenna, get a grip. You are way too over the top when it comes to Brody.” I laughed.

“Well, have you seen him?” she said, her eyes bugged out and eyebrows so high they disappeared under her ebony bangs.

I laughed harder. “Yes, sheesh, I’ve seen him. And, yes, he’s gorgeous—”

“He’s smokin’.”

“Yeah, that too, but he’s a pig,” I said.

“I heard he dropped Tanya like yesterday’s news. Didn’t even kiss her goodnight when he took her home, which, by the way, had to be a blow to Tanya’s ego.” Jenna held her hand out and inspected her manicure.

“Who’d you hear it from?”

“Luce.”

I opened both eyes and raised my eyebrows. “Luce? You’re kidding?”

Luce was the person to go to if you wanted the scoop on anyone at school. She knew everything about everyone—almost before they knew it themselves. If she said it, it was almost certain to be the truth. I’d never known her to be wrong. Of course, there was always a first time for everything.

“Nope. And word going around the texting world last night was he dumped Sarah at home right after the game without so much as a see ya later. When someone asked him about why he went out with Tanya and Sarah in the first place, he said he was still trying to figure out the hierarchy of datable girls.” Jenna looked at me and shrugged a shoulder. “Maybe he’s not as big of a player as people have made him out to be.”

“Oh no, he’s a player. He just wants to screw a higher class of girl, that’s all.”

“So. He’s only playin’ ya if you don’t know it. Maybe it’s time for the player to get played.” Jenna smirked.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m just saying the tables can be reversed.”

I shook my head. “That would require him to become emotionally involved in someone. From what I’ve heard, that doesn’t happen.”

“Okay, so cut out emotions. Just use each other for fun.” Jenna grinned and winked.

“Who are you talking about?”

“You and Brody… keep up.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m with Jaden. We’ve been over this before. Several times, in fact.”

“Yeah, but you don’t want to be.” I opened my mouth to argue, but Jenna cut me off. “Please don’t try to deny it. I’ve been your best friend for too long. I can tell the spark fizzled on that romance a long time ago. You just stay with him because it’s easier than breaking up with him. But if someone came along that interested you, you’d drop Jaden in a hot second.”

I shrugged a shoulder. “And what makes you think Brody is the guy that interests me? I don’t even like him. And I definitely don’t want a relationship with him considering his reputation.”

“I didn’t say relationship. I said fun. Think of him as your rebound guy. The bad boy we all need before we find the good guy we want a real relationship with.”

“I think you’ve lost your mind,” I told her.

Jenna tapped her bottom lip with her fingernail and stared at me. Finally, she said, “You’re scared.”

“Scared? I am not.”

“Yep, you’ve been with Jaden so long you know what to expect from him. There’s nothing you don’t know about him. You, my friend, are in a rut, and you’re scared to climb out of it. You’re scared of the unpredictable, of losing control.”

“We’re not in a rut. We’re comfortable in our relationship.”

Jenna barked a laugh. “Delude yourself all you want. You need to get your freak on with someone who’ll turn your world upside down. Comfortable is for wusses.”

Monday. I looked through my T-shirts to find one with an appropriate saying for the day. I chose one that said, I hear voices and they don’t like you. I thought that would get my message across to Brody. Passive aggressive, but I didn’t care. I slipped into my jeans, pulled a zippered hoodie on, and drove to school.

“Sending a message, I see,” Jenna said when she saw me in the hall. “The question is to whom, Jaden or Brody? Hmm?”

I smiled. “Shut up.”

I walked into biology and sighed. He was already there. “You’re here.” Dropping my books on the table, I plopped in my chair.

“You’re here, too,” Brody said with a hint of a grin.

“I was hoping I’d be alone today,” I muttered.

He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be here?”

“You know, you could develop a case of malaria or jungle fever or some type of disfiguring disease and wouldn’t be able to come to school for, oh, the rest of the year.” I dropped my head on my books.

He laughed. “Sorry to disappoint.”

I grunted in reply and closed my eyes so I didn’t have to look at him.

Why does he have to look so freakin’ awesome? And smell… wow. I wonder how I can ask what he’s wearing so I can get some for Jaden? Because he smells beyond yummy.

“Did you hear me?” Brody asked.

“Huh?”

“I said it was a good game Friday. I didn’t see you at Jamieson’s afterward. I saw Jaden, though.”

Yeah, I bet you did. I wonder who Jaden hooked up with.

“I didn’t go to the party,” I mumbled.

“Why? Don’t you usually go with Jaden?”

“No.”

“Oh. I thought you’d—”

“Do they ever shut up on your planet?” I snapped. A surprised look crossed his face, and he leaned back from me like I’d hit him. I sighed. “I’m sorry. It’s just, it’s Monday, I haven’t met my caffeine quota for the morning yet, and my head is already pounding. I didn’t mean to snap.”

Yes, I did. I don’t want to talk about the damn party. And I don’t want to talk to you. You’re being… nice. It’s freakin’ me out.

“No problem. Here.” Brody reached in his backpack, pulled out a Red Bull, and handed it to me. “That should help with your caffeine problem. It might hold you over ’til lunch.”

I sat up straight and immediately felt like the biggest jerk. He was actually being sweet. “Thank you. I need this so bad.” Our fingers brushed when I took the can, and my hand tingled from the contact. My mind wandered to a different time, a different boy, and I tried to remember if I’d ever felt the same sensations with him.

A quiet knock sounded against the door. I opened it immediately. I’d been waiting for him in the living room and saw him drive up.

“Hi.” Jaden smiled down at me. “You look gorgeous.” He pulled his hand from behind his back and showed me a can of Red Bull. Condensation ran down the sides. My throat could already feel the citrusy goodness sliding down it and the punch of energy I’d get to help me navigate my morning classes. Some people drank coffee or tea. I drank Red Bull.

I reached for the can, but Jaden pulled it away. “First a kiss?” he asked softly.

“Always. You don’t have to bring Red Bull for that. But it’s always a good incentive.”

He laughed and gave me the can. “Good to know.” His mouth took mine in a slow, soft kiss. His tongue dipped between my lips. Something in my chest trembled and warmth radiated from it.

Wrapping the arm holding the can around his neck, I fisted my free hand in his shirt. I leaned into him, and he deepened the kiss with a low growl.

Jaden moved his lips from mine and skimmed them along my jaw to my ear. “You’re killing me, Willow. We have to go to school, and all I’ll be able to think about is this kiss and the small sighs you make that drive me freakin’ insane.”

I smiled and cupped his cheek. “I guess Red Bull is right up there with oysters. A great aphrodisiac.”

Jaden nuzzled the curve of my neck a few seconds longer before threading his fingers through mine and pulling me outside to his car.

The memory fizzled, and I remembered I was sitting in my biology class with Brody staring at me. “What?” I asked.

“Oh nothing. I’m just trying to imagine you with a personality.”

So much for being sweet.

I pushed the unopened Red Bull across the table toward him and gave him a tight smile. Turning my face away, I lay my head back on my books until class started. I managed not to speak to him for the rest of the class period or through English.

It was lunch, and I stood staring at the vending machine when I heard his voice. We hadn’t spoken since the Red Bull incident and, for reasons that confused me, I missed talking to him.

“I figured I’d find you here,” Brody said behind me, his body so close to mine I could feel the heat radiate off him. His breath moved wisps of my hair. I stepped to the side. “Come to get your caffeine for the day? I’m surprised you made it until lunch without killing someone… or is there a body or two stuffed in the janitor’s closet I don’t know about? You certainly seem to have the demeanor to pull off a homicide when you’re caffeine deprived.” He grinned, his blue eyes sparkling.

Keeping my expression neutral, I turned and stared at him. I let my eyes glide slowly over his face. My breath stalled in my throat and my mouth dried. What started as a sarcastic comment quickly turned into something more. My eyes sucked in his rugged features. Brody was undeniably attractive, but not in a soft, baby faced way. He had a raw sexuality. It showed in the way he carried himself, the way he stood, and the way he gazed at me—intense and knowing. A lock of dark hair fell over his forehead, giving his strong features a small touch of boyishness. My eyes skimmed downward, from his mussed hair to his bright sapphire eyes, framed by thick, black lashes. I took my time memorizing the contours of his high cheekbones and slightly crooked nose, like it’d been broken at some point. I bit my bottom lip when my gaze fell to his full lips that begged me to taste them, and the slight scar on his chin that I wanted to follow with my tongue.