That’s her own fault. The door was loud when I entered.
My eyes slide over her. Her hair is loose and flowing over her shoulders. She’s wearing a simple sweater and jeans. Her cheeks are flushed, not because of me this time but because of the exertion from taking the stairs.
I jerk my chin upward. “I’ll take you back to the hospital.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine,” she says in a syrupy sweet voice.
My eyes narrow. This subservient persona is so obviously fake and disingenuous that it annoys me.
J continues smiling. “Don’t you have class?”
“I don’t attend classes unless I want to.”
“Oh well”—her eyes dart to the bottom of the stairwell—“good for you. Why study when you’re rich, right?”
I ignore the taunting in her words and move down a step.
She moves away. “I’m sure you have other things to do. Band practice, maybe?”
She doesn’t want me near her, which is reason enough to stick around.
“What are you doing at Redwood?” I demand.
“Am I not allowed to be here?”
“You have a job to do,” I remind her.
“I have a program running. It’s sweeping the encryption as we speak.” J’s voice climbs an octave as she coos sweetly. “I promise you I’m doing everything I can to find them. I’m on your side, Finn.”
She’s on her own side. Does she think I’m an idiot?
“I want to see that program for myself.” I hold out my hand for her phone.
She doesn’t move a muscle. “It’s on the computer back at the hospital.”
“Then I’ll take you there.”
“Okay,” she answers chirpily, but she doesn’t move a muscle.
I sigh in exasperation. “Let’s go.”
J lifts her face slowly. I know what’s coming next, and I brace myself for the batting eyelashes.
On cue, the blonde tips start fluttering.
“You know, Finn, you can come to my room any time. You don’t need an excuse.” She gives me a hungry once over, and the attracted glint in her eyes doesn’t seem as fake as her words. “I really, really like seeing you in the Redwood Prep uniform. Your arms aresobig. Do you lift weights?”
I pause, studying her. What’s she playing at now?
J takes my hand. “You don’t have to be shy, Finn. I heard what you said to the teacher.”
I frown.What did I say?
“You told her I belong to you.” She places my hand against her cheek and nuzzles it. “I like that. I really want to be yours, Finn.”
The twisting sensation that I felt last night when I touched her returns, but I still can’t tell what it means.
J pushes her act further.
