My cheeks flush with warmth. Luke shifts below me.
“It’s not her job to make sure you graduate on time,” Luke says as he leans around me to set up his laptop. This seriously won’t work well.
I want to point out Luke just made a deal with me to help incentivize him to work, but I don’t really want any punishment.
I pull up my paper and start proofing it. I’m almost to the end when a group of giggling girls comes in.
“Hey, Harper.”
I glance over and see Penny and her gang at the counter buying their coffee. “Hi.”
Her eyes sweep the guys at my table before Penny grins and turns to talk to the others.
“Kitten, what did I say about clingers?” Eli sets his book down, and his dark eyes focus on me.
“Look, you guys have each other. I have Kenz, but she’s got Brandon.” I lean in and say softly, “So what if they’re clingers. I could use some more friends.”
Luke grunts behind me. “You have us, princess. Ditch the excess baggage.”
Well, if that’s the way Luke feels about it, it makes me want to be better friends with them. I rest my back against his chest and tilt my head to look up at him.
His fingers stop on his keyboard, and he finally acknowledges me. “What?”
“What if I want excess baggage? Wouldn’t it be good to have a group to be in when I’m at the games? When you’re too busy to watch me?” Sure, the Cheermonsters are occupied, but I can’t forget the slashed tire. As soon as the rest of the high school realizes the horsemen are monogamous, I’ll have a target pinned to my back for all the girls. Like that table over there.
The girl who struck out glares at me on Luke’s lap. An involuntary shudder runs down my spine. I don’t know what tomorrow at school will be like. Probably a lot like that. I may have a week or two before they truly figure out the guys won’t stray. Or maybethey will stray?
I glance around at the guys studying. Nico’s dark hair falls into his eyes as he concentrates on his laptop. Jack does some work before looking around, like he has to know what’s going on around him. Caden hovers over his paper. Eli still looks at me with a displeased look on his face. I don’t bother looking at Luke.
“If you want to sit with them at games, that’s fine.” Eli leans forward. His dark eyes capture mine. “But the minute they draw your attention from us or they use you to gain our attention, you’ll accept the punishment I give you. Enthusiastically.”
I swallow even as tingles race through me. I don’t know what kind of punishment Eli has in mind, but if it’s private, I might be more inclined to press my luck.
Eli’s lips tip into a knowing smile. “Back to work, kitten.”
I squirm on Luke’s lap a little, and his harsh inhale against my ear makes my insides flare hot. He grasps my hip to keep me still, but his erection presses into my ass, making me even hotter. How I’m supposed to get any work done on Luke’s lap is anyone’s guess.
My gaze lifts to Jack’s. He grins before giving me a head gesture to come over to him.
Raising my eyebrow, I give him a questioning look, knowing better than to say anything Luke could contradict.
“I could use your help on Statistics, sweetheart.” Jack grabs a chair from the table behind him and pulls it between him and Eli. “We’ll get done faster if we work together.”
Luke holds me tight for a moment before he releases me.
When I stand and he doesn’t drag me back down, I gather my things and move around the table to sit next to Jack. I almost let out a sigh of relief, but that would only make Luke force me back on his lap.
Once I have everything settled, I lean over and whisper, “Thanks.”
Jack grins and nods across the table. “You might not thank me when Luke can fully concentrate on finishing his work.”
Shit, I didn’t think about that. I really don’t want to kneel on the bathroom floor. Jack chuckles low, making a ripple of awareness shoot through me. His laugh makes me want to lean into him.
We’re just getting into our homework assignment when a female voice says, “Hey, Harper.”
The guys don’t acknowledge Penny’s existence, each deep into their work. Turning, I smile at Penny.
“Hey, what’s up?”
