Bryan makes a strangled gasp like a dog on a choke chain. “We have a verbal contract, and you promised to payallour costs, not just the ones you decide. Everything that happens from here on out is your fault. Do you understand me? Yours, Priscilla. Not mine.”
Silence follows the call but after his sudden burst of rage, even that seems loud, hanging heavy with resentment.
I stick near the wall as I creep upstairs, not wanting to draw attention.
While combing out my hair, my thoughts return to Damien’s confession last night. I hate what his father did to him and his mother. Hate even more that he’s pimping his son out to my worst bully.
But there’s also something comforting in knowing Damien isn’t entirely a law unto himself. Between that and how adaptable he’s been to my schedule this past week, I’m hopeful I can bluff my way into a reduced sentence.
Once that’s achieved, next step is getting my leverage.
At school, I keep my eyes peeled for Damien, rehearsing potential conversations in my head, wanting it over and done with and behind me. But there’s no sign of him, and Chelsea’s laughter carries across the corridor, louder than normal, her animated gestures compensating for his absence.
Second lesson is another study period, and I slink into the library, the cool metal of my iPad pressing against my ribcage. The notes I made yesterday are thorough, I’ve worked out the subject and structure, but the words fail to come. My enthusiasm has hollowed.
I lean until my forehead presses against the table’s scarred wood, not even pretending to read.
“Honestly, who spends their free periods in the library, Snowflake? No wonder you don’t have any friends.”
Damien collapses into the next seat along, shoving it back to accommodate the sprawl of his lanky legs. While I cover my jump of elation with a scowl, he slides my phone across.
I take it warily. “What apps are on this that shouldn’t be?”
“No apps at all, cross my heart, but it might have a new tracker. Can’t risk the blind girl getting lost.” His arm goes around my shoulders, dragging my chair closer to his, face nuzzling into the side of my neck, sniffing deeply. “Mm. Is that the scent of yesterday’s cum you’re wearing?”
“Don’t be crass.”
“And here I thought I was growing on you.”
“Like fungus.”
His laughter punctuates the library’s silence as he cracks his knuckles. “No need to be offensive, my little ghost.” His fingers tug at my earlobe, his whisper hot against my skin. “Language like that invites a punishment.”
The low growl vibrates in my ear, heat flooding my veins.
“Your face is such a handy warning system. I can tell what you’re thinking just by the colour on your cheeks.” His rough palm cups my face, tilting it side to side. “I think I’ll call this one…”
Tension coils inside me. “Call it what?”
“Impatience.” His dark chuckle sets my eardrums reverberating. “Now, get on your feet. We’re going on an adventure.”
He hauls me upright, and I immediately sit back down.
“No. We need to talk.” Despite my quivering insides, my voice is steady. I want those glasses tonight, so badly, but gaining control again matters more. “I’m not happy with our arrangement.”
“Mm. So sad.” His finger traces a circle on the back of my hand, the light touch slithering under my skin. “Luckily one of us is content.”
I snatch my hand away. “If you keep helping yourself the way you have, I’ll spray you again, this time in the hallway.”
“In front of everyone, yeesh.” His fingers drum heavily on the table. “As a connoisseur of principal’s offices, I’d recommend you stay well clear. They’re not nearly as much fun as you might be thinking.”
Can he not take a single thing seriously? “Not fun for you maybe, but I’ll be telling him a tearful story about your repeated sexual assaults, so I’ll be fine. You, on the other hand…”
“Will be submitting paperwork to the courts and informing your mum and guardian about your pill collection. We’ve been over this.”
“Pills that you stole from my house, and I bet one of the neighbours saw your flashy car while you were stalking me. You’re far more confident than you are careful.”
“You know me so well”—he presses a splayed hand on his chest—“I’m touched. But you should also know my father will buy me out of any stalking charges, and this ‘me too’ bullshit won’t get far.”
