“It’s summer school,” Uma deadpans, fixing him with a knowing look. “We’ll all be going our separate ways at the end of the month, so what’s the point?”
Mr. Bad Boy clears his throat, and I can’t stop myself from looking up at him. His smoldering gaze pins me in place, and I instantly get lost in the depths of his gorgeous eyes. At this proximity, I spot tiny amber flecks in his lush golden-brown eyes, and sparks of lust dance over my skin, which is both unexpected and unwelcome. “The point is we like to party, and you two look like you could use a good…party.” He smirks as Uma growls.
“Yeah, hard pass,” Uma reaffirms.
“Don’t mind Zayn. His bark is worse than his bite.” Mr. Blue Eyes flashes us with a blinding smile as he jots something down on a piece of paper. He offers it to Uma. “There’s my number and my address, if you change your minds. And I’m Everett, by the way.”
“We won’t,” she says, refusing to take it from him.
Zayn leans down, twirling a lock of my red hair around his finger as he presses his mouth to my ear. “Pity. I was looking forward to seeing if the carpet matches the drapes.”
Ignoring the heat spreading to my cheeks, I shove him away. “Wow. Original. Like I haven’t heard that line one or a hundred times.”
“I’m wondering if anyone knows the answer to that question,” he adds, lowering his gaze to my lap and licking his lips. “I’m guessing the answer is a big fat no.” He waves his finger in front of my face. “You might as well wear a V-card around your neck.”
My cheeks inflame as anger courses through my veins. “You’re the rudest person I’ve ever met.”
“What my friend means is fuck off.” Uma flips him the bird. “You’re a dick.”
He cups his crotch, fighting a smile as I narrow my eyes to slits. “If you fancy a ride on my dick, come to the party. I’ll happily divest you of that pesky virginity.”
“I would rather shove nails in my eyes and join a convent,” I snap, jumping up, my chair screeching across the tile floor. I snatch my tray and my bag, glaring at the presumptuous asshole.
Uma stands, grabbing her tray in one hand and my elbow in the other. “You should choose better friends,” she tells Everett before dragging me away.
“What a fucking douche canoe,” she seethes when we reach the empty girls’ bathroom.
“His arrogance is astounding,” I agree, heading into a stall to attend to my business.
“Do you think it’s true?” I ask as we wash our hands in the sink. “Do I scream virgin to you?”
Uma shakes her head. “You scream elegance and sophistication, and frankly, I’m amazed you chose to sit beside me on Monday.”
“I could tell you were cool.” I wipe my hands on a paper towel. “I knew you were someone I’d want to get to know.”
“Don’t pay any attention to that jerk. There is nothing wrong with being a virgin at seventeen. Waiting for the right guy is something I wish I’d done.”
“I’m the only girl in my class who hasn’t done it. Most of my friends lost it at fifteen. Noah wasn’t a virgin when we first started dating last year, but he seemed cool that I wanted to wait. The irony is I was preparing to tell him I was ready when I caught him with that slut.”
I squeeze my eyes shut, warding off the pain that always strikes me in the chest whenever I think of the moment I walked into my boyfriend’s bedroom, after our last day of school, and discovered him fucking Chrissy, our head cheerleader. Now, they’re together, and I’ll have to stomach seeing them pawing at one another when school resumes.
“You dodged a bullet, babe.” Uma drags a comb through her long dark hair. “I hope she gives him the clap. Would serve him right.”
I loop my arm through hers. “Are you sure you can’t transfer to my school?”
“Maybe if I win the lottery,” she jokes. We step out into the hallway just as my cell rings.
“You go on,” I say, spotting the caller. “I’ll catch up to you in a minute.”
I’m tempted to let my father’s call go to voicemail, but he’ll just keep calling. Better to get it over and done with.
“Hi, Daddy.”
“Princess.”
“I’m running late for class.”
“I need a favor. Can you drop by Wakefield after school and pick up something from Lindsay for me?”
