My eyes narrow at him. “Do you know why this is happening to me?”
He laughs and leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. He's so similar to his brother that it's jarring. I had been tutoring Ash for long enough that I could pick out his mannerisms, his little ticks, so seeing them on Joseph was weird. I glance over his head to see the twins and the other two boys walk into the room. Avery frowns deeply when she sees Joseph sitting with me, and Harley looks like he wants to come over and interrupt. The students around us are quickly finishing up their breakfast and moving away.
“I know that it's going to stop. I've made it clear to the boys that if you were interested in a quick fuck, you would have taken one of them up on the offer by now. You won't be bothered by them again.” It's a nice thing to do, and so I'm instantly wary. He's sitting there casually, like he owns the school. Fuck, maybe his family does own it.
“What do I owe you for that favor?”
His smile is all teeth. I'm sure he thinks he's terrifying, but I've befriended the Jackal. I'm sure Joey is a kitten by comparison. “I'd like you to come to a party next week. I'm hosting. It's unusual for anyone to miss my parties, and yet you haven't been to any of them yet.”
I have no interest in getting drunk with spoiled brats and bullies. Still, if it takes one night of hanging around these idiots so I can walk to class alone, it’s worth it, right? I hope so.
“Okay, sure. Why not.”
“Great. Do let me know if you have any more troubles with students. I know my sister can be a little cunt when she's forced to share her toys.”
I glance over at Avery and find the whole lot of them are watching our every move. This sibling rivalry was dangerous; best to steer clear of it. “I'm fine. It takes a lot to bother me.”
Joseph smiles again and stands up.
“Oh, I'm counting on it,” he says with a wink, then leaves me alone.
What a dramatic asshole, I think as I tuck back into my food.
He's true to his word. I can feel the eyes of the other students on me, but no one approaches me for the rest of the day.
* * *
I'm not looking forward to my tutoring session with Ash after my conversation with his brother. I still meet with him three times a week for an hour, though I have no idea how much I'm actually helping him. He's an infuriating student. We go around and around in circles, and when I'm ready to strangle the life from him, he writes out the answers perfectly, as if he's known all along.
I arrive early to set up, like I always do, but this time Ash has beaten me there. He's brooding, all dark and frowning, and when he sees me coming, he crosses his arms and glares at me.
“If you're going to be like this the whole hour, I'm just going to go study in my room.”
“If you think my brother wants to be your friend, then you are a dense Mounty slut,” he snaps at me.
Oh, the ways I would break this boy if I didn't desperately need my scholarship. I sit, because I also need the credits I get for these sessions, and then I fold my own arms to mirror him.
“It is such a joy to spend this time with you. Rest assured that I don't trust a single hair on the heads of any human bearing the name Beaumont.”
His eyes narrow, and he leans in toward me. “Then why did you agree to go to his party?”
I roll my eyes at him and start setting up my books. I have assignments due in every damn class, so I don't have the time to explain myself to this ass. “What do you need help with today? I know you must have the same economics stuff due, so let's work on that.”
“Fuck economics, why did you agree?”
He is the single most infuriating human I have ever met. Even Avery is easier to deal with, all smiles and knives in the back. How do you inform the privileged that you're just trying to survive when they can't see the danger from their vantage point? I want to kick him under the table.
“Maybe I don't enjoy having guys follow me around all day begging me for sex. Maybe I'm starting to get worried I'll have to fight one of them off who won't take no for an answer. Maybe it's easier to go to a party than be on my guard all the fucking time. Now, do you want to do the assignment or not?”
We were starting to attract the attention of the other students around us. I'd rather not be at the center of another Hannaford scandal, but Ash is oblivious. “Go to the school staff, then. Go tell your student advisor. Do anything else.”
“Why do you care? Your sister has been my biggest torturer, so why are you telling me to stay away from Joseph and not Avery?” I hiss at him, all my patience gone.
The glare he levels at me is his best yet. A shiver runs down my spine, but I refuse to back down. “Don'tevercompare them.”
“Why not? She's just as cruel as he is.”
He snaps forward in his chair and grabs my tie to yank me forward. Our faces are so close together, I can feel his breath on my lips, and I fight the urge to lick them. Or lick his lips. God, I need some serious therapy. I wonder if my scholarship covers that?
