I knew this would happen, and Wes had to be the fool and prove me right. He better not fuck this up for us. Shivers of revulsion creep down my spine at her public claiming. Shaking off any thought she would ever have us, I steer the conversation to a better subject.
“So, who are you tools choosing?” I ask now that we’re at the table alone again.
This is the perfect time to see what they’re thinking and let them know who I plan on selecting. Though now that I think about it, I might let them be surprised.
“You know we have only two more weeks before we have to bring our choices to the council, and then two weeks after that we have to lay our claim.” My statement gets their attention.
Lev’s sharp gaze meets my own. “Not here, Wy. Let’s meet at The Tombs after school, and we can discuss sharing our choices.”
He’s right, but I am just so excited to begin my owning ofmyRiri. She has no idea what’s in store for her. I smile to myself because not only is she in for a shock, but once I announce my choice, the guys will jump out of their skin. No one has ever selected an outsider. But fuck traditional choices. She’s our queen, and I’m going to enjoy every moment of proving it.
6
ARIAH
My day calms down after first period. Outside of more whispering, it’s been smooth sailing. Now I have Civics. It’s my last actual class of the day before the dreaded sports or club requirement. I looked through the options online and decided to go with the Krav Maga classes. At least that way, I can continue my training. With the amount of time I’ve been working and taking care of my siblings, I’ve slacked off. Dad would side-eye me if he knew.
I already know Shay won’t be in this class because she has robotics. However, I know Wyatt will be in this class, and I’m hoping it will just be him because I’m not in the mood to deal with his asshat friend, Wes. I begin my descent in my seat, but before myderrièrecan find its home, I hear Wyatt.
“Oh no, no, no, Love. You sit next to Lev and me.”
Plunking my ass down against the cold seat of the ergonomic black chair, I say, “Wyatt, if you want me to sit with you, then you’re going to have to come over here.”
The nerve of him to think I’m going to move from where I’ve decided to sit just because he says so. That’s not happening. Not today and not tomorrow.
A slow smile crests his lips. “Anything for you, Love, I only want to be near you. So, if that means I have to come to you, then watch as my feet gravitate your way,” the dork states, rising from his seat.
Huh, I have to say I didn’t think he’d do that. All of these guys carry big dick energy. You know that all alpha all the time, ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’ vibe. I like that Wyatt was okay with moving to me, especially because there wasn’t a chance of me going to him. I don’t care how sexy his dimples are.
Wyatt and Lev each take a seat with one on each side of me, and a mixture of bourbon, campfire, and vanilla spices hit my nose, causing me to suck in a lungful of air. Then for the first time, I truly take Lev in. Chestnut brown hair is up in a messy man bun with the sides shaved like an inverted V. Continuing my perusal, I’m struck at how much he resembles Charlie Hunnam, but with an even sharper jawline and eyes that are more blue than they are gray.
“If you stare any longer, I’m going to take that as an invitation that you’re interested, and I think that might just make my boy Wy a little jealous,” Lev quips.
Dammit, even his teeth are gorgeous!How is it possible for teeth to be gorgeous?Since walking into this school, it’s felt like I was dropped into a model DNA pool jackpot.
“Nah, Riri can look all she wants, Lev, as long as she knows she’s ours.” That comment makes my head spin, quicker than Usain Bolt can run a one-hundred-meter race, in Wyatt’s direction.
Furrowed brows clearly indicate that I think the boy has gone mad. “Say what now?”
I haven’t even been in this school a full day, and I’m being claimed like I’m some puppy. And what does he meanours? Do they share? I don’t have enough time to process that statement before he responds.
“Oh, you heard me, Love. There was no stutter or pause. I spoke clearly and enunciated all of my words. You. Are. Ours.” The little shit smirks and winks at me again, just like he did this morning.
Wyatt is something else. What that something else is exactly I’m not sure at the moment, but I’m curious to find out. He doesn’t need to know that, though.
“Okay, class, welcome to Civics. My name is Miss Taylor, and I will be your instructor for this year,” a voice from the front of the room interrupts our conversation. When I turn my head to the front, my eyes nearly pop out of my head. What the hell is Mrs. Douglas doing here, and why is she calling herself Miss Taylor?
The woman in question continues to speak, “I am replacing Mr. Torres, who retired last year. I moved here from Colorado over the summer, and I am looking forward to getting to know all of you over the course of the year,”
Looking around the class, her eyes land on me, gracing me with a plastic smile. What the hell is this woman doing here? Why is she going by another name, and why the fuck is she looking at me like she can’t decide if she is happy I’m here, or she wants me to disappear?
“Oh my goodness, Ariah Bishop, is that you?” her saccharine voice reaches me, causing an unnoticeable cringe of my shoulders.Duh, who else would it be?
`“Yes, it’s me.”A quick, forced smile forms on my face. “We also just moved to town over the summer. What a coincidence,” I reply, bemused as lines form small creases on my forehead.
Her right eye makes the slightest jump, and her lips thin at my lackluster response to her being here.
Was I expected to jump for joy? I’m still trying to figure out how we ended up in the same small town and why her last name has changed, but people get divorced all the time. So, I guess her name change is easy enough to dismiss.
