She cuts off, but I can see it in her face—the pity, the shock, the sudden realization that I’m polar opposite to pretty much every kid in this place.
“Not now, Parker,” Kai says, grabbing my arm.
I rip myself free. “Let go,” I croak, my voice threatening to break when I latch eyes with Melissa.
She didn’t have to step up. I fully expected her to walk away and wash her hands of me. I wouldn’t even have blamed her.
It’ll take an acid bathanda fucking lobotomy to put this day behind me.
But Melissa wraps an arm around my shoulders, turning me away from Bastian and Kai. “Ugh, it fucking reeks of testosterone. Come on, let’s go eat. Teagan grabbed you a burger.”
I let her guide me away, my legs shaking so badly I’m not sure they’ll hold me much longer.
“Haven, wait,” Kai calls, hurrying after us.
Melissa whirls around, stepping between me and Kai as her hand dives into her purse. She pulls out a small canister of pepper spray and aims it at his face.
“Back off, psycho!”
“Jesus, Parker,” Kai raises his hands, frowning as he hurriedly steps back. “I just want to talk.”
“She doesn’t,” Melissa snaps, turning me away and handing me her pink Stanley cup.
I take a big sip as I glance back at Kai, reading the frustration etched into his features. Even something that might be concern, or guilt.
Hilarious.
Except…something Dad said is repeating like bad chili.
…wanna try your luck again? You’ll eat dirt just like you did last time…
What the hell was that about?
Kai turns on his heel and stalks for the stadium exit, hands tugging through his hair like he wants to rip it out.
Which is when I spot Bastian following us, his dark eyes fixed on me with that predatory intensity that makes my skin prickle…and my goddamn clit starts tingling.
Not today, Satan.
With my father gone, I don’t need him anymore.
I snatch the pepper spray from Melissa’s hand and point it at Bastian as he gets closer.
“Stay the fuck away from me.”
“What the hell are you doing?” Melissa whispers, aghast. “That’s Professor Rooke.”
“I know who he is.” I’m shocked at how steady my voice is.
Bastian stops, regarding me with mild concern. “You seem distraught, Miss Lee.”
I laugh, the sound verging on hysteria. “Fuckingdistraught?”
“Come on,” Melissa murmurs, tugging at my arm.
I reluctantly let her take the pepper spray out of my hand and lead me away. The thought of hitting Bastian’s charming fucking face with pepper spray is making me feel all kinds of giddy.
But it won’t change what he did to me.
