“What do you mean?”
“You were asking about him the other day; now you’re staring at Hugo. What am I missing?”
“I was just curious.” I shrug, deflecting her sharp eye.
“Well, I wouldn’t worry. I’m sure Mason has enough on his plate right now to care about family rivalries. That is, if he is okay.”
“He’s fine.” I roll my eyes.
“How would you know? Everyone is worried about him.” She throws an arm out. “Some are actually saying he’s dead.”
“He’s not,” I scoff, lifting a lazy shoulder. Thea’s jaw drops at my indifference.
“Okay, I know you hate him, but that’s cold, Eva.”
“It’s just gossip.” I wave my cereal bar in the air.
“It’s not. Apparently, he was in a brawl and got seriously banged up. No one has seen him since. Charlotte has been crying like a leaking tap.”
“Charlotte?”
“Charlotte Pike.Lottie.Hugo’s sister.” Thea motions towards Hugo. “She volunteers in the library with me. She’s had a major crush on Mason since they were kids, so kind of can’t stop talking about him, or in this case, crying about him.”
Something hot drops in my stomach, the bitter heat rising in my chest like heartburn. I’m about to drill Thea for more info when she checks her watch and starts to gather her things.
“Damn it, I’m going to be late. I’ll see you later,” she mutters, then hurries toward the Armstrong building.
As Thea walks away, I see Hugo get in his car while in an intense one-to-one conversation with Caden. I grab my bag and start marching toward them.
Hugo sees me approach, an evil smirk lighting up his face, as I get closer. He starts the engine, revving, loud and threatening. And then, he’s racing toward me.
My feet mold to the tarmac for a brief second before I shriek and jump onto the curb. Into the lamppost. My hip crashes into the pole, pain shooting through the joint as the front of his car misses me by an inch.
He grinds to a halt in front of me, leaning out of the window with an amused expression on his face.
“Watch it, Etheridge.” He grins. “You get run over around here, no one’s calling you a fucking ambulance.”
“You alright?” Caden rushes to my side.
I give him a reassuring nod, rubbing my throbbing hip. Hugo Pike gives me an up-and-down, eyes lingering at my waist in amusement.
“Watch it, bro.” Caden steps between us, forcing Hugo’s eyes off me. “Are you auditioning for Fast and Furious?”
“Hardly,” Hugo scoffs. “Princess needs to watch her step. Anyway, see you tomorrow,” he adds to Caden, before he flashes a grin in my direction, then drives off.
“Wow, they really don’t like you, do they?” Caden chuckles, turning around to face me.
“What are you doing, getting involved with him?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” He shrugs. “My roommates are friends with him, he’s got an in everywhere, and my name isn’t Etheridge.”
“But that crowd is toxic.”
“I can take care of myself.”
I highly doubt that.
Caden is clever and resourceful, but he has no idea what he’s dealing with. This is not the first time I have had to rescue him from a murky situation. But thisisthe first time he may be in trouble because of me.
