I’m not sure why, but my body reacts on instinct. He’s one of the hockey players, and it takes a moment for me to remember where we’ve crossed paths. Then it clicks. He was with Everest yesterday. The huge guy who didn’t seem too interested in whatever was happening around him.
God, he’s gorgeous.
And though I want to look away, I can’t. Not when his eyes seem glued to me. There was no doubt about how handsome he was, but sitting this close, it’s undeniable. From here, his jaw seems sharper, and his shoulders broader. He’s massive—in the best way—brooding, and unbothered, with dark eyes that peer right through me.
He’s Indigenous if his strong, angular features are any indication. Today, his hair cascades over his shoulders as opposed to the braid from the other day. And his lashes are every girl’s dream. This guy probably doesn’t even realize how lucky he is.
My breath hitches as I note that he hasn’t blinked or even appeared to breathe since we made eye contact. He doesn’t glareat me like the others, and there doesn’t seem to be any judgment on his face. Just a reserved, unwavering stare.
A shiver races down my spine, and I shift in my seat out of discomfort. What’s with all the guys in this school peering at me like I’m prey?
I take a deep breath and glance around the room again out of curiosity. Everyone else has gone back to doing whatever they were before I came in. Except for him; he still hasn’t moved.
Christina and her group snicker among themselves. I want to ignore them. I need to, but something keeps drawing me to them. Maybe it’s self-sabotage, and I enjoy punishing myself.
Either way, I let out a sigh and watch Professor Wilson make his way to the back door to talk to someone outside. When he comes back inside, he stops beside the giant hockey player and says something too low for me to hear.
The guy stands to leave, taking one last look at me on his way out. A wave of relief washes over me after he’s gone. My stomach unclenches itself, and I release a breath.
A couple of girls seated behind me whisper to each other.
“I know she doesn’t think she has a chance with the Mountain.”
The other laughs. “Right. Like he would ever date a girl like her.”
Unable to hold my composure, I turn and look them dead in the eyes. “And what kind of girl might that be?”
Their smiles falter, replaced by reddened faces and daggers in their eyes. As expected, they don’t respond; girls like that never do. All talk and no bite.
When they don’t offer up any kind of rebuttal, I face forward, pull out my notebook, and begin to take notes.
The rest of the class flies by, but the moment I stand to leave with everyone else, the brunette behind me gestures to my backpack and says, “Don’t forget your trash.”
Her friend cackles. “Good one.”
Just when I am about to defend myself, another voice slices through the air.
“Hey, skanks. Why don’t you back off?” Christina steps up beside me.
With that, their mouths snap shut, and all the color drains from their faces. And I’ve got to admit, it feels damn good to witness. I love it when karma is served instantly.
“Because from what I understand from Daddy’s files, shouldn’t you be more worried about taking those antibiotics to clear up that chlamydia, Taylor?”
All I can do is watch. Christina clearly isn’t a person whose bad side you want to get on. But why is she helping me? Especially when just an hour earlier, she was also laughing at me.
“Screw you,” Taylor bites out, and the two girls scurry from the room.
“Too-da-loo, girlies,” Christina continues to taunt.
I turn to Christina, reluctance coursing through me. That was nice of her to defend me, but why? Girls like Christina don’t do anything without reason. There isalwaysa catch.
“Thanks. But you—” I start, but she raises a hand to cut me short.
“Before you go saying I didn’t have to, stop. I don’t like those two bitches, so that was more for me than it was for you.”
And there it is.
“Well, thanks anyway,” I say gingerly while gathering my broken backpack to head to my next class.
