“Fuck.” I stood up. “I’m hitting the shower.” I walked past them, furious at myself for fucking up. I’d started off so well, but the more I played today, the more I thought about her.
She’d made it pretty clear she wanted to forget it. I received an email from her late last night, with the reading list as she promised, and one line to say that would cover me for this week. She’d even reminded me that the arrangement between us was still in place.
Cold-hearted bitch. I guess she took after her father after all.
When I came out of my shower, they were both still there. Two hard stares, two immovable lines.
“Fuck my life.” I dragged a hand down my face. “You’re both insufferable bastards, you know that?”
Noah leaned in, jaw tight. “Yeah, golden boy. We do.”
I looked around the locker room, which was mostly empty, and sat down, elbows on my knees, staring at the floor like it might give me answers. Dustin and Noah were still watching me like I was a ticking bomb.
“Alright,” I muttered, raking a hand through my hair. “You want the truth? Fine. It’s Sav.”
Noah’s brows shot up. “What about Savannah?”
I gave him a sharp look. “Keep your damn voice down.”
Dustin whistled low. “Is this because you’re sneaking around with her?”
“I’m not sneaking,” I snapped, then regretted it instantly. “Okay, maybe a little. But it’s not like—” I forced the breath out slow — “it’s serious or anything.” Something in my chest tugged, but I shut it down hard. Met Dustin’s stare, voice flat as stone. “Don’t read into it. I got distracted, okay.”
Dustin blew out a breath. “Dangerous game, man.”
“Everything we do here right now is dangerous,” I cut back, cool and sharp. “She’s no different.” I glared at him. “It was your stupid idea to get close to see what she knew.”
Noah whistled low. “That’s cold, I don’t think she’s like that.”
Neither did I, until she left my bed with the same ease as Dustin left his hookups.
“Better cold than careless.” I met his eyes without flinching. “You think the rest of this program is playing clean? You think those whispers about payouts and cover-ups are rumors? I’m not here to get blindsided because I was busy playing the wrong game.”
Dustin frowned, but he didn’t say anything else.
She wasn’t just a distraction.
She wasn’t just useful.
She was already under my skin.
And if I didn’t slam that door shut, she’d ruin me.
Chapter 23
Savannah
I had sex with Dante Spence.
It played on repeat in my mind like a mantra. I scrubbed my hands over my face, but I couldn’t wash away the heat still lingering on my skin, even the next morning. I sat on the edge of my bed, my hair damp from the shower, yet I still felt his touch on my body. Could still smell him when I inhaled too deeply.
What the hell was I doing?
I’d kissed Dante Spence. More than kissed. I’d let him into my world, my space, my bed — fine, his bed — but it didn’t change the fact that every line I’d drawn for myself, I’d stepped over without a second thought.
I pulled my sketchbook onto my lap, but the charcoal smeared uselessly under my fingers. Every line I tried to draw turned into him — his jaw, his mouth, the broad shoulders that had crowded me against the desk like I’d wanted to be cornered.
Ugh... was I really this predictable? Gullible?Naïve?
