I take the longest shower, crying harder than I have for the last three days, letting myself feel all the fear and shame now it’s over.
Well, almost over.
After those three blowjobs.
I don’t see Cross before it’s time to head back home to Michigan on Monday. Part of me expects him behind every corner, hiding in the shadows, but I don’t see him at all until the New Year.
When I do, my body tenses as I blush. He’s with his friends, who don’t even acknowledge my existence while laughing at a joke I didn’t hear in the library’s café.
It takes all my courage, but I make myself walk up to him. “Thank you.”
Several pairs of curious eyes focus on me, but I ignore them all, keeping my attention on Cross.
“For what you did last semester. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t have your phone number.” I clear my throat. “Thanks so much.”
Cross smiles, his amber eyes melting my resolve. “You’re very welcome, nerd. And believe it or not, that’s not the most obvious way a chick’s ever asked for my number.”
His friends chuckle.
I’m about to turn tail and scamper, but Cross hands me his phone, open on a QR code. I scan it, saving his details before making my way to the counter for my caffeine fix.
“You all right?” the girl behind the counter asks, frowning in concern.
It takes me a second to recognize her. Wasn’t she blonde and preppy last term? I remember even seeing her wearing a headband, like aGossip Girlcharacter. Now, she’s in a black band T-shirt, her hair is dyed pink, and heavy black kohl lines her eyes.
She can pull off either style.
“Yeah—” I clear my throat. “You know. One of them did me a favor. That doesn’t mean we’re friends.”
She nods, eyes widening in comprehension. “Oh, I get you, sister. Same. And word of advice? They don’t do favors. Not for free.”
I take it she truly has encountered someone in Cross’s group, then. “Don’t worry—we agreed on the price already. It’s pretty cheap, considering.”
Three blowjobs. A hundred and seventy thousand dollars per annum. There is no denying that I am the winning party here.
“Hey, I also got a croissant,” I remind her when she rings up my total.
It’s far less than it should be.
“You get my employee discount. You, me, and anyone who has to put up with Heritage bullshit. We deserve all the caffeine, carbs, sugar, and fat in the world.”
I smile gratefully, though I’m a little confused. “Heritage? Is that another word for legacies?”
She shrugs. “Technically, yes, I guess. Legacy means that their parents were part of the Heritage, a big international private club for the well-to-do. The main location’s in New York, but there’s a gold club in the hills here. The Heritage folk own about ninety-seven percent of Thorn Falls.”
I whistle. “No wonder they have such big egos.” I glance at her nametag, and tell her, “Thank you, Daisy. For the fellow nobody discount.”
“Call me Dez, darling. The whole cute flower vibe was so last year. And you’re welcome.”
I grin. “Dez, then. I wish Lily could also be shortened in a badass name like yours.”
“Lily, huh? Let me know if any of the legacies cause you issues, yeah? We flowers have to stick together.”
6
LILY
By the end of the week, I’ve stopped trembling every time our paths cross. I duck behind a door or a vending machine once or twice when I spot him at a corner, but I’m not proud of it.
