Page 100 of Their Wicked Secrets: Untouched, Vol 5 of 6

“We should do that every night, sweetheart.” He opens the door for me, and I slide into his car. My cheeks are hot again, thinking of everything we did last night. He plays some alt rock station. Those easy feelings from breakfast dissipate the closer we get to the school.

What new hell will be waiting for me today?

Eli

The whole school seems to be holding its breath. Waiting for something epic to happen. Whether it’s the fall of the horsemen or our takedown of whoever’s rising up against us. I don’t think many students care which way it goes. They just want something to liven up the day-to-day that can become stale.

Though maybe not with Homecoming week. It must be crazy hair day because half of the students in the hallway look like they didn’t bother to brush their hair. A few could win some points for originality.

“Did you hear everything you needed last night?” Ashley falls against the locker beside me. She doesn’t look my way, and I don’t look hers.

I have a foot up against the baseboard as the students hurry off to classes.

“He didn’t say much we didn’t know.” I shrug.

She scoffs. “Like he’s going to monologue. At least Sidney thinks I’m on her side. Maybe she’ll give me some info in the locker room.”

“If he tries to take her at the game, can I have your word you’ll help her?” I turn and look down at her.

A few expressions cross her face too quickly for me to sus out. Her dark eyes lift to mine.

“You want me to help your girlfriend?” Her eyes narrow.

“We can use all the help we can get.” I run my hand through my hair. “It’s not like we’re enemies. You and I had a thing. I was angry, and you needed⁠—”

“Fuck.” Ashley tilts her head like she can’t believe what she’s seeing. “You’re gone on her, aren’t you?”

“There’s a reason she’s my girlfriend.” I don’t let her see the truth. That Harper truly is my vulnerability. “I don’t want her hurt.”

“Huh.” Ashley turns to face straight ahead again. “I’ll do what I can. I can’t make you any promises though. You’ve got football, but I have cheerleading. So if he makes off with her during the game, we’re all out of luck.”

“You still good about the arrangement?” I look at her out of the corner of my eye.

Her lips purse, and she blows out a breath. “Things are so fucking tense at home. What you always gave me was better than the therapist they had me see. So if this guy can deliver, then yes, I’m all in.” Her dark eyes meet mine. “Are you getting what you need?”

The question is like a friend asking a friend, not as a bitter ex-lover. I lean my head back against the locker and picture Harper. Her soft smile. The way she bends to my will. That gentleness I didn’t think I needed.

Ashley has hard edges. It made playing with her easy because she needed it as much as I did. But Harper... fuck, she just wants to make me happy. And she does.

I almost rub the lightness in my chest. “Yeah, I am.”

“If this guy does something wrong, I’m expecting you to fix it.” Ashley steps away and puts her hands on her hips.

“I’m not fucking y⁠—”

“No, asshole. I’m not someone you cheat with, so fuck that noise. But I want your protection if something goes wrong.” There’s a vulnerability in Ashley’s eyes as she shows me that pain that she can’t shake.

I draw in a breath. “You’ll always have my protection, Ash.”

She nods and closes her eyes. When they open, the pain is gone and only that hard shell she wears is there. “I’ll see if I can find out more, and I’ll watch your girl when I can.”

She taps her fist against my shoulder before wandering down the hallway.

I’ve done what I can to make sure she has a safe experience, but I’ll double-check with Wilder to make sure he knows if anything happens to her or if she tells me anything went wrong, we’ll make him pay.

I pull out my phone and text him just that. The warning bell rings. Fuck high school. I’m ready to be done with these four walls.

When I walk into second period, Harper looks up and smiles when she notices me. Ashley’s right. I am gone for this girl, but that just makes me more dangerous.