Page 117

“I know I have to come over! But I’m not getting suckered into being in the car with him too. Tell RJ to get a ride with you and Axel.”

“Okay, but...”

I didn’t hear the rest of what she said. I hurried down the hall, pushed my way out the front doors of Empire High, and climbed into my car. And then I screamed at the top of my lungs. God, why? Why was Adonis here and Mr. Halifax wasn’t? What kind of cruel twist of fate was this?

I put my head down on the steering wheel and tried to steady my breathing. But when I closed my eyes, all I saw was Adonis’ stupid green eyes instead.

I lifted my head and turned my key in the ignition. I wanted to drive out of the city and straight into Mr. Halifax’s waiting arms.

But I didn’t know where he was.

And I knew his arms weren’t waiting for me.

So I drove as slowly as humanly possible to Scarlett’s place.

By the time I walked into the living room, everyone was laughing and hanging out just like always. I stared at the back of Adonis’ head. The new addition to our group was not missing a beat. He seemed very comfortable. It looked like he’d been in this living room a million times before.

Adonis had somehow won over my friends.

RJ laughed at something Adonis said and the two of them high fived.

God, RJ too? I sighed. What happened to everyone thinking the guy was a dangerous creep?

Chapter 26 – It’s So Sticky

Thursday

As if Adonis could sense my presence, he put his arm on the back of the couch and turned around. He winked at me.

I glared at him.

“Aren’t you going to join us?” Adonis asked.

I’d rather punch a hole through the wall.

“The guys were just telling me that basketball tryouts have been extended. Do you like basketball, Aphrodite?”

Oh. This was actually great. The basketball team sucked. If he joined it, he’d automatically be a loser. Literally. Because all they did was lose.

“She’s not a fan,” RJ said.

“Who? Me?” I pointed to my chest. “Nonsense. I love basketball.”

RJ frowned. “No you don’t.”

“I absolutely do. It’s my favorite.” I walked over to them, dropped my backpack on the ground, and squeezed myself into a spot on the opposite couch next to Jacob. Even though there hadn’t really been any room.

He tried to move over a bit, but I leaned closer to him instead.

Jacob raised his eyebrow at me.

And I hoped he could read the expression on my face. I was pleading with him to just pretend that maybe there was something going on between us. Adonis already thought there might be. Because Jacob had randomly called me “his girl” in a message to Adonis. Maybe if Adonis thought I wasn’t available, he’d leave me and my friends alone. I just wanted him gone.

Jacob seemed to understand because he just leaned back on the couch, not minding that our thighs were touching.

I breathed a sigh of relief and forced myself to not look at Adonis.

“Well, I don’t know what my sister is talking about,” RJ said. “But does that mean you’ll try out?”