Page 24
I’m too stunned to speak. Now that he’s here, I’m not sure I want him to be here. I stare down at my textbook, my heart fluttering.
“I didn’t mean to be so late. Coach made me run an extra again.”
The heat of his body radiates into me, his scent a mixture of sweat and spice.
I hesitate before saying, “You’re not late. You’re not even supposed to be here, Tommy.”
He pauses for a second, his brows crinkling, but then ignores me and rifles through his bag. “Nah. This is exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
My heart is in my throat. I’ve been through this before—someone pretending to take a liking to me, and me falling for it.
I’ve had more crushes than anyone, and it only ever hurts.
“Is this like…some sort of hazing?” I ask quietly. “The popular guy hanging out with the freak? I’ve been hazed before, and I won’t go through that again.”
He winces as though my words offend him. “No. That’s not what I’m doing at all.”
“Well, then what is it? Why are you here, Tommy?”
He leans back on one hand, effectively trapping me beside him. “I asked you yesterday if you wanted to share my lunch again.”
Ugh. He’s cute and charming—too charming. Is it possible he really is this nice?
I shift uneasily, the rough leather of my belt and the ache of my wounds making me squirm. It’s getting worse, especially with walking so much over the past few days. I hold my breath, desperately hoping he doesn’t notice.
“What about your friends? Don’t you want to have lunch with them?”
He shifts to get more comfortable and shrugs. “They think I’m training. Then I told them I had to go study. If I don’t pass math, my old man might have my head.”
“What about Remy?” I ask cautiously. Tommy’s sandy eyes narrow, and I realize I’ve struck a nerve.
“What about him?” he asks.
“You’re friends, aren’t you?”
His jaw tightens, and he pauses. “He hasn’t hurt you, has he?”
My eyes widen. If that was him in the library, it certainly didn’t hurt. If anything, I had a shooting sensation hit between my legs—a throbbing where the belt protects—when he caressed my cheek.
“No,” I tell him. Not a lie. “I haven’t even spoken to him since my first day.”
“Good. Stay away from him, Didi. He’s bad news.”
He grabs his sandwich and hands me half, but I don’t take it.
He pauses and watches me. “Come on, Didi. I know you’re hungry.”
“I’m not a charity case, Tommy. I don’t need you to bring me food. I’m not going to be here long. Once I graduate, I’m leaving.”
He frowns, and the sad expression on his face is adorable. Truly adorable. I hate that I have to be so mean to him, especially since he’s probably the nicest person I’ve met in the past three schools I’ve attended.
I pull my knees away from him. If he stays this close to me, he will be able to tell something is off. I barely bathe, and when I do, it’s with well water.
He takes a bite of his delicious looking sandwich, wiping mayo that falls onto his chin. My stomach grumbles and mouth salivates watching him inhale it. He looks at me and frowns as my stomach makes another embarrassing sound. He offers the other half to me again.
“It’s not charity, if you give me something in return.”
I blink up at him. “What do you mean?”
