Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
I found a legitimate distraction when I glanced over and saw that Arianna’s whole face was flushed even worse than mine. I leaned around Ashton, keeping my voice low.
"Ari? Are you okay?"
Roxxi burst into laughter. "She's fine now. But earlier? Oh, she was absolutely mortified."
"She wouldn't spill the details. Something about a laptop and her cursed lineage?" Xander added with a hint of sarcasm.
"It's really not a big deal. I had to use the computer instead of my tablet for something in class."
I nodded slowly, “And then?”
Roxxi grinned like she was holding a winning hand. “Wicked Whims.”
My mouth dropped open. “No way.”
“All she could do was slam the laptop shut,” Roxxi continued. “And you know she sits right in the front row. So just imagine it, she opens her laptop, enters her password, and you know what pops up? The mod download page. Full titles. Full thumbnails.”
I choked on my wrap, coughing as Ari collapsed face-first onto the table like she wanted to be absorbed by it. Ashton reached over to pat my back while trying not to laugh.
“Mods for a game? Why is that embarrassing?" Cade asked, finally looking away from his food.
Ari refused to meet his eye. "I'm never telling you."
"Wait," he grinned. “Is Whicked Whims some weird code-name for porn?"
Ari looked horrified as several people turned their attention in our direction in response to his comment. “No, you idiot.”
The guys, except for Rook and Ashton, now wore puzzled expressions.
"Then why is it embarrassing?" Nick questioned.
“It's a Mod, like Roxxi said,” Ryder announced, looking at his phone, having quickly consulted Google. He scrolled and started to laugh.
Brooke took a sudden interest in her fruit, biting her lip to contain her own amusement.
“It's a power-up for the Sims," Cloe explained, her tone completely serious.
Cade glanced around the table. "Sims has mods?"
Xander tilted his head. "Sounds kinky to me."
“You all need to get with the times.” Rook chuckled quietly but kept the knowledge he knew to himself.
Roxxi shook her head. "It's nothing rated R or anything. It’s basically a bunch of love spells.”
"Yeah," I added with a straight face. "Your Sims gain extra romantic abilities."
"Think of it as emotional storytelling,” Cloe explained, sounding the most convincing among us.
Xander took in our explanations. “That actually sounds kinda deep.”
I took a drink to stop myself from laughing again as Nick studied each of our faces. "You're fucking with us."
“We would never,” Cloe denied innocently.
Ryder leaned back in his chair with a grin and nudged his phone across the table toward his brother. “Here.”
Cade snatched it up with eager fingers, his curiosity piqued. Nick craned his neck so that he could see too.
“You had this open in class?” Nick asked with a mix of disbelief and amusement.
“Not on purpose!” Ari protested, her cheeks flushing deeper crimson as she stabbed at her salad with her fork.
Cade let out a sound of approval. “Damn, Ari. You’re braver than the Marines,” he teased, shaking his head. “The Sims didn’t look like this the last time I saw it.”
Roxxi, now feeling sympathy for our dear friend, decided to change the topic. “Hey, on a more serious note, did you all check out what was posted on the school forum?”
“Do people actually use that?” Ari asked, jumping on the subject change.
Roxxi took a bite of her brownie and nodded. “Apparently. Someone shared a message about the annual party and this year’s Hunt.”
“I think I heard a few people mention that,” Ashton commented. “There are theories about who’s going to be Marked and what surprises are planned.”
"Surprises?"
“Yeah,” Roxxi responded. “Let’s just say if even one of them is true, it’s going to be crazier than ever. Oh, and it looks like Crowsnest Confessions is coming back too.”
“That’s sure to stir up drama,” I mused with a frown.
People were always bolder online. Combine anonymity with a message board dedicated to spilling secrets, and things were bound to get messy.
Cloe sighed. “As if the Soirée isn’t already going to be a disaster with Nick hosting.”
Ashton chuckled. “What do you have planned, Nick?”
He smirked. “It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. Let’s just say I’m glad people are talking.”
“You sure you’re not ‘people,’ Blackwell?” Roxxi questioned, her eyes narrowed on him.
Nick met her stare without flinching, his grin widening. “I’m whoever you need me to be, Vixen.”
She smiled sweetly in return. “Perfect. Then you can send along a message to number 18 for me. You’re close to him, right? He sticks to the left side of the rink, looks like he belongs on the cover of a hockey calendar.”
Nick tapped his fingers on the table like he was actually considering the request. We all knew fully well this wasn’t going to happen, and if it did, it would not be a friendly exchange, but he played along to humor her.
“Kapri Graves,” he confirmed. “I’ll deliver a message.”