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)
Students passed us, backpacks slung over their shoulders, hoodies pulled up to fight the cold. A few called out greetings to Ryder or gave him that subtle chin-lift guys do. He answered each one with an air of familiarity. He knew so many more people than I did.
“Why are you all alone by the way? Did Roxxi tell you to wait for me?”
“Sort of. D-W showed up without you,” he smirked as he used that nickname for Ashton that I still didn’t fully understand. “Then the girls rolled in, and I knew something was off. I saw you weren’t moving yet and was about to come to you, but Cici said to wait here.”
Because Cloe knew exactly what kind of absolute shitstorm would go down if Ryder came face-to-face with a Huntsman, especially since I hadn’t told him what happened yet. If that was how he found out, Hemlock would end up as a case study on a crime docuseries.
“You check my location that much?” I asked.
“Watch it more than I do anything else. It’s my favorite show.”
I laughed, then bit the inside of my cheek, hesitating to ask, “So… if I were to do the same, check your location, where would I have seen you last night?”
For half a second, something flickered across his face. I couldn’t tell what it was.
“I went out.”
“Out?” I repeated. “Like, clubbing?”
“Something like that.”
“You went out on a Tuesday night?”
“I wasn’t alone.”
My mouth went quiet, but my thoughts didn’t, and neither did the sting in my chest.
“I wasn’t with her either.”
I swallowed. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag. Go figure, he knew who I was thinking about.
“You could’ve been though, and that’s normal. She’s your girlfriend, Ryder. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”
“Sass…” He exhaled. “You already spend enough time overthinking. Let me give you one less thing to go mental about.”
“Did you just call me crazy?”
“No. I know what crazy looks like,” he answered with a half-laugh. “Me and the boys played some ball on a new field,” he added, more casual now. “Then I went home, took a shower, and went to bed… alone.” He gave me a pointed look. “After I ate the candy you bought me.”
I smiled at him. “Why am I not surprised?”
“What? You picked my favorite.”
“I literally grabbed the first things I saw.”
“Liar. You always remember the stuff I like.”
We reached the main building, the glass doors reflecting the steady flow of students heading inside, along with our reflection, walking close enough to look like something more. Ryder pulled one door open, and I stepped through first and put a bit of space between us, letting the warmth inside wrap around me like a blanket. The hallway buzzed with voices, footsteps echoing against old stone, folding into a familiar buzz.
We veered into a side corridor instead of heading toward the overpass. Ryder kept pace beside me, his hands now tucked in the pockets of his varsity jacket. His shoulders were relaxed, but I could feel the alertness in him. It was something I’d noticed more often lately.
“Are you okay, Rye?” I asked softly.
“How can I not be when you’re beside me?”
“You cheese puff. I’m being serious.”
“So am I.” He flashed a grin, sharp and boyish. Then it slipped, just slightly. “But you’re not okay, are you?”
I hesitated, pulse kicking when our eyes met, his once again way too knowing. “How can I not be when you’re beside me?”
His laugh was humorless. “One of these days, Sass, I’m going to have you alone, and I won’t let you go until you tell me everything you keep trying to bury.”
The promise in his voice scorched something deep inside that ached to be known, to be undone by him and only him. He suddenly leaned in like he was going to whisper a secret, breath warm against the shell of my ear. “The ferret isn’t carrying spawn, I take it?”
It took me a second to process the words; my body was too busy reacting to his closeness. My breath caught, nipples tightening against the fabric of my bra, and all I could think about was the feeling of his mouth somewhere far less innocent. Jesus. I was losing it. Maybe I needed to invest in some toys. I dragged in a quiet breath that did nothing to steady me.
“Stop calling her that,” I murmured back, nudging him with more affection than annoyance. “And no. It was a false alarm, thankfully.”
“That’s good. I’m sorry about last night. I know you were trying to protect her privacy.”
I shrugged, eyes fixed ahead. “It’s fine. We both know how nosy you are.”
“Curious,” he corrected. “98% of the time, it’s only when it has something to do with you.”
We reached the double doors to the stairwell. He held one open for me again, like it was instinct. We walked up the steps side by side, our footfalls echoing in the narrow space.