Is this what he’s always like when he’s not around Saint and Gabe?
I like this casual, approachable Liam with his black t-shirt and exposed tattoos and easy grin. He seems like someone I could genuinely enjoy being around.
We grab our beers and move to the living room. I go to grab my backpack from where I left it by the door.
“Okay, so I did do a little prep-work so we’re not starting from total scratch,” I say, sitting next to him on the plush leather couch and pulling my bag into my lap so I can dig around inside for my binder. “I’ve already compiled a list of Dickens’ works that I think we should focus on. We could center our theme around his portrayal of the poor in his writing.”
“Holy shit, Ellis. You’re the best partner ever.”
I shoot him a shy grin. “I just like to be prepared.”
I’m in the process of pulling out my binder and notebook when the doorbell suddenly rings, one of those fancy bells that plays Mozart. Frowning, I glance to the door, then to Liam.
“Expecting anyone?”
He shakes his head, but his expression darkens. “No … I wasn’t.”
He pushes to his feet and moves around me toward the door. I watch him open it, and my stomach twists when it’s Saint standing on the other side of the threshold.
Only he’s not alone.
I can see a whole group of students from Angelview gathered behind him, including Gabe and Laurel. They’re staring through the door at me in clear shock.
Liam’s shoulders tense, and I can see his profile tighten with rage.
“What the hell are you guys doing here?” he growls.
Saint stares him dead in the eye as he offers a taut, lifeless smile. There’s a simmering anger in his gaze as well, though I can’t begin to imagine why.
“Heard there was a party. Didn’t want to miss out.”
He tries to push past Liam, but my study-buddy doesn’t budge an inch.
“There’s no party here, you knew that already.”
Saint turns his frigid gaze toward me, and his nostrils flare. “You two gonna fuck or something?”
I gape at him, horrified. He stares right back at me, as if daring me to say something. Liam’s face is turning red and he looks like he’s on the verge of violence.
Something must be going on between the two for Liam to have such an intense reaction to Saint showing up on his doorstep. I would’ve thought such a thing would be a regular occurrence, but there appears to be trouble in filthy, spoiled rich boy paradise.
Whatever the drama, I don’t need to be part of it.
I pack up my bag and stand.
Moving next to Liam, I look up at him and say, “Maybe we can just reschedule?”
His brown eyes fly to mine. “No, we don’t need to.”
“Ahhh, so you were gonna fuck.” Saint’s voice is burning venom in my ears.
I ignore him and place a hand on Liam’s arm, ignoring the sound of Saint filtering in a sharp breath. “It’s okay. Really. We can meet up on campus next week.”
“Mallory…”
The sound of my first name on his lips gives me a little jolt, but I try not to let it show. Saint’s watching me like a predator tracking its prey, and I don’t want to give him any insight into my increasingly complicated relationship with Liam. Especially since it appears their relationship is far more complicated than I would have initially thought.
I smile up at Liam. “I’m going to call Loni to come pick me up. You guys have fun.”
Before he can speak another word of protest, I step past him to try and go outside. Saint doesn’t budge, though, and I’m forced to squeeze between him and the doorframe, which means my body presses tight to his before I’m free. My heart races at the contact, and I shove my way through the rest of the group and their kegs, ignoring Laurel’s sharp glare and Gabe’s amused smirk and inclined red head.
Making my way from the house, I text Loni, who responds right away. There’s a loud roar as the party swings into motion, and I stand on the sidewalk dejected and alone, wondering if anyone will chase after me.
Terrified of just who it might be.
15
I sit down for breakfast in the dining room Monday morning distracted and groggy from a weekend of little sleep and tons of anxiety. I couldn’t get the weird animosity between Saint and Liam out of my head. There’s a part of me that thinks I’m the reason for it, but Saint knew we were kind of hanging out before Friday night. Was it because we were off campus at Liam’s house that made him so angry?
Was he afraid we were going to hook up?
I’m his toy, after all, and he doesn’t like to share.
The thought sends a spike of anger rushing through me. I’m not his property, no matter what he thinks. If Liam and I want to hang out at his house together, there’s not a damn thing Hot Draco can do about it.
I’m stewing over my plate of pancakes when Loni comes rushing up to me and distracts me from my frustrating thoughts.
“Mallory! I need your help!” she declares without preamble, and my eyebrows shoot up.
“Umm … with what?”
She sits down next to me. “Okay, so Headmaster Aldridge asked me to take over the planning for decorations and prep for Parents Weekend.”
I blink, confused. “But … that’s only a few weeks away, isn’t it?”
She groans and bobs her head. “Yeah, it is. Apparently, they put an idiot in charge before me and she dropped pretty much every ball she could and spent all the prep money on coke since her parents have apparently cut her off.” She gives me a second to process this information, before explaining, “I’ve helped plan the weekend before, so Aldridge picked me out for the job personally.”
“That sucks.”
“Big time,” she agrees. Clasping her hands together, she makes her eyes so wide, she reminds me of an anime character. “Mallory, would you please, please help me? Pretty, pretty please with a cherry on top?”
I almost laugh at her earnestness because it’s kind of adorable. “Of course, you didn’t even have to ask.” I mean that. Other than something that would get me expelled, there’s not much I wouldn’t do for the girl who’d made my year bearable.
“Oh, thank you!” She claps in delight then lunges forward to wrap me in a tight hug. “You’re a lifesaver.”
I pat her back and chuckle. “No problem.”
Suddenly, she stiffens in my arms.
“Hey Mallory? Why’s Saint looking at you like that?”
My features sink into a frown as she pulls away. “What do you mean?” Twisting around, I scan the hall until my attention lands on him a few tables away. A small gasp escapes my lips at the intensity behind his stare. I mean, the bastard always looks intense, but today he looks frustrated—and pissed.
Is he still upset about Friday night’s drama?
“I can’t tell if he wants to kill you or fuck you in front of everyone here,” Loni murmurs.
“I’m pretty sure it’s the first option,” I reply, turning back around so I don’t have to endure his icy glare any longer.
Plunking her elbow on the table, she rests her chin in her hand and twists her lips. “Did you do something in particular to piss him off?”