As he starts to walk away from me, I yell, “We’re not done until I get my revenge.”
Not even looking back, he growls, “Whatever, Daniels.”
It takes a moment to realize Hunter didn’t call me Jade, or bean, or little bean.
Just Daniels.
Uncertainty creeps into my mind, but I’m too angry to pay it any attention and mutter, “Right. Whatever, Chargill.”
Chapter 6
HUNTER
It’s only been three days since we started classes, and I’m ready for this year to be over.
Making my way to the restaurant for dinner, my irritation grows with every damn girl that tries to get my attention. It usually wouldn’t bother me, but today I have zero patience left for the female species after my fight with Jade.
“Hunter!” My jaw clenches at the sound of Jessica Atwood’s overly sweet voice.
Not slowing down, I hear Jessica’s heels slapping against the cobbled stone path as she tries to catch up with me. Grabbing hold of my arm, she darts in front of me.
Coming to a stop, I give her an aggravated look.
She doesn’t let go of my arm as she flips her hair back while a pretentious smile forms on her face. “Have dinner with me.”
I suck in a deep breath, so I don’t shrug her off with a curse. Instead, I pull my arm free and move to walk around her while bluntly uttering, “No.”
Not getting the message, Jessica falls into step next to me. “You need to eat, don’t you?”
“Not with you,” I mutter.
Taking hold of my arm for a second time, she tries to pull me to a stop again, but I yank away from her and give her a dark glare. “Fucking stop already. I’m not interested in you, woman.”
Hurt flashes across her perfect features.
Too perfect.
When everything around you is perfect, you gain an appreciation for flawed things because it adds balance to your life.
“You don’t have to be so mean, Hunter,” she chastises while quickly glancing around to see if anyone else heard what I said to her.
I’ve dealt with her kind enough to know if you give them an inch, there’s no getting rid of them. Also, Mom would slap me into a new damn blood group if I ever get involved with the likes of Jessica.
Knowing I have to be as fucking clear as daylight with this woman, I lock eyes with her. “I’m not a social ladder. Find another guy to help you get to the top because it sure as hell won’t be me.” I turn to continue walking, then pause. “Another thing, don’t ever touch me again or pretend we move in the same circle.”
Done with her, I stalk to the damn restaurant even though I don’t have any appetite.
Doing my best to ignore the wave of whispers my presence causes as I enter the establishment, I make my way to our reserved tables and sit down next to Jase, who’s already busy scarfing down a pizza.
“You sure you’re not related to Uncle Lake?” I ask. Uncle Lake and Jase will eat anyone under the table.
Jase just smirks at me then asks, “Why do you look like you’re about to kill someone?”
“Fucking women,” I grumble.
A waiter appears next to me, and I order a whiskey.
“No food?” Jase asks when the waiter leaves.
I reach over and grab a slice of pizza just so he’ll shut up.
“Good boy,” the fucker croons.
I glare at him. “You tired of living?”
Jase lets out a chuckle while picking up another slice, and I watch him obliterate it in seconds before he says, “You love me too much to kill me.”
“Don’t push your luck,” I warn, and then unable to keep my face stoic any longer, a grin pulls at my lips. Even though we banter a lot about killing each other, Jase knows I’d die for him.
Kao and Noah join us just as the waiter brings my drink.
“I’ll have one of those,” Noah orders, then he lets out a sigh.
“Shit day?” I ask before I take a sip from the tumbler.
“You have no idea,” Noah mutters. He looks at me for a couple of seconds then says, “We need to have all the freshmen go to an induction course on stay the fuck away from Noah, Kao, Hunter, and Jase.”
“Hey,” Jase jumps in. “Leave me out of your cock-blocking mission.”
“Don’t you get tired of the girls?” Noah asks while shaking his head.
Jase grins, “I have the stamina of a thoroughbred stallion.”
I let out a bark of laughter. “Stallion, my ass.”
Kao looks over a menu while asking, “Does that mean the lot of you aren’t taking dates to the ball?”
Just thinking of the ball, I pull a disgusted face.
Jase picks up a napkin and wipes his mouth. “I’m going with Mila.”
Kao lets out a burst of amused laughter. “Does Mila know this?”
“Do I know what?” Mila suddenly asks.
My head snaps up, and seeing that Jade is with the girls, I glare at the tumbler of whiskey in front of me, so I don’t have to acknowledge her presence as she takes a seat across from me.
“You’re going to the ball with me,” Jase states as if Mila has no choice in the matter.
“Like hell,” Mila grumbles.
Jase glances around the table. “Do any of you have dates, besides Kao?”
“Nope,” Fallon lets the word pop from her lips.
Hana and Jade shake their heads where Noah and I just stare at Jase.
Jase grins at Mila. “That means we’re going in a group, aka you’re going with me.”
Mila gives Jase a disgruntled look before she picks up a menu.
When the waiter comes to take the new orders, I stare at the amber liquid in front of me, contemplating whether I should leave.
Feeling eyes on me, my gaze lifts until they collide with Jade’s brown ones.
Not breaking eye contact, I finish what’s left of my whiskey, then get up. “You coming?” I ask Jase as I begin to turn away from the table.
“Don’t leave on my account,” Jade says, her tone daring me to stay.
A hundred comebacks race through my mind, but every one of them will only show Jade that I care. Instead, I give her a cold look before leaving the restaurant.
Jase quickly follows behind me. “Things still bad between you and Jade?”
I let out a huff of air. “Bad is the understatement of the fucking year. I’m done trying with her.”
We walk in silence for a minute, then Jase asks, “Really? How are you going to handle being around her then?”
“Like I handle any other girl.”
With zero patience and a shitload of disdain.
“Ouch.” Jase gives me a worried look. “You don’t think that’s overkill? We’re talking about Jade. She’s one of us.”
“She decided our friendship was over long before I did. Why should I treat her as one of us, when she clearly doesn’t give a fuck about me?”
“Shit.” Jase throws his arm around my shoulders. “I’m sorry it came to this. I was hoping you and Jade would be able to deal with the past once you were living under the same roof.”
“So much for hoping, right?”
“Yeah, right.”