“I’m actually here to drag you out for ice cream.”
“Lucky for you, I don’t like ice cream. You’re off the hook you put yourself on.”
“Everyone likes ice cream, Palmer.” He plucks my jacket off the bedpost and shoves it into my chest. “Might want to get dressed.”
I look down and notice all I’m wearing is a white tank top and plaid pajama shorts. With no time to change, I pluck my uniform skirt off the top of my dresser and pull it on, slipping the shorts off under it.
“Did you just get dressed without getting undressed?” He chuckles, clearly entertained by me.
“It’s one of my many talents.”
“It’s kind of unfair. I was hoping to get a sneak peek of what all the hype is about.” His finger skims the bottom of my skirt, jokingly lifting the hem. I smack his hand away.
I slide on the jacket. “I don’t like ice cream, but I will, however, let you buy me a pretzel.”
“Seriously, a fucking pretzel? I trekked all the way down the hill for salted dough? And I didn’t even get to see you naked?”
“Take it or leave it, bud.”
“I like how that sounds. Bud. Us being friends and all.” He runs his tattooed finger over his bottom lip.
“This feels like a trap, Breaker. I’m not going to lie to you.” I cross my arms over my chest, ready to protest this impromptu outing.
“Oh, baby, everything with me always is.” He winks, opens the door, and heads out into the hallway.
I take his offered arm. We make it out of the building and into the cool night air. I attempt to lead us down the path to the state-of-the-art cafeteria, and immediately, he tugs me down the sidewalk towards the small parking lot. The lights blink on the same SUV Breaker had brought me home in.
“Get in, Palmer.” He opens the passenger side door and gestures to the inside.
“I thought we were going to get a pretzel?” I plant my feet on the curb, waiting for an answer.
“Like I said, sweetheart, everything with me is a trap. Get your fine ass into the vehicle.” He leaves the door open, confident I’ll do as he says while he gets behind the wheel.
Everything inside tells me not to trust Breaker, except a small part hidden in my soul that is curious. I only know what Reed has told me, small anecdotes of the boys as a whole. When she referred to one, the others were always implied.
Who is Breaker Davenport outside of the others? I intend to find out. My legs start moving and I’m in the passenger seat before I can stop myself.
“We’re actually going to get a pretzel, right?” I question as he drives us towards the cafeteria.
The glass windows are cast in dark shadows, and there isn’t a single person around.
“It’s Sunday. They don’t stay open past six!” I realize why the area is lifeless. “Turn around and take me back to the dorms.”
Breaker ignores my words and parks the car anyway. He circles the trunk and opens the door for me like the gentleman I’d never expect of him. With his hand held out for mine, I let my guard down and take his. I immediately feel small and defenseless in his hold.
He guides me around the back of the building. I watch, careful to make sure no one can see us. It doesn’t take long for me to realize Breaker has every intention of going inside, even with them being closed.
The key code pad on the back door should stop him, but no, he pokes the code in and opens the door, ushering me inside ahead of him. The space is dark, and I fumble for a light switch.
Breaker’s hand lands on the small of my back, while the other covers my own.
“No lights, sweetheart,” he whispers in my ear. “We like to stay hidden for a reason.”
“We’d get in trouble if anyone caught us, wouldn’t we?” I ask, surprised how effortlessly Breaker holds onto my hand as he leads me through a dark hall.
“Just sit here for a second, Palmer. I’ll be right back.” Breaker places me in a booth.
Everything becomes a little clear when my eyes adjust to the moonlight from outside the windows.
Shadows dance over the glossy tables, placing me on high alert. I’ve seen what these boys are capable of. They will push the strongest to their breaking point. My skin begins to crawl, and instinct tells me to bail, to run back to my dorm and lock myself inside. A clatter startles me, and I stand, only to be pushed back down.
“Where you running off to?” Breaker says, placing a plate in front of me. He flicks on a small lamp on the wall, illuminating our immediate space.
Two pretzels sit between us, different dipping sauces accompanying them. I smile, noticing they’re my favorites. I don’t question him, instead choosing to rip off a piece of dough and dunk it into the spicy mustard.
Breaker watches me eat several bites, never dropping his stare. His eyes lock in on my lips. I lick off the remnants of a bite.
“Are you going to make me eat alone?” I push the plate towards him.
“Not exactly what I’m hungry for, Palmer.” He rests his elbows on the table and leans forward, lighting his entire face with the lamp. There’s a wicked gleam in his crystal stare, a desire I’ll never be able to satisfy.
“I’m not a whore, Breaker.” I drop the pretzel to the plate and lean away from him. “What happened last night wasn’t an invite for the rest of you.”
“You’re saying you’ve never thought about it?” He runs the pad of his thumb over his plump bottom lip.
The silver rings on his fingers and the ink spanning his hands lead me to believe he’s nothing like the rest of the boys. There’s an edge to him, a harshness that is somehow wrapped around this softness. I don’t think he’s capable of hurting me. With that knowledge, I relax.
“With you?” I question, laughing at how ridiculous this conversation is.
“Yes, Palmer, with me.” His tone screams annoyance, but his grin tells me he’s amused.
“You’re hot, like the dumb kind of hot that makes girls a little weaker, but no, Breaker, you aren’t my type.” I smile at him, and every trepidation I have about him fizzles away to nothing.
“It’s too bad. I could’ve fucked you straight into loving me, Palmer Weston.” Breaker stands, looms over me, and surprisingly, drops his lips to the crown of my head. “Don’t make it easy for him.”
Breaker disappears into the darkness, leaving me alone in the light of the lantern. During the day, this place pulses with life. At night, the blackness is creepy as hell. Over the back of the booth, a tall, dark figure appears, almost giving me a heart attack until I realize who it is. He stands stoic and unmoved, watching me.
“Don’t you think it’s kind of embarrassing how desperate you are to see me?” I lean back in the booth, acting unaffected by Marek’s efforts. Knowing the trouble he’s gone to warms my body.
“What do you mean?” Marek says as he steps in front of the booth. His dark hair covers his face like a shield. The light flickers, revealing the silver flecks in his irises, creating a fire inside of him he holds hostage. He rests a hand on the back of the booth and one on the table to take up much of my air. “What I see is, a boy used his friend to lure a girl to a dark, empty room, where no one can hear her scream.”