Page 51 of Spiteful Lies

I sigh, knowing exactly what that means. “Was Gemma banging on the wall?”

He laughs. “Come on, Astrid. You don’t need to shower. Just throw on a coat and keep your arms down at your sides.”

Charlotte pulls away, grimacing at the thought. “It won’t take but a second.” She looks at me, head to toe. “I’ll go first.” She smiles at Bryce before disappearing into the bathroom.

He walks over and pecks me lightly on the lips. “I’ve smelled your stank before when you’re nice and sweaty.”

I push his shoulder and step back. “She’s happy to see you. She’s been sort of down.”

“And you?” he asks, pulling me close again and nuzzling my neck.

I close my eyes and let him hold me. “The last time I was worried about someone, it was my mom, but I was able to help her.”

He lifts his head. “Astrid, Charlotte is not your mom. Maybe we’re not giving her enough credit for being a grown-up. She went to court and nailed Leister. More women are coming forward. His chances of tricking his way out of this mess are slim.” He frowns when I don’t immediately answer. A worried look creases his forehead.

I kiss his mouth softly and patiently, taking my sweet time. “It’s okay, Bryce. I’m not used to giving a fuck about so many people at once.”

“Has she said anything to you?”

“About what?” I ask.

He glances away. “Nothing.”

The bathroom door swings open before I can question him further, and Charlotte scurries out, grabbing her clothes out of the closet, and disappears into the bathroom again.

“We have twenty minutes at least,” Bryce grabs playfully at my breasts. “How about a blow job, stinky?”

I roll my eyes in a perfect arc. “The perfect day—Gilmore Girls and then a blow job.”

“I could eat you instead,” he offers.

For a long moment, I consider it and then reluctantly pull his arms off me. “Charlotte would not be happy to see my head bobbing up and down on your dick. No matter what she says, I think she’ll always have a crush on you.”

He holds me close again, nuzzling my neck with lingering kisses. “A crush isn’t love.”

Bryce kisses her way up to my lips, and I part my mouth for his tongue. His hands travel under my top, and his fingers rub over my hard nipples. I’m tempted to make it quick, but I don’t want to disrespect Charlotte. I push him away. I won’t risk her feelings when she’s trying hard to be brave.

“Maybe later?” he suggests, “At the movies? We’ll touch each other in the dark.”

Chapter 34

Astrid

There was no need to sweat Rawlins’ response to the testimony, though she warned Charlotte and me to keep her in the loop. Stonehaven releases a statement that the school stands behind its students, and our safety is as important as our education. The backlash is subtle as a few parents state that their children won’t return after the semester break. The rest of the student body is concerned with grades.

“You did well,” Prof. Harmon smiles over my shoulder as we read the midterm grades posted on the school bulletin board outside the classroom door. “Only one C, but the rest are Bs and As.”

I smile. “I worked hard for the A in your class.”

“You busted butt for it.” She lifts a brow. “We haven’t spoken much outside of class.” She places her hand on my shoulder. “How are things going?”

“Can we talk later?” I have no updates on Ted Leister, but I have something important I need to ask her advice on.

Smirking, she nods. “My office door is always open unless someone else needs a chat.”

After classes, I head over to Harmon’s office in the faculty building, and no one lifts an eye as I walk across campus. The novelty has worn off quickly, though there are a few curious stares.

Prof. Getz’s temp office is now occupied by Mr. Shapley. The desirable Oberlin office, secluded and packed with old books, is permanently off-limits. Shapley glares as I walk past his open door. The C grade is a compromise. He argued for an F grade and took it personally when Rawlins told him to change it to a C. As we stretched before practice, Gillian whispered that he had a real shit fit when Rawlins also gave her C. Later, Shapley made a comment about buying grades, and Rawlins invited him to find employment elsewhere.

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