Page 98 of Raise Hell

Drake and some of his Havoc cronies are already sitting at my regular table with Felicia when I get to the cafeteria. My only choices are to sit with them or to turn around and walk right the fuck back out.

Felicia notices me a split second before I turn on my heel and waves.

If I run away now, everyone will see it, so I reluctantly make my way over to them.

Felicia seems more than a little eager to see me as I approach. I notice the strained look on her face as she sits between Cole and a freshman guy whose name I don’t know. Probably a Havoc House pledge, judging from the fact that he is handing everyone the plates he carried to the table.

It takes a second for me to realize our usual table has more than doubled in size. Normally, Felicia and I sit at a table intended for four people, but an even larger one has been pushed up beside it, and over a dozen chairs crowd around the edges.

Only the seat next to Drake is empty.

There are a bunch of guys I don’t recognize lounging in the chairs, along with Cole and Nolan, who barely spares me a glance. I can only assume they’re Havoc Boys. It’s as if Drake wants as many people to see us together as possible.

There will be a bigger audience when he inevitably tries to humiliate me.

When Drake makes his last move, this game will be over.

Only one of us will be declared the winner.

I have to get them to let something slip first.

“Looking good, Pratt,” one of the guys says as I settle into my seat.

“Like always,” another one chimes in.

Drake pulls out the chair for me. “Watch it, boys. This one is mine.”

His smug tone is almost enough for me to climb into the lap of the nearest freshman and suck on his tongue. “I don’t remember offering to tattoo your name on my ass.”

Drake doesn’t seem bothered. “I’ll keep that in mind when I’m planning our next date.”

The other guys laugh.

Damn him.

Nolan sits directly across from me. He leans forward, expression menacing. “If that’s what usually happens on the second date, I hope you don’t run out of room back there.”

You’re a whore, in other words.

I just smile at him, despite the queasy feeling in my stomach. “Don’t worry, Nolan. I’m sure you’ll find a girl willing to take pity on you eventually. There isn’t any shame in graduating college still a virgin.”

Some of the guys laugh, until he shoots them an annoyed look. “I get more tail than everyone else at this table combined.”

“Oh, is that why you sound so sensitive?”

“Listen, you bitch—”

“Enough, Nolan,” Drake interrupts sharply. “If you can’t give as good as you get, then go sit somewhere else.”

“She started it.”

“And I’m ending it. Just shut the fuck up.”

Drake holds his friend’s gaze for a long moment before the other guy finally turns away with a curse.

I can’t tell if his wink is real or if I just imagine it.

I’m losing control of the situation. I hate that.

---