Page 52 of Chaos at Westbrook High

Derek never told me outright that it was them, but he never said it wasn’t either. He led me to assume, maybe because he knows who really did it and he’s trying to hide it from me.

Because if they didn’t do it…

“Who was it, Hailey?”

“I’m done with this.” I stand, freezing when Damon’s authoritative voice hits my ears.

“You’re not done until we say you’re done.”

Slowly turning to look at him, I lift a brow, leaning over to level with him while I grab the empty mugs off the table. “Boy, you’re out of your damn mind if you think you can sit there and try to tell me what to do,” I say quietly. “The only reason we had this conversation is because I allowed it. And when I decide I’m done, I’m done. Whether you like it or not.”

Whatever reaction I was expecting from him, it wasn’t this one. The Kingstons are all usually so cold and emotionless around me, except Kai and Callie sometimes, but right now, they’re all hiding big ass grins behind their hands. Even Damon’s rolling his lips to hide one, side-eyeing Kai before he looks up at me again.

“One more question,” he says.

“Make it quick.”

“Why don’t you live with us?”

I scrunch my nose. “What?”

“Our dad is your legal guardian, right?”

“So?”

“So why is he letting you live with Derek in an apartment building all the way across town?”

Still holding the cups, I take a breath, kicking Kai in the shin when I feel him running his fingers up the inside of my thigh.

“Your dad tried to force me to move in with you after my aunt died,” I explain.

“What did you tell him?” Kai asks, spreading his fingers and wrapping his hand around my leg, gently pulling me closer.

I smile at that. “I told him I’d burn his shit to the ground.” Balancing the cups with one hand, I reach back and grab a fistful of Kai’s hair, pushing his face away from my hip. “Your dad doesn’t tell me what to do either.”

“Not unless you allow it,” Damon adds with a little smirk on his face. “Right?”

“Get out.”

With that, I walk away from them and take their cups to the kitchen, already knowing what’s coming before two hands grab my waist from behind.

“Hey!” Wyatt barks at Kai. “You can’t?—”

“Fucking watch me,” Kai says, not looking back at him as he rests his chin on my shoulder.

Wyatt storms away as Kai walks me forward, allowing me to place the cups on the counter next to the sink. “You can’t be back here,” I say.

“It’s okay. I’m with the boss,” he teases, guiding me into the corner next to the freezer.

When he turns me to face him and presses me into the wall with his hips, I flatten my hands on his chest, unsure whether it’s to push him away or pull him in closer. He doesn’t give me the chance to decide though. The assuming bastard is already on me, locking his arms around me to slide his hands into the ass pockets of my work shorts.

“Kai.”

“Tell me who wants to hurt you,” he says quietly. “I promise you can trust me.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Tell me or trust me?”

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