Page 38 of Shadowed Whispers

Her nails dig in a little more. “That bitch!” she screeches, dragging me closer to her. She’s terrifyingly angry. “Amanda is trying to steal my man.”

“So you are dating,” I press.

All at once, she lets go of me, growling, “Yes, no. Well, I don’t know.” She peeks at me and turns away, picking up her book bag at her feet and setting it on her computer chair. I know she’s biding her time, trying to find her composure. I get it, so I drop onto my chair, more curious about whatever relationship they have going on.

“How can you not know?” I ask.

“Well, his mom is the dean.” She carefully stacks her books. She may look like an annoying student without a brain cell, but Tori is at the top of our class. I know better than to assume otherwise. “She called him back to teach.”

She’s more forthcoming than I thought she’d be.

“Well…” She tsks her tongue. “She wants to see him mated.”

“Did you just say mated?” I frown and tilt my head to the side. “What the hell is that supposed to even mean?”

Her eyes go wide, and she drops a book. “Oh, I mean married.” She lets out a nervous laugh. “Anyway, he also has to find a, um…” She huffs and laughs again. “You know, I can’t give away his secrets.”

“So you still don’t know if you’re dating?”

“I mean, no, but yes.” She fumbles with her words.

“Answer me this,” I say. “Can you date other people?”

“Oh, yeah, of course,” she scoffs. “Until we are ma—engaged,” she corrects herself.

She was going to say mated. Why?

“So he’s out there, just spreading his seed, and you are…” I drawl.

“We are all dating. I mean, no harm, no foul.” She laughs again.

“So if Amanda slept with Bishop...”

Her face freezes, her smile is forced, and her cheeks are bright red. I can hear her teeth grinding from here. “It’s his choice.”

Interesting.

Shaking my head, I turn back to my books and shower caddy. “Whatever weird swinging bullshit you’re into, I’m pretty sure he’s fooling around.”

“You’re just jealous,” she snaps at me.

I’m not, because I’m the one sleeping with him, but I just smile at her. “Of course.”

A knock sounds on the door. Good, at least this ridiculous conversation can end.

“That must be him now.” Tori smirks triumphantly as the door swings open.

Tell me it isn’t so. My stomach falls to the floor as she saunters to the door and swings it open.

“Bishop,” she murmurs, her voice a mixture of delight and challenge.

So close.

“Victoria,” he replies, and I hear kissing noises, like lips on cheeks—lips that were just all over my skin.

Tori giggles and backs away. I focus on gathering things for my shower, intent on slipping out of this room as soon as I can.

“Oh, Frankie.” Bishop makes himself at home in our dorm by lounging on Tori’s bed.

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