Page 58 of Wicked Waters

“Wait a minute. Jealous of me? No. That doesn’t… What do you know about Chaceley Rock? About Roman?”

Her brows rose even higher. “Chaceley Rock? The bank holiday weekend? What do you mean? What happened?” She paused, a smirk curving over her lips. “I don’t know about you, but I had an unforgettable night there with two members of the rugby team.”

“Never mind that. I—hold on.” Another thought hit me out of nowhere. “Freya. You said you heard about my plagiarism. As far as I know, the only person who knows outside of the select few I trust with my life is my history professor. Who told you?”

The smirk disappeared, her eyes widening as the realisation dawned on her face. “Penelope told me.”

My mind raced.

Penelope had been my friend from the day we’d started this school.

Penelope had accepted me again when I’d returned, no questions asked, no making me feel guilty for ghosting her, unlike Roman. She hadn’t even commented on my time away, other than to say she’d missed me. All she’d done was try to make me feel comfortable.

Penelope had warned me to stay away from Roman.

Penelope had told Freya something about me that not only wasn’t true, but was something she shouldn’t have been aware of in the first place.

Penelope had Roman’s hoodie in her wardrobe.

Penelope had a key card that gave her access to the staff admin computers.

Penelope had been crowned as one of the goddesses instead of me.

“Fuck. I think…I need to…I need Roman.”

I took a step, stumbled on the uneven floor, and glared down at my heels.

“You’re not great in heels, are you?” Freya commented. “Maybe you should switch to flats.”

“Maybe you should stop talking,” I bit out and instantly regretted it. Freya owed me nothing, and yet she’d shared her suspicions with me. “Sorry. Really, I am. Look. I honestly appreciate you telling me all this. You don’t owe me anything, so…thank you. If you see Penelope, can you keep it quiet? Just until I’ve had a chance to get to the bottom of this.”

“Yeah, yeah. Do what you need to.” She waved her hand in the air again. Standing, she headed over to her dresser and began reapplying her lipstick in a small hand mirror. “I’ve got more important things to do with my time, anyway. I have a date tonight with my two hot rugby players, and I don’t want to be late.”

“Rugby players?”

“Yes. Despite what Knox, Roman, and Tristan might think, they’re not the only hot guys at Hatherley Hall, and the lacrosse team isn’t the only elite team. They don’t even have the biggest dicks, either.” Pausing, she shrugged. “Okay, maybe they do—it’s not like I whip out a ruler each time. Point is, I’m over all that. You’re welcome to Roman. It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that he’s completely obsessed with you.”

“It is?”

A laugh fell from her throat. “Did you actually think you were being discreet? Babe, you’re eye fucking each other constantly. Let’s not forget the moment where he started a fight with his own teammate in front of everyone. I was there that night, remember? He was supposed to be with me, and you stole his attention without even trying.”

“I—”

“I’m over it. Whatever. Like I said, plenty more fish in the sea. Now, you go get your man, and I’ll get my men. If I see Pen in the meantime, my lips are sealed.”

“Okay. Yes. Okay. Thanks.” I finally got my feet to work, and I made my way to the door as quickly as I could, cursing my heels all the way. “Thanks,” I said again and left.

Detouring to my room, I ditched my heels, switching them out for my Converse, and then grabbed the running belt I rarely used, tucking my phone into it. It ruined the whole aesthetic of my dress—not that I cared. No, the only thing I cared about right now was finding Roman and getting to the bottom of whatever was going on.

As I raced through the school, I pulled my phone back out. Bypassing the messages from my parents, asking me if I’d been crowned as one of the goddesses, I tapped out a message to Roman, telling him I had my phone and needed to speak with him urgently. It was most likely that he was still at the ball, celebrating, so that was my first destination. I didn’t allow myself to think about what I’d do or say if I ran into Penelope first. I couldn’t.

I more or less skidded into the hall, drawing the attention of several students, but I ignored whatever comments they were making, pushing through the crowds, searching for a head of tousled black hair topped with a golden laurel wreath.

“Quinn!” Someone touched my arm. My heart pounding, I spun to see Tristan, his usual grin nowhere to be seen. “Have you seen Roman?”

“I’m looking for him. Why, what’s happened?” Panic bled through in my tone, and I took several deep breaths, desperately trying to get air into my lungs.

Tristan glanced around us and lowered his voice. “Let’s go somewhere quieter. Knox. Get Elena, quick.”

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