Page 142 of Whistle

“You ever seen Annabelle?” Jamie deadpanned.

Ryan laughed.

Hell, we all did.

Jamie glanced at Jess and winked. “Thanks for making me watch all those scary movies.”

Jess giggled.

Pink dress girl flipped her blond hair behind her shoulder. “We’ll see who’s laughing when I win the bid on your auction. One hour with me and you’ll change your mind.”

Madison tugged out of Jamie’s hold and went forward, but suddenly, Max was there, pushing between the two women with an ominous stare. “Walk away right now.” His voice was quiet but caused a chill along my arms.

She huffed, but Max remained rooted in place, unblinking.

“Whatever,” she spat and spun on her heel.

“Stay away from the heaters.” His voice followed her. “Plastic melts.”

She gasped and turned back, fire shooting from her eyes. Whatever she saw made her change her mind, and she faded into the crowd, taking her friends with her.

A waiter walked by at the same moment, and Max grabbed a glass off his tray, draining it in one gulp. After handing it back to the surprised man, he turned back to Elite. “I hate these fucking fundraisers.”

With not a single ounce of hesitation, Madison rushed forward and laid her hand on his forearm. “Thanks, Max.”

He grunted. “She had it coming.”

“She did, but I could have handled it.”

“Not while I’m standing here.”

Jamie screwed up his face. “Bro, I was handling it.”

Max smirked. “Can’t have the hot item of the night insulting everyone before the auction starts.” He leaned over and patted Jamie’s cheek. “Just stand here and look pretty.”

Jamie nodded. “Don’t be jealous, bro. Your face is pretty too. It’s your personality that’s the issue.”

Max snorted and went back to Wes’s side, burying his ring-covered fingers in the mop of curls on Wes’s head.

Another girl in a red gown walked by and waved at Jamie.

Madison sighed. “The barnacles are out in full force tonight.”

“Barnacles?” I wondered.

Rory nodded. “Barnacles. Annoying crustaceans that latch on to anything in the water and are impossible to remove.”

Barnacle (noun): What the swim bro girlfriends call the girls who hang all over Elite.

“And they’re all like that?” I asked, gesturing in the direction pink dress girl had gone.

“Sometimes they’re worse,” Rory replied.

Kruger shook his head. “Bro, I still don’t know why you agreed to this.”

“I had to take one for the team,” Jamie explained. “The dean wanted someone who would pull in the cash, and well…” He gestured to himself. “As we all know, I’m the cherry on top around here.”

“Yeah, because Ryan said no,” Win heckled.

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