Page 105 of Wicked Dreams

Theo salutes Caleb. “Yes, sir.”

Caleb grunts.

The dismissal is as clear as they’re going to get, and once again we’re left alone.

My skin itches.

“I don’t know what dating you is supposed to feel like,” I admit. “And I don’t remember agreeing to it either.”

He smiles, and we follow the path Liam and Theo made up the bleacher steps. We’d been sitting off to the side, but now the king retakes his throne. We walk right up the center aisle, and people make room for us.

I didn’t understand it until now. The way people treat him—he’s freakingroyaltyat this school. And I’m seeing it in action, but I’m still mystified by it. Even as a younger kid asks if he needs anything, and Caleb actually says yes.

Minutes later, the kid returns with a bag of popcorn and two sodas.

“Hey, Asher.” A guy in purple and black comes toward us, lifting his hand.

Caleb grins, reaching out and bumping his knuckles against the new guy’s. “What’s up, Bonner? I heard a rumor you’re not playing this year?”

He chuckles. “I had to have surgery on my knee at the beginning of the summer. Coach wouldn’t let me play.”

Caleb shakes his head. “Sorry to hear that.”

Bonner shrugs. His gaze sweeps up and down my body. “I don’t think we’ve met. Matt Bonner.”

“Margo Wolfe,” Caleb drawls. “And don’t fucking look at her like that.”

Bonner laughs again, scratching at the back of his neck. “Hey, Asher. No disrespect. You got yourself a beautiful?—”

“I’mright here,” I snap.

A muscle in Caleb’s jaw jumps. He glares at Matt, the niceties ending abruptly, until Matt nods and stuffs his hands in his pockets. When he retreats to the Lion’s Head side of the bleachers, Caleb finally focuses on me.

I wait.

“I’m not apologizing for that,” he says.

“I didn’t ask you to.” I find myself leaning closer to him. “I don’t like people staring at me.”

“You don’t likemenstaring at you,” he clarifies.

“I’ll pass on all types of attention.”

He rolls his eyes. “You better get used to it.”

After that, we lapse back into silence. Besides the uncomfortable quiet around us, and the glances in my direction, it’s easy to block it out and enjoy the second half of the game.

That is, until Theo catches sight of someone.

“Shit,” Caleb growls. He looks back at Eli, who’s two rows up.

They’ve both straightened in their seats.

“Who is he?—”

Theo lurches down the bleachers. He strides straight toward the Lion’s Head side.

Caleb’s hand twitches against my shoulder.

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