Page 132 of Wicked Dreams

I grab our bags from my gym locker and pass Riley’s back to her. We walk out, and I grind to a halt when I register who’s waiting for us.

Caleb.

“Skipping class, baby?” He pouts. “Without me?”

Riley edges around us, shooting me an apologetic look. “Talk to you later.”

Leaving me alone with the devil.

“I had somewhere to be.” I dig my pass out of my pocket. “It’s fine anyway.”

“Ooh, a pass. Riley’s librarian cousin, no doubt.”

I blink at him. He appears relaxed, but I feel the tension between us.

He’spissed, but he’s hiding it well. After days of nothing, this is what I get?

“How do you know Amy is her?—”

“Cousin?” He lifts one shoulder. “It’s no secret.”

I glare at him. He doesn’t impede me from continuing down the hall toward Robert’s art class, however. He keeps pace with me, his hands in his pockets and bag slung over one shoulder.

“Where’d you go?” he asks.

“You really want to know?”

“Well, I’m not asking just to hear my own voice.” At the door to the spiral staircase, he holds me back. “Are you still getting picked on?”

“Are you asking because you’re concerned?” I scoff. “Yes, I’m still getting picked on. It’s every day.”

He slides his hand through my hair. “I’ve decided that the only person who can be cruel to you isme.”

“Lovely.”

How can he be so callous and turn me on at the same time? My body reacts to him like a tightly wound wire. One touch and I come alive.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he murmurs. “Wear something sexy under your clothes.”

“What’s tonight?” I follow him up the stairs. “Caleb.”

He winks. “You don’t want to tell me where you went? Two can play that game, love.”

Getting answers from him is like trying to squeeze blood from a stone. Pointless and impossible. He ignores the questions I pepper him with when Robert is preoccupied, and we fall silent when Robert peers over our shoulders at our progress on our end-of-the-semester project.

Caleb approaches Robert near the end of class. They talk in hushed tones, but I can’t make out Caleb’s question. Only the reply, which seems to come with apprehension.

“I’ll need to speak with my wife,” Robert tells him.

Caleb returns to his seat and smirks at me.

“What was that about?” I whisper.

“Nothing to worry about,” he says. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

The bell cuts off any further interrogation. Caleb slides off his stool and strides out the door, leaving me behind. No backward glance, no hovering like the last week. He’s just…poof. Gone.

Robert clears his throat. “Ready?”

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