Page 54 of Wicked Dreams

We don’t speak for the rest of class—clearly, I’m no good to him once he gets what he wants—and he leaves as soon as the last bell rings.

Luckily, there are two days before the first hockey game of the year. That’s plenty of time to get Caleb to change his mind. Or convince Riley to skip altogether…

I’m the last person to clean her station. And Caleb’s, too, since he hightailed it out of here without doing a damn thing.

When I’m done, I stop at Robert’s desk. He’s all done, too, sitting with his leather briefcase closed on top of the desk. He’s typing on his phone and belatedly looks up at me.

“I’m not sure I’m getting the hang of this painting thing,” I blurt out. “And being paired with Caleb…”

Robert sighs. “We’ve known Caleb’s family for years. He may come off strong, but he’s a good guy. I wouldn’t let you be paired up with him if I didn’t truly believe that.”

Of course he’s already won them over. I haven’t even had a chance to make a case. And yet, this has been years in the making, and the unfortunate luck of my foster placement.

“He wants me to go to the game,” I say. “The hockey game.”

He brightens. “That’s fantastic, honey.”

Snakes writhe in my belly. I can’t answer and ruin his delight, just as he thinks I’m making more friends. Becoming social. Whatever his and Lenora’s expectations are for me… I am going to disappoint them.

There’s no way around it.

He and I walk to his car together.

“What time is he picking you up?” Robert asks. “The game is Friday night, right?”

“You’re on board with him taking me, even though he got into a fight?”

“Boys do that. Especially over girls.” He lifts a shoulder. “He shows good judgment other than the occasional tussle.”

Jesus.

If he knew what Caleb did in my room, I doubt he’d be so blasé.

Or…

I don’t know. Perhaps he’s not as invested as I’m making him out to be. Like, if I bring home a drug dealer boyfriend, they might welcome him the same as they would Caleb or a science geek.

I ponder that, plus Robert’s words. Boys fight—especially over girls.

It wasn’t over me, though. It happened right after class with me, but they didn’t even talk. And I haven’t spoken to Liam at all. He’s acted like I was invisible this whole time—which is fine by me.

But if we’re in the spirit of making Caleb angry… angry enough to fight and get suspended from the hockey team… Maybe that’s the angle I need to take. Get on his nerves by going after one of his friends.

Not Eli, of course. He seems to have something going on with Riley, even if she hardly knows. He’s usually cold toward her, but suddenly he’s offering to take her to the game? Unless Caleb asked him to do it to separate Riley and me.

Anyway. Theo is scary. Of the four, I’d go so far as to say he’s the most sinister of them. He barely speaks, never so much as looks at me. It’s like there’s a firestorm in his chest, and he’s just waiting for the perfect person to unleash it on. Inner demons, who?

I shiver at the thought.

That leaves Liam—the one Caleb got into a fight with, as a matter of fact.

Perfect. Unless Liam was bad-mouthing me, then I risk supreme embarrassment by going to him.

How much do I want to piss off Caleb?

All the way.

Resolved, I form a plan in my mind.

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