Page 18 of Soul of a Psycho

He pulls his bottom lip in between his teeth, and for a second I think he’s going to lean down. But the bite turns rough, angry, and then he looks away.

I’m left with my own lips throbbing, wishing I could have been the one to feel that bite, as he walks behind the counter. I’ve never been left so wanting in my life. I would die to taste his malice, his darkness, his—Wait, what is he doing behind the counter?

“Cade!” I hiss.

“What flavor do you want?” He ignores my warning and reaches for a scooper.

“You can’t be back there!”

“You seem like a waffle cone girl. Not dipped though. Vanilla, am I right?” He pulls open the slider that encases the flavors.

I should have known this was a bad idea. I shouldn’t even be off campus, and once the police get a hold of us, I’ll beconsidered an accomplice. My father will make the trouble go away, not allowing a stain on our name, but then his punishment will be worse than any slap on the wrist.

I shake my head, feeling a sweat break out on the back of my neck. I need to leave. I can walk back. Free ice cream isn’t worth the wrath I’ll face and—

An elderly woman steps out of the back room and halts when she sees Cade. Great, we’re caught. She has curly white hair, glasses that might as well be magnifiers, and is barely tall enough to crest Cade’s waist. My first thought is that he better not hurt this old woman, but it’s quickly washed away when she raises her chin in indignation and pokes him in the back with her index finger.

“You are in trouble, mister!” she says.

“Ow!” Cade spins around at her touch. “I think you nicked a kidney.”

“Serves you right.” She jabs at him again, but it’s more in his torso than his chest, given her height, and I give her props for taking him on.

“What are you doing here?” she asks.

“Getting ice cream.” Cade waves around the scooper, and I grimace.

“Um,” I start and step forward, hoping to do some recon. I don’t know how to get out of this, but I have to try. “Ma’am, I’m so sorry. He’s really impatient and we have to get back to class. We were going to pay and…”

Cade quirks a brow at me, and I give him my best scowl, whipping my eyes to my side in a silent order to get him to come from behind the counter.

“And who’s this?” The lady puts her hands on her hips.

I open my mouth, not sure what I’m going to say, but Cade speaks over me.

“Apparently, my cohort.” There’s a light smile at the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with amusement, and I want to slap him for labeling me his accomplice. This is exactly what I didn’t want.

“So you’re both playing hooky and simultaneously trying to get my labor license revoked?” She folds her arms across her chest and levels a stare at Cade.

Oh great, I hope she doesn’t call the school. I don’t know what she’s talking about with the labor license, but I’m guessing it’s not good.

“I’m not on the clock, Rita. Don’t worry.”

I blink. What?

“You’re lucky I like you,” she says.

Double what?!

“You didn’t tell me you had a girlfriend,” she says, her features suddenly softening.

“That’s because I don’t.” Cade avoids my eyes.

“Mhm.” She winks at me.

Chapter Thirteen

Cade

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