Page 35 of Wicked Games

They all know I’m in no mood to be nice.

My bad mood isn’t infectious, but it sure does stink. That’s what Theo told me approximately ten minutes ago while I waited for Margo to return to sanity. And by sanity, I mean to stop this fucking avoidance bullshit.

Riley is here, which leaves me clueless to Margo’s whereabouts. Riley’s phone chimes, and my head automatically turns.

She glances from Eli to me, then frowns.

“What is it?” I snap.

She flinches.

I snatch her phone away.

Margo: Robert took me home.

I growl under my breath and slide her phone back.

“Dude,” Eli says. “Not cool.”

“What’s not fucking cool is this cat-and-mouse game Margo’s playing.” I stand, my attention tripping over Amelie again. Her lips are curled in a shit-eating grin—which means she’s probably up to something.

I head toward her.

She stands and meets me halfway, running her finger down my chest.

I grab her wrist, squeezing hard enough to send a message.Don’t fucking touch me.

“You like using girls?” There’s a slight shake to her voice. “I told her where the text came from.”

The text… the only text of consequence would be the one Savannah sent me about Ian and her. And even then, it came far too late for me to protect her.

I should’ve told Margo that, but I decided to keep it to myself. I keep a lot of things close to the vest—sue me.

Whatever Sav wanted to imply by telling me Margo and Ian were absconding to the woods, her message wasn’t received. Ian and Margo aren’t having some affair—I never would’ve assumed that. And hehurther. I’m inclined to break his jaw just thinking about it, but hockey is on the line.

Still, I drop Amelie’s arm like burning coal. “Are you trying to make your life miserable?”

Savannah isn’t at the cheerleaders’ table. While her supposed best friend throws her under the bus, she’s nowhere to be found.

Interesting.

“I had to,” Amelie argues. “She’s finally standing up to you?—”

“You know nothing,” I growl.

Margo standing up to me—my blood runs hot. Hotter anyway. I couldn’t have possibly predicted that I wouldlikeher fire. But damn it, I do. She ignores me? It’s only going to make me hold on to her harder. She fights me? I’ll fight back dirtier.

I brush past Amelie, more than done with this conversation.

“Where are you going?” she calls after me.

She and I both know the text about Margo and Ian didn’t originate with Savannah. Whatever games they’re playing, I can do better.

And so can Margo.

I’m halfway down the hall when Coach Marzden steps out. He takes one look at me and scowls.

“Asher. Come with me.”

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