Page 142 of Seeds of Malice

I should take advantage of the situation with this new coed. He's right. It's power we don't have that will reap long-term benefits.

I get out of the shower, and there are several texts.

Ivy: Please don't be mad at me. I love you. I promise you I'll talk to him this week like we discussed.

Bobby: Don't go soft on me, Dax. You'll regret it for the rest of your life if you don't take advantage of what's in front of you.

I stare at both text messages. Guilt fills me, and I realize I'm letting Ivy get under my skin.

She's a pawn in a game, nothing more,I tell myself.

Bobby's right. I'll always regret it if I don't take advantage of this Lilly situation.

Me: Put it in motion.

22

Ivy

"That's not a bug bite," my father roars.

My gut drops.

Dax: I'll be there in five minutes to pick you up.

I quickly reply to Dax's message.

Me: You can't. You know I have to talk to my father first. I'll see you at school. Do not come here.

I put the phone in my pocket. My nerves are shot. Who knows what my father will do if Dax shows up right now.

"Ivy," Dad seethes.

I turn back toward my father, lying, "It is a spider bite. It was worse earlier this week, and I couldn't stop scratching it."

He scowls, pointing at my neck. "That's a hickey, not a bug bite. Stop lying!"

"It's not a hickey," I reiterate, covering it up and trying not to wince. More heat burns my cheeks.

Dax sucked on my neck all week. I loved every minute of his lips consuming me, and I never worried about my father seeing it. He was out of sight, out of mind, and all I could think about was Dax.

When my father got home last night, I was in bed. It was late when he popped his head inside my bedroom door to tell me he was back. So it was only this morning when I got out of the shower and panicked.

It doesn't help that we're getting abnormal weather for the end of summer. It'll be almost 100 degrees today, so wearing anything but a tank top is out of the question. I tried to put makeup on the bruise, but it wouldn't fully cover it.

The moment I walked out of the bedroom, it was like my father had a sixth sense. He homed right in on my neck, and a chill ran down my spine.

"I'm going to be late for my first day of classes. We need to go," I assert, grabbing my bookbag.

A loud knock tears my father's scowl off me.

I rush past him and open it. Shocked, I blurt out, "Avery, what are you doing here?"

She's wearing a designer sundress and heels, nothing I'd ever contemplate wearing to class. But then again, I've dressed differently this last week, wearing all the things Dax bought me.Even today, I'm wearing one of the new tank tops and shorts he selected.

Avery beams, chirping, "I came to pick you up, silly. Didn't you get my text?"

My pulse skyrockets. I tug out my phone and glance at the screen. There's nothing from her, but it's not surprising. I've never given her my number.

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