Page 35 of Caged in Flames

Patting his chest, I start to pull away. "Alright, G-man. I was hoping you would spend some time with my g-spot, but I can settle down."

He licks his lips like he’s trying to soak up the taste of our kiss before leaning back into me and kissing my forehead. "I want that too, Nix. Fuck. Alright, let me walk you to your door so I can go back to my room for a cold shower."

He holds my hand again and leads me back to my room. Then he gives me one more sweet, slow kiss that melts my brain. And my panties. When he walks away, I can't help but watch him. Every black booted step turns me into a puddle as I lean against my door and sigh loud enough for him to turn his head. He laughs but keeps walking. "See you tomorrow, sweetness."

Fucking swoon.

The anonymity provided to me because of how self-obsessed my entitled classmates are is expected, but still somewhat shocking. Not one of them remembers the girl they helped break.

As much as I like the opportunity to start over, it’s pretty fucking sad that they have their heads so far up their own asses that they haven’t noticed. Unless they are tearing down people they consider beneath them for their own entertainment, they pay no attention.

I really was just trash them. Once I was taken out, I was nothing to worry about anymore.

Monday morning, Gunner and I are settled against the lockers talking about our calculus homework as he twirls my hair. I'm just about to ask him if he wants to go find some coffee with me, because one cup wasn't enough today, when a voice interrupts us.

"Hey, aren't you two new here?" How does a voice get that shrill? Do rich girls take lessons in this?

Fucking Molly Vandenberg. Typical mean girl. She and her muppet friends were all aboard the bully train back in sophomore year. I'm pretty sure she thought that making me miserable was her ticket into Charlie's bed. I don't know which one I pity more for keeping company with the other.

Nope. Not playing nice with this cunt. Not interested. "Something like that." I tell her this in the most monotone voice I can manage.

"Well, I'm Molly." She plasters on the fakest show of teeth before her attention fully settles on Gunner. I wonder if she paid for that display. There’s no way even braces could make teeth that shiny and straight.

"Awesome. Bye, Molly." Gunner raises a brow at my tone. He should know I wouldn't treat just anyone like this. The quirk of his mouth tells me that he gets it. The boys aren't the only people that I have a history within these halls.

Her plastic nose crinkles at my brush off. "Wait, what? You're Phoenix Carter, right?" She barely looks at me when she asks, her eyes still devouring the guy in front of her. "And Gunner Wright?"

"That’s us.” I confirm for her.

She tosses her hair over her shoulder before running her eyes up and down Gunner's body. When they make their way back up to his face, she gives him the sluttiest smile I've ever seen.

Can a smile be slutty? If so, Molly probably created the move.

Oh, hell no.

"If you need help getting the lay of the land, be sure to let me know. Okay, Gunner?" Then she has the audacity to put her hand on his arm. Rubbing it up and down.

This time when I see red, I know it's anger. Maybe a little bit of jealousy.

"Alright, Maxine. Don't touch people without their permission. Thanks for the offer, but we're good here." I’m practically growling at her, but I don’t fucking care.

She does the stupid mean girl hair toss again with her free hand, because she still hasn’t moved her hand off of Gunner’s arm. "Excuse me? It's Molly, and I was just being friendly."

She says friendly. I hear floozy.

"Yeah, well if he wants chlamydia, I'm sure he knows who to call." Do I realize I’m being a little bit psycho? Yes. Does it stop me? No.

Gunner chokes on his laughter and removes her hand off of him. "Thanks, Nix. I thought I smelled desperation, but it must be a side effect of the clap. Nice to meet you, Megan, but I’m not interested."

I cackle at his words, but I’m relieved he’s not put off by my behavior. He wraps his arm around my shoulders. "Let's go get you another coffee, baby."

He's claiming me, too. And he said coffee. True love might not be a fantasy after all.

We leave Molly sputtering her nonsense defenses behind us. "I do not have chlamydia. And my name is Molly." She shouts at us like we care, but we’re already down the hall. Lucky for me, there were still plenty of people around to hear her.

A locker slams in the background, startling me from my laughter. When I look back, my eyes catch on angry green irises before Charlie narrows his eyes at the arm resting off my shoulder before he turns and walks the other direction.

Nope. I do not have any fucks to give regarding what has his panties in a bunch.

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