Page 45 of Malicious Intentions

Trent levels me with a look, his smile fading. “Being her professor is risky. You need to be careful. If Lexi squeals and the university launches an investigation?—”

“She won’t. One, she likes the things I do to her too much. And two, I’m holding my dad’s wallet over her head. She knows he’ll revoke funding, and she’ll be kicked off campus.” I grab my mouthguard. “Since her mom sold her childhood home, she’d have no one else to go but to live with my father and her mother. She likes that idea as much as the thought of walking over hot coals.”

He lets out a whistle as he grabs his mouthguard. “You have her over a barrel.”

I wink. “I know.”

Trent bounces on his feet, warming up before we spare. “She has a mask kink, huh?”

A glimmer of satisfaction rolls through me. “Big time. All that time I spent studying her on socials and checking out her Netflix and Amazon movie collections paid off.”

“I bet she’d love that corn maze in Monroe.”

“Bet she would. She’d love Ghostface chasing her through the stalks. She enjoys him pursuing her in the woods.”

Plans circle inside my head. I should take her there. We’d have a helluva time.

“The lengths you go to, Evan.” Trent smiles before he puts his mouthpiece in.

“I’m nothing if not thorough.” I slip my mouthpiece in, and we begin dancing around one another inside the ring. “Time to put up or shut up, Walsh.”

“Careful what you wish for, Whitmore.” He swings, but I jerk my head away before he connects. It throws him off balance slightly, and I capitalize, my fist connecting with his cheek.

“Come on, Trent. You need to fight better than this if you’re gonna kick Owen’s ass.”

Rage contorts Trent’s face. “It’s on, muthafucker.”

CHAPTER 30

Evan

The wind picks up, and the leaves on the trees rustle and dance around me as I hurry along the sidewalk toward the apartment I share with Lexi. The temperature has dropped about twenty degrees from earlier, and I shiver in my gray joggers and navy tee.

When I step inside, the sight that greets me causes me to freeze, a smile curling my lips. Lexi is in the kitchen, brunette hair in a messy bun, wearing a pair of leggings and a baggy tee. Music blares from the Bluetooth speaker on the counter. Lexi shakes her hips to the beat, then sings into the wooden spoon she’s using to stir the sauce.

Closing the door behind me, I set my gym and laptop bag down and move to the kitchen. Leaning my shoulder against the doorway, I fold my arms over my chest, taking it all in.

Lexi spins and shimmies her hips. Then, she picks up the pasta fork and stirs the noodles, bobbing her head to the beat. Setting the utensil down, she grabs the strainer behind her and jerks to a stop when she sees me.

The strainer hits the floor as she jumps.

“Jesus Christ, Evan.” Her hand flies to her chest, covering her heart.“You scared the shit outta me. I didn’t know youwere here.” She pivots, heading to her phone and lowering the volume.

“By all means, continue. I’m enjoying the show.”

She sticks her tongue out, then bends over and retrieves the strainer from the floor. “Great. Now I need to wash this.” Her eyes move to the stove, taking in the mess around the pan. “Oh, shit. The sauce.”

Pushing off the doorway, I stalk to where she stands. “Let me help you.”

“I’ve got it,” she snaps, stepping around me and moving to the sink.

I stir the sauce and taste it, ensuring it’s warm enough. Removing it from the heat, I stir the pasta before coming up behind her, pinning her against the counter. “Stop being so fucking stubborn.”

Plucking the freshly washed strainer from her hands, I grab a towel and dry it.

“I could’ve done that.”

My smile is smug. “You’re cute when you’re angry.”

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