Page 115 of Brutal Prince

Briar

Ismile to myself as Indi takes her seat in Psych, looking flustered as fuck. Would never have thought a simple invitation to have lunch would have put such uncertainty in those green eyes of hers, but I guess there’s a lot I don’t know and can’t fathom about her. Like how on earth she thinks her attempts at playing dumb are going unnoticed.

It’s hilarious that she thinks fluttering her eyelashes at me will make me forget who she’s friends with, or how much I’ve told her. How much she knows.

I don’t get the point of this elaborate cat and mouse game, but I’m willing to play along until I grow bored enough to end it. And since I can’t get hold of Addison, Indi might be the only way I can figure out how damning the evidence is against me.

I watch her through the rest of the lesson, and from the way she keeps squirming and doing her best not to look around, I know I’m getting under her skin.

I don’t want to chat with her in class, not unless I know a teacher won’t interrupt us, but it’s taking everything I have to keep my cool until lunch.

By the time that bell rings, I feel ready to run a goddamn marathon. I throw my stuff in my locker, watching for Indi to come down the hall, but I don’t see her. I linger for a minute or two, and then head for the cafeteria.

Fuck it, I’ll wait for her there.

Ten minutes into lunch, it’s obvious she’s not coming.

Chicken shit little bitch. Honest to God, I didn’t peg her for such a coward.

“…haven’t R.S.V.P.’d, Briar?”

My attention swarms back to the present as I turn blank eyes to Dylan. “What?”

“My party, man. You gotta like—” Dylan waves a hand “—RSVP and shit.”

I almost roll my eyes, but manage to stop myself. He always takes these things too damn seriously. “Yeah, don’t think I’ll make it.”

“What? Why?”

I shrug, and start scanning the cafeteria again.

“Looking for someone?” Marcus asks. I glance over at him, and then down at his food. He hasn’t touched it and, judging from the way he’s toying with his fork, there are no immediate plans in his future involving the consumption of that congealing Al Fredo.

I shrug. “Wondering if Addison was gonna show.”

I’d texted him earlier about Addy’s new message, but he’d never even responded. Maybe he meant what he’d said about letting me sort my own shit out. I’d hate to have to remind him that what he did, he did on his volition. He’s been in a pissy mood again lately. Could be more shit at home — wouldn’t surprise me in the least. I have a feeling if I ask after his dad he’ll just fly off the handle. I don’t want to straight-up invite him for a sleepover — we’re fucking dudes, we don’t do that shit — but he needs to know he’s welcome to crash, even if we’re spitting mad at each other.

“Wanna get a drink this afternoon?”

Marcus shrugs, and eventually gives up on his food. He pushes away his tray and leans back, stretching as he surveys the cafeteria. “Sure, why not.”

I slap him on his shoulder, and he gives me a vague smile.

Well, since my little virgin decided to abscond, I might as well dig in to my sandwich. There’s one bite gone when everyone around me suddenly goes quiet.

I finish chewing, swallow, and turn in my seat.

Indi’s standing a few feet behind my side of the bench, her eyes flittering across all the guys seated around me.

Chicks are trouble, so I don’t make a habit of keeping company with them anymore.

Until now.

Until Indi.

I’m breaking all my fucking rules for her, and I still have no idea why. She’s a liar, friend of the enemy…and the most interesting person I’ve ever met.

Even now, inches shorter than every guy at this table, completely out of her element, there’s nothing approaching uncertainty in her eyes. Instead, she’s looking at my crew like she’s trying to pinpoint who will crack the first joke at her expense, and take him to task before he opens his mouth.

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