Page 50 of Snake

Nim

“Ican’t believe it’s almost here.” Romi spins around to face me. “Aren’t you excited?”

“Hmm?” I reluctantly focus on her instead of out the window. It started snowing a few hours after my encounter with the Serpents in the alcove earlier today. It’s like I’m living in some kind of magical wonderland. It’s cheesy as hell, I know, but I can’t help it.

I can still feel Knox’s tongue down there.

Silas’s finger stroking and teasing me back there.

And dear God, Mason…?

I’m supposed to be furious at them. Fuck it, I should have been to see the dean already. But…

“Nim!”

“What?” I sound breathless and more than a little defensive, like my roommate has somehow developed the power to read minds.

“Have you never seen snow?” she teases.

“I have,” I tell her dreamily. “But it’s so much prettier here.”

She narrows her eyes at me and puts down the book she’d been reading. We’re close enough to the TV that I can watch the movie, but far away enough that we’re not surrounded by girls.

“What’s up with you?”

I toss a piece of popcorn into my mouth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I try to keep my voice casual, but Romi’s on to me.

“What happened? Did theydo something to you again?”

I haven’t told her about Lorenzo, or the conversation I had with the Serpents this morning. Before, I thought it was because I’d rather save it all for when we could talk things through…but now I’m wondering if it’s because I didn’t want her changing my mind.

Her eyes become slits. “No, it can’t be that. You wouldn’t be in such a good mood.”

“Quiet. I’m trying to watch the movie.”

She snorts at me. “No you’re not. You’ve been staring out that window for half an hour.”

I cock an eyebrow. “The only way you’d know that is if you were watching me, creepazoid.”

She tilts her head. “I’m worried about you.”

“Because I’m happy?” I try to sound offended, but my voice falls flat when I realize I am happy.

How messed up am I? It doesn’t matter how good those three guys made me feel today. I can’t forget what they did. How they treated me.

But it makes it easier, doesn’t it?

I won’t lie. I’m seriously attracted to them. All of them. Which is reprehensible. Whoever heard of a girl dating three guys at once? I’m sure it’s happened, of course, but in what universe are the guys okay with that? Especially someone like Mason. He’s the most jealous of all of them…except, he wasn’t exactly fending off Knox and Silas with his fists.

I’m sure he’d have preferred me all to himself, though. Unless he was happy for them to be involved.

I was, for some fucked up reason.

“...are you even listening?”

“Yes.” I turn back to Romi and purse my lips into a cheeky smile. “No, sorry. What were you saying?”

“Did they ask you properly, yet? You know it doesn’t count unless you get coal.”

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