Page 281 of Tis the Season to be Bullied

My mind races back to everything I heard Briar and Marcus discussing last night at the church. Is her family’s business really in jeopardy? She never said she was having problems?—

What, in the handful of days you’ve known her? Shocking how private people can be about money.

I laugh quietly at myself as I head for Psychology. I’m so lost in my own thoughts, it takes me a full minute to realize someone’s following me like a second shadow.

When I glance over my shoulder, Briar gives me one of his smirky grins. “What up, Angel?”

I face forward and speed up, but I’m a cat trying to outrun a cheetah. Briar skips ahead and stops in front of me. When I tryto detour around him, he slides an arm out to stop me. When I try to go the other way, he does the same with his other arm.

Boxing me in with my back to the wall.

Students stream past, and none of them seem the least bit interested in my predicament.

“What do you want?” I ask, and realize my voice isn’t anything approaching sexy or seductive, which is a problem. I don’t have enough information to change tactics, not yet. Until I can get hold of Addy again, I have to keep up pretenses. I try fluttering my lashes, but I’m not sure if it works.

Briar leans in a little. “You’re joining me for lunch.”

I tamp down an automatic protest, and give him a coquettish smile. “Oh, sure. Wonderful.”

His smile cracks a bit, but then he hitches it up even higher. He grabs my chin, tilts my head back, and plants a chaste kiss on my mouth.

Even that brief contact ignites my body like a fourth of July firework special.

I’m still blinking at his retreating form when I realize I must look like a complete moron, and push away from the wall.

Lunch. Perfect. I can study Briar in his natural environment, perhaps figure out who else in his crooked brood may have had a part in Jessica’s murder.

I hardly feel stoned anymore, but as I’m about to step into Psych, I feel eyes on me again.

I want to dismiss it as paranoia, but it’s too strong. I pause outside the class, take a step back to study the number above the door as if checking if I’m at the right class. Then I slowly pan my gaze left and right, taking another step back.

I don’t think my theatrics fool Marcus though. For one, he doesn’t seem to care that I know he’s watching me.

Secondly, when our eyes lock, he gives me a smile that makes my skin crawl. He purses his lips and pantomimes a kiss before turning on his heel and walking away.

I’m so shocked I can’t move.

What the hell was that? Why would he?—?

A hand closes on my shoulder. I gasp and whirl around in fright.

Mr. Veroza studies me. When he opens his mouth, I’m sure it’s to ask how my relationship with my father was.

“Class has begun, Ms. Virgo.”

I nod and hurry inside. As I turn to take my seat, my eyes just happen to lock with Briar’s.

No, it wasn’t an accident. He was glaring at the door, waiting for me to come in.

And when I sit, I can still feel his eyes on me.

Why do I suddenly regret poking the tiger?

Chapter Twenty-Six

Briar

I smile 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.

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