Page 76 of Consume Me

“You’re one stubborn asshole, but I still have a little hope.”

“Yes, what would that be?”

He stares at me with an all-knowing expression that pisses me off.

“You’ll find out when you stop being a blind idiot.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t know. Just imagine Mia with someone else… like Tyson.”

I gnash my teeth, and the asshole smirks, getting the reaction he wanted from me. Storming out of the house, I walk to the main campus, hoping the icy air will cool me down.

Brushing the snow from my jacket, I go to my first class and see Tyson leaning against a wall next to Mia’s classroom. A murderous energy courses through me, making me want to bash his head into the wall until his skull shatters. He pushes off, and we stride toward each other.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I spit.

“Wanting to see how my girlfriend is doing.”

He has a death wish that I am itching to scratch for him. “Call Mia that again, and I will fucking obliterate you.”

“It was a tie. I am up to finishing the fight whenever you want.”

“Fine, this Friday. And then you’ll stay away from her.”

“What if she wants me?”

“You’re fucking suicidal, but I can grant you your death wish if you insist.”

Something catches his attention. I look to see what it is and see his sister.

“If you ever let Mia come inside your house again, I will do the same with Ivy. Don’t play this game with me.”

“If you ever go close to Ivy, you’ll be dead.” His chest heaves, features pulled taut.

“Sure.”

I strut away, feeling better. After this Friday, I will make sure no other motherfucker will dare come close to Mia ever again. She’s fucking mine.

That thought helps me pay better attention in class. When I return, the house is silent. I don’t like that. My mind goes to this dark place, where all my regrets are ready to jump on me, going straight for the jugular. It always puts me in a sour mood.

Needing to dispel some pent-up energy before I head to her room, I go to the gym only to find the guys there.

I jerk my chin in a greeting. “Where are the girls?”

“At a coffee shop on the main campus,” Kaden answers.

“Unsupervised?” I ask, forgetting all about the need to beat the sack.

Dane and Kaden pin me with a glare.

“Exactly. Why the fuck aren’t we there too?” Hunter asks. His siding with me on this topic comes as a major surprise.

“Because they need a bit of normalcy,” Dane says.

“We can all act normal when the danger passes,” I grumble.

“Both of you stay here and wait for them to return,” Kaden says to Hunter and me, taping his hands with gauze.

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