Page 36 of Consume Me

When we finish eating, we all part, going to classes.

Walking in a line with the girls, Abigail elbows me playfully. “What was that at the table?”

I shrug. I honestly have no idea.

“Blake cares about you. I don’t know why he doesn’t make a move, though,” Celine says.

“We need to earn his trust. I need to know what happened to him,” Abi says.

Yes, she and I both.

Bailey stiffens next to us. She’s aware of more than she’s letting on, but she’s loyal. I’d rather he confides in me, but I doubt that will ever happen.

“So how was your date?” Abi asks.

I groan. “He kept babbling about his family name.”

“What is it?” Both Celine and Abigail ask.

“Theo Graham the third.”

We all giggle. “But anyway, I pretended to be more interested than I was until Blake put an end to it by hitting him in the face. Blake had the nerve to tell me he’d allow me to date the guy who fights him and wins.”

“You’re going to die a virgin,” Bailey says, completely serious.

“Blake will take care of that,” Abi says, and I blush a fiery red. The thought heats my skin like nothing else.

“So we either find someone suicidal enough or you wear him down,” Celine says.

We all stop walking, and she continues, “I mean, not realizing that was what Kaden and I did with every fight. I don’t recommend our strategy, but Blake is stubborn, so maybe make him jealous enough.”

“I don’t want to drag innocent guys into the middle of this.”

“They’re not so innocent. Please, they’d like to fuck you, so they should work for it,” Abi says.

“But it’s like going up against a damn machine,” I say, voice tinged with resignation.

“Dane did the same. No wonder I stood no chance with him,” she says, sighing dreamingly.

I fix her with an intent look. “Yes, because your Dane is mad when it comes to you.”

“We shouldn’t settle for anything but guys who are crazy about us,” Bailey says.

She is the first to leave, heading to the media department. As she walks away, we all glance at each other.

“Kaden told me that Bailey asked Blake to teach her how to fight, but Hunter offered instead.”

“I love you, but if he hurts her, I will kill your twin,” Abi tells me.

“I don’t understand him anymore.”

“She’s someone who intrigues him. And let’s be honest, Hunter never had to fight for anyone,” Celine says.

“I am more afraid things will get even worse between them.”

They nod. I love my brother, but my mom’s death changed him, and every year in high school, he became more silent. Silent people tend to hide things, and he would never confide in me. I fear he’ll take out all his frustration and bottled-up emotions on Bailey.

We head to our classes, and the professor drones on about the reforms in the educational system throughout the years, but I struggle to stay focused. I can’t stop thinking about what the girls said. If I push and push, Blake will snap. And then what? I am a mess, and he just kissed me. I will combust if more happens, but apparently, I want to burn.

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