Page 55 of Heart of Thorns

She jerks her head up, her eyes narrowing—then, shockingly, softening.

“Hey, kitten.” I smirk. “How was class?”

“Fine…” She glances around. “What are you doing?”

“I figured I’d walk you to your next one. Or lunch, if you’re free.” Because I don’t have her class schedule memorized…yet.

She nods once. “I don’t have class until three.”

I can’t stop the bright smile that takes over my face. I grab her bag and sling it over my shoulder, then offer my hand.

She takes it, and I gently help her to her feet. And I keep the hand, just because she lets me.

That lasts until we get into the hallway, anyway, and come face-to-face with Ben and Rhys. While my best friend isn’tholdingBen, in the physical way that I was hoping for, he does seem to be doing his best effort to keep him distracted.

“Patterson.” My voice comes out like a whip, and Briar immediately stops in her tracks.

My teammate glances from Rhys to me, and his expression flattens.

“Show him what we found,” I tell Rhys.

“What are you doing?”

“Making a point.” I squeeze her hand.

Rhys shows Ben his phone, and he goes still.

“That goes public if you so much aspeekat Briar again,” I tell him. “No glances. No stopping to check up on her. Those days were over the moment you fucked her over.”

He looks from me to Rhys, then back again. “What is this, some sort of shakedown? You want to blackmail me?”

I release Briar’s hand and get up in his space. It takes a lot of effort to leave my hands by my sides instead of balling my fists in his shirt. Slamming him into the wall would probably feel real fucking good.

“What do you think Coach would say about your flagrant cheating? We have a code of ethics, Patterson. And honestly, I’d love nothing more than to see you kicked off the team. But since you’re good at your fucking job, you get one more chance.” I stare him down.

Finally, his gaze shifts away. “Okay, fucking hell. Fine.”

I smile.

We watch him walk away, and I turn back to Briar, expecting her to be furious with me.

Because I didn’t do itforher—I did it because of her. Because of the gleam in her eye. Although I highly doubt she’ll see it that way.

Instead, she seems…gleeful. “What the hell did you find to make him shake in his boots like that?”

I lift one shoulder. “Just proof that he pays someone to write his papers. His GPA sucked freshman year, but it got better. Now we know why.”

“Holy shit. Do you think he’ll leave me alone?” She bounces on her heels, then winces. Then smiles.

A true smile.

“I think he likes football enough to not test me.”

I hold out my hand again. She takes it, and I reel her in.

There are plenty of people around. Plenty of witnesses.

It seems only right to kiss her in this moment.

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