Page 83 of Stay Toxic

“Why are you so passionate about this?” he wondered.

“It’s just heartbreaking that all of them are dying off. Cars and suburban metropolises? They’re making it impossible for them to rejuvenate their numbers. The more we build, the less they have. I guess I’m just looking to spread the awareness.”

“Roslyn has become pretty interested in the insect population herself,” he said. “I was just wondering if it was a fad that was going around the schools.”

I nearly laughed.

The reason she was interested likely had more to do with a certain boy than the insect population.

But I wouldn’t be telling him that.

I had a feeling that Roslyn’s dad was just as bad as the man standing beside me.

“Do you need to lock the door to your room?” he asked.

“Oh, yes.” I smiled and started to turn with the keys in my hand, but he caught them and walked to the door.

“If you don’t mind stepping out,” Shasha said amicably.

My gaze flicked to Rupert, who looked to be fuming, and back to Shasha, who was showing no outward signs of annoyance.

Yet, I could see the way that his veins were pulsing, indicating his heart rate was accelerated.

He was angry, all right.

That made me feel super happy, too, because I knew he was angry on my behalf.

Shasha got the door locked, and then he handed me back my keys, and the two of us left without another word to the douchebag behind us.

Of course, the day wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t see Jolessa, too.

We were almost to the double doors that would lead outside when she popped out of the office, looking angry as a hornet.

A year ago, I would’ve dropped everything—even the sexy man beside me—to find out what was going on.

Now I didn’t spare her a single glance as I headed out to the main drop-off area where the teachers parked.

Luckily being at the high school, drop off and pick up was a breeze, meaning even though it was a few minutes after the bell had just rang, almost all of the kids were gone.

There were only a few left in the corner of the stoop, blocking themselves from the rain with the small amount of roof overhang there was.

I looked at the parking lot in dismay.

“Dammit.”

I could feel his gaze on me as he said, “What?”

“I wore my UGGs today, and they’re not really supposed to get wet,” I grumbled.

Before I could comprehend what happened, I was being carried to my car, and my shoes were tucked beneath his coat, being blocked from the rain.

“I see you have doors today,” he mused.

“I didn’t when I parked this morning,” I admitted. “But my brothers know I need help putting them on, so they must’ve stolen it during the school day, taken it to Holden’s house, and put them on for me.”

“Do your brothers always take care of you so thoroughly?” he asked as he opened my Jeep door and tossed me inside.

My shoes went to the passenger seat, and then he was standing in my open Jeep door, using his big body to block the rain from entering into the cab.

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