Page 47 of Roaring Flames

Jake has had a crush on Desiree for as long as I have known him—and probably longer than that. The man has it bad.

Jake winces and rubs a hand through his sandy-blond hair. “Is there a reason why we’re mad at her?”

“It’s because she’s fucking Ethan and Emery, isn’t it?” Kain slides into the seat beside Jake with a lewd grin in my direction.

I’ve never liked Kain. There’s something about him that makes me uncomfortable. Even now, it feels like there are thousands of fire ants crawling all across my body.

“Desiree is fucking Ethan and Emery?” Jake asks, blinking.

I take a rather aggressive bite of my sandwich. “Apparently.”

Jake’s entire body sags in disappointment. I feel as if I just kicked a puppy.

“Oh.” Abruptly, anger distorts his features, and he throws a venomous look across the cafeteria. “Oh. That’s why you’re so mad, isn’t it? Because those assholes were leading you on while fucking another girl behind your back. What assholes.”

“Who are you glaring at?” Dec asks, frowning. “They aren’t even over there.”

“It’s the thought that counts.” Jake spins back around and huffs. “I can’t believe I defended those assholes.”

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter. I’m over it.” I dab at my mouth with a napkin. “It’s not like we were dating or anything.”

They are just my fated mates, apparently, who are in love with another girl.

No big deal.

Oh, and did I mention that they neglected to tell me about said mating bond?

“Listen here, and listen well,” Jake tells me seriously, once again jabbing his fork in the air for emphasis. “Guys are stupid. We think with the wrong head more often than not, and we do dumb shit ninety percent of the time.”

“Become a lesbian,” Kain says, offering me a salacious eyebrow wag that immediately turns my stomach. “Then youwon’t have to deal with men. And you can make a killing on OnlyFans.”

“Dude!” Jake shoves at Kain’s shoulder while I glare at him in disgust.

“You’re horrible.” To Jake, I ask, “Why are you friends with him?”

“I’m not.” Jake scoffs as if the prospect is ridiculous. “The fucker just refuses to leave me alone.”

“Asshole,” Kain mutters.

“Speaking of assholes…” Dec leans forward as if we’re about to exchange secrets. “I see that you’ve been hanging out with Ansel a lot.”

“First, Ansel isn’t an asshole,” I say, feeling indignation roar through me. “And second, are you stalking me?”

Jake snorts. “The gossip mills have been going crazy lately. Someone saw you leave school yesterday with him. They claim that you found a quiet place to…you know…exchange bodily fluids.”

A bark of laughter escapes me. “Exchange bodily fluids? Really?”

“Bump uglies. Do the horizontal tango. Put the pickle in the sandwich.” Jake throws his hands up in the air, exasperation clear on his face. “You know what I mean.”

“You had sex with Ansel?” Kain asks crudely, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

I pray to every god in existence for patience. Anything to keep me from decking this fucker.

Jake doesn’t have the same restraint that I do.

“Dude.” He whacks Kain across the back of the head. “Knock it the fuck off or leave. I’m serious. This is your last warning.”

Kain rubs at his head while chuckling. “Dude, chill. I was just joking.”

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