Page 40 of Deceit

“I’m Jeremy, what’s your name?” he smiles down at her.

“Skyla.”

“I’m Maggie in case you were wondering, Stroughton,” her friend scoffs.

Jeremy laughs and looks at Maggie.

“Hey, Bartlett.”

His attention quickly shifts back to Skyla.

“Are you doing anything tonight?”

I frown as she tilts her head in interest.

“Not really, why?”

“I was hoping you’d do me the honor of letting me take you out.”

Skyla grins, a smile that pisses me the fuck off. A smile that is obviously only reserved for me, or at least it should be.

“I’m not sure that would be such a good idea. Doesn’t the whole me being engaged thing kind of make me off limits?”

Jeremy’s head moves down to her bare hand before he winks.

“I don’t see a ring.”

She laughs at that. “You know what, sure. Why not?”

“Yeah?” he grins.

Skyla nods, causing my blood to turn boiling hot as he winks at her and makes plans to pick her up at seven tonight. When he walks away, I start moving towards her. I couldn’t stop myself if I wanted to and before I know it, I’m barreling right into her.

My hand reaches out, gripping the crook of her elbow as I wordlessly pull her down the courtyard and into the pool building, not giving a fuck about the confused look on her friend’s face.

“Ow! What the hell, Ronan?” she whispers vehemently.

I don’t speak though. I continue pulling her down the hallway, past the pool and into my office. I release her roughly as soon as we are inside and slam the door shut, before bracing my arms on either side of the door. She stands there silently, thank fuck, because I don’t even know how to control my breathing right now.

Eventually she speaks, and it sets me right the fuck off.

“Ronan, what the hell was that?”

I spin on my heel, eating up the distance between us, my eyes widening with rage. She takes a few startling steps backwards, before her ass bumps against my desk. I cage her in, forcing her to not place a single toe away from me as I speak.

“You agreed to go out with him,” I fume.

Her brows dip before realization dawns on her perfect face.

“Were you watching me?”

“Fuck yes I was. How can I not? You’re everywhere. In my pool, my school, my bar, my brother’s home, my fucking head!” I snap.

Her frown softens a bit at that, as well as her voice.

“I didn’t think anyone would care. Asher obviously doesn’t and—”

“I do. I care, a whole fucking lot,” I snarl.

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