Page 41 of Whirlwind

I shake my head. “We never were. Yesterday was the first time we—” I want to say crossed a line but that isn’t really true when I think about it. “The first time we acted on anything.”

“Fin—”

“I know, it was dumb. Ryker has already made it clear he regrets what happened.”

“That man doesn’t regret it.”

I almost roll my eyes. “You’re wrong about that. After we had se—” I cut myself off with a blush, making Joey grin despite himself.

“Wait, so did you, like—do it in the tornado?”

“Joey!” I laugh. “Did you really just ask that?”

He shrugs. “It’s a valid question.”

I shake my head. “You already know the answer, so stop being a lech.”

The corner of his lip tugs up. “That’s impossible for me, but in all seriousness, he doesn’t regret it. If he did, he wouldn’t be acting like a jealous man every time I touch you or look at you. He thinks I’m flirting with you to get in your pants.”

“And you’re not?” I tease.

He chuckles. “I tried a long time ago, and you shot me down. You know I’m playing with you.”

“I know you are. But he’s right to regret it. If it got out that anything happened between us, he would lose his job, and other students will think the only reason I got this chase position is because we slept together. The last thing I want is for people to think I slept my way to the top.”

Joey takes my biceps in his hands. “When have you ever given two fucks about what people think? I call you a shark for a reason. You go after what you want and fucking kill it every time.”

I cock my head at him. “Thanks, I think?”

He shakes me a little. “Do you like Ryker?”

“Of course I like him. He’s amazing at what he does, and he’s a good professor.”

Joey gives me awhat the fuck?look. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

I groan. “I wouldn’t have slept with him if I didn’t like him.”

“Well, it’s obvious the man is obsessed with you.”

“He’s not—”

“He is.”

Joey drops his arms, and I run a frustrated hand through my hair. “None of it matters, Joey. In the end, it’s better if we keep the line between us drawn firm. We’re not on this chase to chase some tail, we’re here to chase storms. That’s what I need to focus on.”

“That last part may be true, but if you like him and want more—”

“It can’t happen.”

Joey shrugs. “Again, who says?”

“The school and, of course, Ryker.”

“Taking the school out of the equation, do you really believe that about Ryker? Especially with how he’s been acting? And don’t think I didn’t notice that new camera around your neck.”

“Did you hear our conversation?”

He smirks. “Maybe.”

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