Page 20 of Caught Stealing

“Only in Hell,” I whisper, just for his ears, before rising to my full height.

Not giving him a chance to make another comment, I drop the remnants of my lunch in the trash and push through the exit, needing the fresh air and space from Holden and Kason and this entirely fucked situation I’ve found myself in.

The cool Chicago wind hits me the second I step outside, yet it does nothing to temper the anger bubbling inside me.

“Fucking asshole,” I curse under my breath as I storm off toward the lecture hall.

More than anything, I wish I could just ignore him. Pretend he doesn’t get under my skin or irritate me to the levels he does. Life would surely be a lot simpler if that were the case.

But I can’t.

I can’t ignore him and pretend he’s not the most irritating person I’ve ever met. So at this point, the only thing Icando is try limiting the amount of time I’m around him.

Like that’s possible if he and Kason are seeing each other.

Just thinking about the two of them getting closer and Holden spending more time infiltrating the dynamic between Kason and me only serves to frustrate me even more.

I shove open the door to the lecture hall with far more force than necessary, wracking my brain for some sort of solution. A circumstance where Kason would finally see what’s in front of him—and that he can do far,farbetter than the one-and-done king on campus. But the more I think on it, the more I realize the only way it would happen is if Holden starts severely screwing shit up. Something he’s made very clear is not happening if he can help it.

Unless I make it so hecan’thelp it.

Ideas swirl in my brain as I slide into my seat, and I start silently working out the details and logic behind them. And as ‘Operation Cock Block’ takes form, I figure the likelihood of pulling it off and also having the desired effect are highly,highlyprobable.

Movement out of my periphery causes my gaze to slide over to the aisle, and I watch as more people file in for the lecture—Holden being one of them. He catches me staring at him within seconds of entering the room, his eyes staying locked with mine as he closes the space between us.

He’s barely dropped into the seat on my right when I turn to him and ask, “What time are you supposed to be picking up Kason?”

A crease crinkles his forehead. “Seven-thirty.”

Not long after practice ends, giving him maybe…forty minutes to shower, change, and make it to our apartment.

Perfect.

“Okay,” is all I give him for a response, but it’s not enough for Holden.

His imploring eyes analyze my face before they narrow on me. “Why are you asking?”

I offer him a sardonic smirk before lacing my tone with the perfect amount of malice. “Just making sure I’m not there to watch.”

A soft snort leaves him as he pulls out a notebook and pen from his bag, though I’ve witnessed firsthand that he has no intention of using either. “Remember that thing I said about jealousy?”

“Remember that thing I said about not giving a fuck?” I counter, brow hitching up. My quick reply and sharp attitude must surprise him, though, because he doesn’t respond.

Good.

“That’s what I thought,” I mutter before pulling my phone out and feigning disinterest.

He drops it, though I can still feel the weight of his stare on the side of my face—much like back at lunch. Only this time, I don’t let it bother me. Instead, it acts as fuel as all the pieces of my plan start coming together.

I have no idea how to pull this off without being caught—by Holden or anyone else.

But shit, it’s worth a shot.

Seven

Phoenix

“Would you just sit down?” I mutter from my spot on the couch where I’m attempting to study, all by my lonesome, thanks to Kason’s last-minute cancellation. “Your pacing is making it hard to focus.”

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