Page 65 of Burn With Me

Aurora’s gaze lifts and meets mine as she swallows her next fry. “Don’t patronize me, Isaac,” she replies tartly. “You’re planning something. I know it.”

I grin and lean forward. “Maybe I’m planning on getting you back in my bed.”

“Maybe you are,” she agrees. “Maybe you’re just after me to piss off your father.”

I sit back again. “Eat your food, Aurora,” I command. “Let’s drop the Daddy and Mommy issues for the night, shall we?”

Her eyes bore into me as she lifts her burger to her mouth. A moment later though, as she bites down on the bun and meat, another moan lifts from her lips. Whatever thoughts she had of pressing me for more information disperses as she begins to consume her meal.

I watch her as she eats, and when our next drinks arrive and Aurora dives for her Long Island to help with the salty taste of the fries, I think that this is exactly what I wanted. Ease. Normalcy. Casual touch.

It’s only a temporary reprieve. Come tomorrow, she’ll remain suspicious of me. Come next week, I’ll still have to find an answer for Agent Brown. This won’t make our problems go away, but we can put it off for now. For this brief moment in time, I can have my date with Aurora Summers and pretend like we’re just two normal people.

30

RORI

Isaac’s plan is working. The day after our date, I can feel eyes on me. Even if I don’t have any classes with him on Tuesdays, I still feel like he’s right next to me. Even Hel and Selene notice the newfound interest everyone on campus is starting to show me.

“Just smile and pretend like you don’t see them,” Selene advises. Unlike Selene, the feeling of being stared at was one I never quite got used to, and it doesn’t make me comfortable. I can’t just “smile” and “pretend.” It bothers me, and I have no way of masking that.

As if the attention I’m garnering isn’t the worst, I get a text from my mom halfway through the day, telling me more about her plans now that she’s back in town. The last two months have seen more contact with her than I have in the last two years. She used to go months with no contact, but now it’s pictures every day. Her with Damien. Her on his yacht. Her at a fancy dinner hosted by one of Damien’s business partners. I don’t care. I don’t trust the guy. After what Marcus’ friends said about the man as well as from what I’ve learned from Isaac, I have no doubt that Damien Icari is using my mother for something nefarious—that much was clear when Marcus took me to meet his friends, but I’ve yet to figure out how to convince her of that fact. “What’s with the face?” Hel asks, sliding her tray next to mine as we suffer through the strange looks and curious whispers spreading throughout the school cafeteria.

“My mom,” I answer with a sigh, clicking the screen of my phone off without replying to her latest message.

“What’s her damage this time?” Selene asks as she takes a seat across from us.

I glance over the basket of fries sitting next to her salad. “Are you even going to eat that?” I ask, pointing at them with my fork. “I thought you said you had to diet for your next shoot.”

Selene blows out a breath. “A girl can’t live on lettuce forever,” she mutters. “I’m just going to have a few.”

Hel shakes her head. “Eat the whole thing, babe,” she advises. “I’m starting to worry.”

Selene stares longingly at the fries. “My mom said that I’m looking a bit pudgy,” she admits quietly.

I blink. “Your mom’s back in town?” Why hadn’t she said something before now?

Selene nods, continuing to eye the basket of fries. “Yeah, she was at my last shoot and she’s coming to my next one too. She said I need to be more mindful about my size since the industry is really leaning into the athletic look these days—the freshman fifteen happens to everyone and it’ll happen to me, too, if I’m not careful.”

“Selene.” Hel leans forward. “Youarecareful. Fuck—you’re the healthiest of all of us. Don’t fucking starve yourself to make your mom happy.”

“She’s just trying to look out for my career,” Selene replies quickly, pushing the fries away as she dumps a packet of light dressing over her salad. “Models are only good for a short time before companies move on to something newer and younger.”

I roll my eyes. “That’s bullshit,” I snap. “You’re eighteen. You’ve still got several years in the industry before that becomes a worry.”

Selene stabs into her salad with the edge of her fork a bit too hard and sighs. “I know, I know,” she says, shaking her head. “But I can’t help but think about her words. She’s one of the longest-lasting models in the industry. There’s a lot of pressure to keep up appearances. Everyone looks at me as Melinda Reynolds’ daughter. They have expectations.”

“Fuck their expectations! Have you actually gained any weight?” Hel demands.

Silence, and then, “No…” Selene focuses on her food. “I’ve actually lost a few pounds since we moved into the dorm.”

“Then eat a damn fry,” she snaps. “It’s not going to kill you, and I swear to god, if you try to work out as punishment, I’ll shove you in a closet and lock the door.”

Selene snickers. “You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, yes, I fucking would,” Hel argues. “In fact, I’ll keep you in there for a week, and the only thing I’ll slide under the door to feed you will be chocolate bars.” She points her fork at Selene meaningfully. “So, it’s your choice. A few fries now or a week of chocolate bars.”

With a mock look of exasperation, Selene drops her fork and pointedly reaches for a fry. I laugh and Hel gives a nod of approval as Selene pops the greasy goodness into her mouth and grins at us as she chews.

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