Page 13 of Paper Thin Love

He smacks his forehead, almost missing because he’s so high.“I know that. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“Kimberly Whitfield said you only lasted two minutes. Thanks, but no thanks, Maximilian.” I sneer, hoping my insult will shut him up so I can continue to hobble across the yard and get to the safety of my dorm.

By the end of the day, my feet feel like jello that desperately needs a mold.

Snickers of laughter erupt.“She said what?” Maximilian shouts.

Okay, so I do feel bad that he’s tripping to stand as he begins to speed-walk toward Kimberly and her friends. It did get him off my back. And it’s true; Kimberly said that in the locker room.

Not that I know anything about sex. Two minutes seems like a long time to have someone gyrating in and out of you. Maybe it’s different when you’re in love or the guy knows what he’s doing. Judging by the stories I hear in the locker room, not many guys here know what they are doing. I experience enough pain from ballet; the last thing I need is bleeding feet and lady bits.

I’m not a prude. I do want to have sex; I just don’t want it to feel choreographed. I want it to feel like an explosion—spontaneous and electric. In other words, the opposite of what kissing Jared felt like.

I want love.

I want to feel loved. I want to give love.

I want someone to see the real me. I want storybook passion, head over heels, magic and sparks, devotion, and madness. I want a prince who is willing to slay my dragon, not turn into one.

Once I’m tucked inside my dorm, I crawl into bed, turn over, and close my eyes.“I want someone who will make my life worth living.”

Chapter 5

Dash

“Where are you now?” Titan’s voice breaks through the static, piercing the heavy atmosphere inside the helicopter.

I adjust the noise-canceling headphones, pressing them tighter against my ears before muffling the microphone with my hand.“In Dad’s damn helicopter, heading to this new school,” I grunt, the frustration evident in my tone.

My leg throbs relentlessly, a cruel reminder of my folly. Dad’s stern voice echoes in my mind:“No pain meds, Dash. You got yourself into this mess; now deal with it.” So I grit my teeth and endure, swallowing back the pain along with my pride.

There were no heartfelt goodbyes, no tender farewells. Just his assistant’s curt call, informing me of my impending departure to this godforsaken new school.

I glance down at myself, the absurdity of it all hitting me like a ton of bricks. Scrubs. I’m dressed in scrubs, for crying out loud! If it weren’t for the nurse’s pity, I’d probably be parading around naked or wrapped in a hospital sheet. The struggle to dress with this damn cast is humiliating, the pants haphazardly cut into uneven shorts just to accommodate the plaster prison encasing my leg.

“I’m screwed. I can’t even dress myself,” I mutter under my breath.

Dad told me not to trust Titan or Damian fully, but that’s a word of advice I’ll never swallow. The three of us will always have each other’s backs, no matter what. That’s what separates us from my dad and his brothers.

“I…” Fuck, I’m scared. I feel like a boy again, put through one of Dad’s tests. Only back then I knew there was a small part of him that tested me because he loved me.

This time, it’s different. I’m fighting to make a man proud who doesn’t love me, or at least he can’t verbalize it anymore.

If you can’t speak the words, do they exist? Did my father ever love me as his son, or was I just a valued gift my mom gave him, a gift whose shine has worn off?

“I’m scared,” I whisper. What’s the point of hiding now? This might be the last phone call to my cousins.

“Listen to me!” Damian’s voice cuts through the air, laced with fear that mirrors my own. He doesn’t want to lose another person he loves. It’s his weakness.

I close my eyes, which makes the vibration of the helicopter rattle through me.

“You need to make friends, Dash, and fast,” Damian begins.“People are going to try to fight you so they can claim they killed a King.”

I can’t help but offer a sarcastic quip in response.“Well, I’ve got a crutch as a sword to fend them off with.”

Titan’s reprimand follows swiftly.“Dash, this isn’t a joke. We’re talking survival here.”

“Survival of the fittest. I’m one leg down.” I snort.

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