Page 45 of The Sea Witch's Son

Shoving my jumbled emotions aside, I crawl back into bed. My body sags against the mattress, desperate for an escape from the madhouse of my mind.

I close my eyes, trying to think of anything except Marlin Seaborn.

I’m just about to drift off when my phone lights up with a new notification.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Thinking of you tonight.

Chapter 15

MARLIN

Finley explodes in a blaze of fury.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Spittle flies from his lips and lands on the collar of my shirt. I reach up and flick it off.

“I do not recall making a joke.”

“You can’t use Melody as the rookie challenge.” His boring brown eyes are alight with a mediocre fire, “That’s degrading.”

I sigh, adjusting the cuff of my sleeve, “It is degrading to bother her with your pesky personality and yet you insist on doing so. Your challenge is by far the easiest to complete, so I believe a thank you is in order.”

He stares at me, “You can’t pass a no touching rule like it’s the fifth grade.”

“Did I say no touching?” I shake my head with a laugh, “Slip of the tongue. I meant to say no touching, no speaking, no approaching my little saint for the rest of the semester. Look inher direction, breathe in her personal space, and you are off the team. Plain and simple.”

“I didn’t have you pegged as a man who panicked at the first sight of competition.”

I flick a glance at him, “Are you the competition? If so, that is quite disappointing.”

Finley clenches his jaw, looking like a bad tempered chihuahua. I smile, giving his leash one last tug.

“Stay away from Melody and you can compete in time trials this Friday.”

I’m dangling the bait above his nose and he knows it.

“Understood.”

My smile widens, “I believe you’re forgetting something, rookie.”

Finley grounds his molars, burning a hole through my skull with his glare.

“Thank you, Captain.”

“You are very welcome.”

Sebastian is barely holding back his laugh when the rookie walks away. I turn to the handsome Jamaican with a smirk.

“I think he took it well.”

A shit-eating grin splits his lips, “You’ve always had a knack for getting under their skin.”

“Mm, I rather enjoyed that interaction.” I cast a glance in his direction, “Do you think he’ll last the week?”

“Most of Finley’s events are this Friday, so most definitely. But after that...” Sebastian shrugs, “It could be an exciting semester.”

“It already is.”

My conversation is interrupted by a text message buzzing through my phone.

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