Page 91 of The Masks We Wear

She beams, her cheeks swelling so much her eyes seal shut. “Yes, that’s one of my favorites.”

By the time we reach the school, she’s ordered three books online and created a buddy reading schedule, totally forgetting how uncomfortable she was. Spencer pauses and shoots me an appreciative smile, but I wave it off. In the short time I’ve gotten to know her, it’s easy to see why he became friends with Remy. She’s a pure type of person. The bright light that will sit with you in the darkest of rooms until you get up and walk to the door.

We pile out of the car and walk toward the school, which is booming—spilling music, and light into the dark parking lot, leading us into the good time it promises. I notice Blaze standing at the entrance across from the last-minute ticket booth. His dark suit is tailored perfectly, and for once, he doesn’t look so broody. I lean into Spencer, reaching up on my tiptoes. “I’ll be right back. Get the ticket for William, and I’ll meet you right inside.”

He nods, capturing my lips with his. The stampede of butterflies never gets old. They flap around with excitement until I’m dizzy from his smell.

Finally, he releases me, and after catching my bearings, I meet Blaze with a hug. “You look handsome.”

“And you are stunning.”

I don’t want to, but I grit my teeth and ask what I’m wondering. “Waiting on Stacy?”

After her confession of trying to ruin the team, I busted my ass for, she lost her spot as next year’s captain and decided to just quit. Waste of talent, if you ask me, but not being associated with the team gave Amora free rein when she ran into her late after school one day. I told the girl to let it go, something I excel at thanks to Dr. Floren, but she’s a firecracker through and through. Once you light the fuse, there’s no turning back.

“Amora, actually.”

My head snaps up so fast it pops. “What?”

He grins, pushing some hair away from his face. “It’s not like that. She wants to make some dude jealous.”

My eyebrows furrow as I try to figure out who Amora would want to make jealous. Shit, the only guys she can’t get her nails into is Blaze. Just then, I notice the blue in Blaze’s eye twinkle. It’s subtle, but his jaw tightens, forcing me to follow his line of sight.

Remy.

Whipping back around, his face becomes impassive. And I can tell he doesn’t want me to say anything. So I don’t. But I know what I saw. It was a crack.

Once there is a crack in the masks we wear, it’s only a matter of time before the whole thing shatters, exposing who we really are. The ugly, filthy truths we hide underneath. And if anyone can love Blaze’s bruises and show him how to love them.

It’s her.

He clears his throat, shifting on his feet. “So, Solace, huh?”

I nod, wiping a stray lint from his jacket. “Yep. The first years have been paid, and I’ve already started applying for scholarships after that. Plus, I’ll be able to save everything I make from coaching cheer to the little league girls.”

Blaze smiles again, and I remind myself vaguely to play the lottery later. “I’m proud of you, Lil. Now go have fun with your Rook.”

“What?”

He huffs, the corner of his lips curling up. “Kings are lazy. Make everyone else surround them and do all the work. Can’t protect their Queen like a Rook can.”

I giggle, backing away just as a strong hand wraps around my stomach. Spencer leans in, his lips grazing the shell of my ears, and sends a violent shiver down my spine. “Can I show you something first?”

My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I nod.

He leads me inside the side door, down the dark hall, up a flight of stairs, and toward the room we used for our experiment. When we get to the door, he turns, his darkened eyes focus on me, a playful smile twitches the side of his mouth. “There was one color we didn’t get to try. Will you try it with me now?”

My heart thunks in my chest, my hand shaking in his, and when I answer, my voice is barely a whisper. “Yes.”

Spencer’s dimples deepen as a grin slips across his mouth. He pulls the door open and pulls me behind him inside.

It’s black, not like pitch black, but a weird muted color that somehow lights the walls up. That’s when I realize the desk and one of the chairs is gone.

Spencer yanks our connected hands, forcing my body flush against his, and takes my chin in his thumb and forefinger. “I am so fucking in love with you.”

Before I can respond, his lips are on mine, and his tongue dives into my mouth. His hands waste no time, trailing down between the valley of my breast, setting my skin on fire under his fingertips.

We enjoy the push and pull for only a moment before I feel his hand slide over, tugging the fabric away, exposing my pebbled nipple to the cold air. I gasp, and he breaks away from my lips, moving down to capture it in his mouth. His tongue teases over it, flicking it before rolling in between his teeth, sending jolts of pleasure into my core.

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