Page 60 of Frayed Owner

And he wasn’t the only one. Theyallstarted laughing. The wives—everyone. Even Taylor was chuckling, and… It was everyone laughing at my idea.

Laughing at me.

I endured it longer than I should and then jumped to my feet to leave, heartbroken that even Tracey was laughing. I understood the difference between people laughing at something funny and laughing at a person or even laughing in shock at something.

This wasn’t any of that. I felt it.

Someone grabbed my arm, and when I tried to yank it away, I moved too fast on the uneven ground from the construction. I started to fall, but then a strong arm pulled me against an even stronger body. We landed hard, but I was safe because I landed on top of him. I didn’t realize that at first, blinking around and just shocked that I didn’t crack my head open on one of the stones.

I blinked up into pretty grass-green eyes. Wyatt. He’d grabbed me and taken the fall to protect me.

“You are going to change the world, Bevin Millen,” he whispered as he stared at me.

“What?” I gasped. “Are you okay?”

He nodded. “Your idea is so—they laughed inreliefbecause you just showed them that they’re on the right side. It’s a pleasant surprise because at every turn you’re pushing all of us to be better. It’s astounding and it makes them all feel like I did at the hearing after the attack. They know they’re where they should be.”

Someone cleared their throat behind us and it reminded me we were on the ground and I was lying on top of him. I scrambled to get up and face everyone… And accidentally kneed Wyatt in the groin as I did.

“Shit,shit, I’m so sorry,” I hissed, not sure how to help him when he swore and curled up in a ball. “I lost—I slipped pushing up. I swear it was an accident.”

“I know, but I’m sure I deserved it,” he moaned, cussing a few times again. “It’s fine. I’ve always wanted a nut injury in front of my boss and most of the High Council. Oh, fuck me hard.”

“Sorry,” I repeated again. “Do you want ice?”

“My pride would be much nicer.”

Well, that was one way to change the topic from my own meltdown. Shit.

Just… Shit.

Luckily, someone took pity on him and came to heal him before Winter and Nate helped him sit, both giving me amused glances. It really had been an accident. Seriously, I wouldn’t do that after he saved me from a fall.

Well, one he’d sort of caused, but whatever.

“Derek is completely right in our reaction,” Headmaster Kerwynn assured me firmly. “All you have going on and you’re—most college students drink and act out. This is your acting out? You’re worth fighting for, Ms. Millen, and my laugh was relief that I feel better that you’re pushing for the next generation.”

“As long as I can push from behind the scenes,” I mumbled.

“Or with the right shields,” Winter said as he sat next to me. “We’ll help. We can figure out points later, but—this is awesome. Let me in. That was my laughing. I want in on this evil genius.”

I accepted the help and showed them what I’d found because it was getting later and later by the second. Plus, the master’s students knew the campus like the back of their hands. I handled my sessions and we got some real food… And Wyatt recovered.

I was never going to live that down. Seriously.

15

Winter

Bev’s idea was amazing. Seriously, it was chef’s fucking kiss. She was so damn cute that I just wanted to gobble her up.

Absolutely in the dirty kind of way.

Even how she admitted she wanted to have a petty moment with the bitch who kept hassling her in the freshman class. She acted like we would judge her after helping her.

Naw, I thought it was great.

Which was why I was waiting in the morning off to the side watching for her moment like a weirdo. After a minute, I pulled out my phone to record it so Bev had it forever to relish in her victory.

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