Page 18 of Brutal Days

The deep voice sounded behind me by my ear. I didn’t bother to turn. It was his fault I had barely slept. “That would be you. Just callin’ it as I see it.”

“Sky,” Gia ground out.

I rolled my eyes as Damon’s large hand palmed my ass and squeezed it. I turned my head to the side and sent him a death glare. He was damn lucky Gia couldn’t see where his hand was, and he needed to move it fast.

I wrapped my arm around my stomach. “Ugh, I shouldn’t have had that bean burrito for breakfast. Better back up, Demon, or I’ll blast you.”

Gia’s face contorted in horror at my farting reference, but it had to be done. I needed him to get off me. The idiot only laughed. Too bad it didn’t work, and I didn’t have to fart. That would have been pretty sweet if I did. Bet he would give me some space then.

Damon crowded me more, seemingly leaning toward Gia. “Want to eat lunch with me, Gia?”

She looked at me, hesitation in her lack of response—why, I wasn’t sure. I gave her a slight nod.

“Yeah, I really would.” A brilliant smile lit her face. “See you at lunch, Damon.”

Gah.I was irrationally annoyed. By her blindness and his hands. By it all. But mostly what I really wished was that Damon would stop touching me. I didn’t want to like it, and I hated myself because I very much did like it.

When he took off, Gia started talking again about Damon, and I struggled to pay attention.

“I can’t believe you said those things,” she scolded.

“Why? You know I hate athletes. And he’s not dating me, so who cares?”

“I just…” She wrung her hands. “What if he decides I’m not worth the trouble because you’re such a ballbuster?”

I sighed. “Fine. I’ll try to behave. But why did you look at me when he asked you to sit with him?”

She scrunched her brows. “Because we sit together.”

“Oh.” I grinned. Too much was slipping by me. “It’s fine.”

She bounced on the balls of her feet. “Can you believe he asked me to sit with him? I’ll be at the table with the Elite.” She squealed the last part.

I rubbed my temples and tried to feel excited for her. “Your plan is working out, despite the fact that it’s Damon who’s making it happen. Are you sure you don’t want to date someone else?”

“Stop.”

She smacked my shoulder, making my eyes pop back open. “What?”

“Sky,” she huffed in exasperation. “He’s a legend. So, no. I don’t want anyone else. I know how you feel about athletes. But you can’t lump him into the category where you stick all jocks, except for…” Her gaze darted along the hallway, searching.

A wishful gleam entered her eyes, and I couldn’t help but wonder about it.

“Were you going to say Tucker?”Does she still have a crush on him?She had when we were in elementary school.

“Tucker is one of the few athletes you tolerate, or are even friends with.” She shrugged then wrapped her hand around my arm, her long nails pressing down enough for me to pay attention. “Please give Damon a chance. There’s so much more to him than you think.”

Yeah, more than she knew actually. I grunted my halfhearted consent. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll try to keep an open mind.”

The bell rang, and we went our separate ways.

It wasn’t until second period, in chemistry, that I had my next surprise. Damon sat in the chair my lab partner usually occupied.

I slid into my seat then hissed, “Get out. We’re not partners, and what did you do to Erin?” I glanced back, but she was smiling happily at Brad, another one of the meathead football players who had been Damon’s lab partner. Great, there was no way she would move back.

“This was easier, and everyone’s happy with the new arrangement.”

“Not me.” I glared. “And that ass grab earlier will cost you a kiss for Gia.” I stabbed him in the chest with my index finger, wishing it were a sharpened pencil instead. “On the cheek and in front of witnesses.”

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