Page 23 of Pump Fake

I rubbed small circles on her back. “It’ll be okay. We’ll crash here tonight and get up crazy-early tomorrow, sneak out, and I’ll drive you home.”

“But he’ll wake up.”

“Nah, he won’t. Waking up at the crack of dawn is like teenage kryptonite, especially for Preston. We’ll be fine, promise.”

When she lifted her head and met my gaze with her trusting ice-blue eyes, my heart stuttered in my chest, and I fought the urge to rub it.

“We can’t go out there right now, so we might as well get some sleep.”

She dropped her arms and stepped out of my embrace. “I need something to wear.”

“You don’t.” I laughed softly at her fierce frown then went to grab her one of my T-shirts.

She shimmied into it, and we took turns getting ready for bed.

After the lights were off, I lay on my back, staring at a softly lit ceiling thanks to the open blinds that allowed the silvery glow from the moon to paint the room. The bed barely dipped as Brielle climbed in, her light floral scent wrapping around me. I wanted to turn and burrow my head in the crook of her neck, to feel the press of her body against mine. But I didn’t. We were strictly a no-strings deal—one that seemed beneficial to both of us.

As her breathing steadied, I heard the faint sound of the front door opening and the hushed voices of my roommates as they returned home. It didn’t take long for me to drift off after that.

It wasn’t until much later, when I woke during the night, that her pied piper’s scent lured me to wrap my arms around her, tucking her slight form securely against mine. It wasn’t thefirst time I’d done it, and for the life of me, I couldn’t tear myself away and return to my side of the bed, because I liked it. That realization alone should have been enough to catapult me out of bed and demand she leave. Instead, I pulled her impossibly closer and succumbed to the bliss of having her in my arms for the remainder of the night.

CHAPTER TWELVE

BRIELLE

The sun warmed my skin, and I tipped my head back to enjoy the moment. I was early. My sister wasn’t supposed to meet me for another five minutes during her lunch hour. As a senior, she was allowed to leave campus, so long as she didn’t abuse the privilege. Even though we were several years apart, it felt like a lifetime since I’d attended the all-girls prep school. I wished she were there already. The few minutes with my thoughts were almost more than I could bear.

What will I do?I’d been pondering how I ended up back in Ares’s bed for the past few days. All he had to do was crook his finger, and I’d happily launched myself into his arms. I couldn’t get enough of him. I swore something hummed beneath his skin, an electrical current of sorts, a magnetism I found impossible to deny. I’d experienced it before, but not to that degree, and I guessed it was present in most soon-to-go-pro athletes. They had a different mindset, an unrelenting drive, an ambition that enabled them to achieve their highest goals. But even with the few almost-professional stars I’d encountered, none had affected me like Ares.

I wanted him like no other. And I was even beginning to likehim—an unexpected occurrence, especially after our first encounter and my video-crafted image of him as a self-serving manwhore. My face warmed, and not from the sun. The video version of Ares was hot as fuck, but the real one was a million times more so.

I’d even gotten to know Aurora and Kylian—Ares’s roommates—and Liam, who wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d thought. Well, he slept around constantly, but once I got to know him, I appreciated him on another level.

Still, I was having so many issues with Preston, I feared I would have to go to the headmaster.What then? Would whatever my relationship with his uncle was come to light? If Preston got expelled for his continued disruptive behavior next semester, would Ares become my enemy too? Should I care?

A breeze lifted several strands of my hair, offering a brief respite from the midday heat. I glanced at the time just as a shadow fell over me.

“Hey, sis.”

I tipped my head to meet Serena’s grin as she stood in front of me in her school uniform, a blue-and-black-plaid skirt and a white button-down. “I got you a sandwich.” I pushed the bag and bottle of water toward her.

She claimed the seat across from me on the café’s outdoor table. “Thanks.” Her backpack landed with a thud on the table, and she rooted around in it before pulling out her laptop. “I finished my essay.”

I rubbed my hands together, waiting for her to pull it up on the screen then pass it over. We ate in companionable silence as I read through what she’d written. It was a personal narrative about her experience growing up in a family that had everything, only to have her world crumble around her when her dad’s corruption was exposed. How she’d had to learn about herself, what she was capable of, and who around her had revealed their true colors of friend or foe. It was touching andheartfelt, and instead of being about tragedy, it was a story of strength and hope.

A gentle push, and I closed the laptop with a soft snick, affected by Ser’s prose. “It’s really good. I only have a few suggestions.” I glanced at the time. “If you send it to me, I’ll return it tonight.” We only had a few minutes until she had to get back to school.

Ser squealed and launched herself at me. My arms wrapped around her slender frame and squeezed. I let my eyes drift shut to savor the moment. I missed being around my sister more than I could stand sometimes.

“I have to get back. It’s ridiculous that they only give us half an hour. Walk with me?” Ser slung her backpack over her shoulder then swallowed the last few bites of her sandwich before throwing the paper bag in the garbage. Grabbing her water, she stood waiting for me.

“Yeah, sure.” I tossed my garbage and stuck my half-finished water bottle in my bag. Ser linked our arms, and we headed around the back of the café, a shortcut to the academy. I could have driven her, but we had more time together walking, and I could use it to clear my head.

“Were you able to get the tax information you needed from Mom for FAFSA?” Ser asked before her lips pinched into a straight line.

I understood the stress she felt. Veronica was a nightmare at times.And tax info?That was one of them. Her response had been, “Your father handles all that.” I’d come back with the fact that he was in jail. After a few rounds, I’d finally gotten her to call the accountant and send me what I needed, which had been different than what Ser had gotten her hands on before. Neither of us should have been surprised.

“I did.” I didn’t bother telling her it might not help her much. “We need to focus heavily on scholarships. I’ll keep researching and send you links to the ones you should apply for.”

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