Page 86 of Zero Chance

“And when she comes crawling out of the shadows to reply,” I went on, ignoring him.“I’m going to be ready.”This girl was as good ascaught.I was going to figure out her identity by the end of the day, tops.

“You should invest in steel boxers,” Ivey advised.“Because she’s going to do a lot more than knee you in the junk after this.”

“I’d cut off your whole damn pecker,” Faith announced, making me wince and pull back away from her.

“Ouch,” I hissed, shaking my head over such savagery.“That’s a bit excessive, don’t you think?”If I were Ivey, I’ddefinitelywear steel boxers from here on out.

Yet the crazy guy merely smiled at her, his eyes glazing over as if she were amazing.

It was weird.

Reason number eight hundred and twenty-two why I was never falling in love; it freaking made you think cock-severing comments from your lady were actually adorable.

No, thank you.

“I’m going to laugh so hard when this blows up in your face,” Hudson told me as Alec and Xander arrived at the table together.

“When what blows up?”Younger asked innocently, snagging the empty seat next to me, while Xander seated herself at the end between him and Faith

Overlooking the question, I watched the two of them busy themselves and prepare their trays to eat before I cleared my throat.“Arriving at lunch together now, are we?”I goaded.“Is there something you two would like to share with the class?”

Alec glanced up in utter confusion while Xander shot me a dark scowl.“Shut up.We literally bumped into each other as we were walking into the student union at the same time.”

“Mm-hmm,” I murmured with lifted eyebrows as if I didn’t believe her.“But don’t you usually eat somewhere else for lunch?”

When my best friend shot me a look, ordering me to shut the hell up, Xander blinked before explaining, “Yeah.I usually eat with Frankie, but she got stuck working an extra shift, so I thought I’d come here and see if I knew anyone else to eat with.But if you want me to go…”

She made a move to stand, until Faith shot out an arm, grabbing her wrist.“Don’t you dare leave me alone with these three.The testosterone level at this table seems extra stupid today.”

When Hudson gasped and shot her a betrayed glance, she set her hand on his arm without even looking his way and lifted her eyebrows meaningfully at Xander.“And by that, I mean, only Keene’s.”

“Oh, snap.”Alec glanced over at me with amusement.“What’d you do this time, man?”

“Me?I think you mean,we…” Bouncing my brows at him, I snatched the flyer from the end of the table and thrust it his way.“Look what Woods caught being handed around in her business class.”Grin spreading, I announced, “We’re goingviral, baby.”

“What in the world isthat?”Xander asked, sitting up straighter in her seat to see the poster before she finally just snatched it from Alec’s hand.

“Uh…” Alec made a move to take it back, but she pulled it away to gape at our creation.

“Oh my God,” she murmured, her eyes flaring wider and wider with horror the more she read it.“Oh my God.”Looking directly at me, she rasped, “You didn’t.”

Disregarding the panic and horror in her eyes, I grinned proudly.“We totally did.”

“Oh my God,” she repeated, clearly at such a loss that those must’ve become the only three words she now knew.“And you?”She swung toward Alec as if he’d betrayed her.“You just—youlethim do this?”

“Uh…” As Alec slunk deeper in his chair, looking vaguely cornered, I grinned and slung an arm over his shoulders, jostling him companionably.

“What’re you talking about—letme?He designed the damn posters.”

Younger shot me a look, begging me to shut up, and he sank lower to avoid my arm, while Xander just groaned.

“Oh my God.I can’t—I just…” Carefully folding the poster into fourths, she stood up and gathered her things.“I have to go,” she announced distractedly, not glancing back as she took off.

“Smart girl,” Hudson said with an astute nod.“Keeping her distance from you before she’s stuck with the reputation of befriending idiots.”

“Because it’s totally too late for us,” Faith added, swinging her fork to motion back and forth between Hudson and herself.

He grinned at her, and they shared one of thosecouple’slooks that always made me roll my eyes, and then they laughed together.

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