Page 85 of Hide and Seek
The twin next to me kneels as well and helps me gather my books, which only makes my skin flame hotter and my brain get stuck in a loop ofdon’t say something stupid, don’t say something stupidas I fumble and drop the books I’m trying to pick up.
“Don’t worry about reporting that fuck nugget,” the other twin says. “I sent the pics I took to the head of Belmont security. That’ll be enough to have his ass fired and escorted out of here.”
“Thanks,” I say for what feels like the dozenth time.
“No prob.” He grins. “I never miss an opportunity to fuck over a Belmont guard. Those assholes need to realize that they’rethe equivalent of human scarecrows and meant to scare us big, bad boys away and not an actual force with any power.”
“That guy definitely didn’t get the memo,” I say with a shaky smile as his brother places the last of my fallen books on the pile I’m clutching.
“He did not,” he agrees. “One day they’ll get their heads out of their asses and realize what their role is here. Until then, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure they have the days they deserve.”
There’s something truly magnetic about his smile that has nothing to do with how insanely hot he is. It’s confident and a bit cocky, but big and bright with some of that chaotic energy I noticed in his gaze.
My cheeks flush even hotter as I stand and try to focus on the pile of stuff in my hands instead of the gorgeous men around me.
I end up bobbling the books and coffee cup as I get to my feet, but the twin next to me helps me steady them so they don’t go tumbling back to the ground. Our fingers brush again, and another of those weird feelings detonates in my stomach as my entire body seems to light up like a fireworks display.
Jesus fucking Christ, this is getting ridiculous. I need to get a grip before I do something really embarrassing.
I mumble a quick thanks to him and clutch the pile of books against my chest, still feeling off kilter from having a gun pointed at me, and also from having the guy I helped my blackmailers try to kill rush to my rescue and put himself between me and that gun.
Does he know who I am? Do any of them know what I did?
“We’re going to be late for class,” Killian says to Felix in a voice that’s full of tender affection.
Felix smiles at his stepbrother, and the soft looks on both of their faces confirm that they’re definitely a thing and definitelydon’t hate each other anymore. “Yeah, okay.” He flicks his gaze back to me. “You sure you’re good?”
“I’m sure. Thanks for…” I wave in the general direction of the gate.
Felix smiles and leans into Killian a bit more. “I’m just glad we were there. I hate to think what that guy would have done if no one intervened.”
“Yeah, something tells me that wouldn’t have ended well for me.” I offer him a weak smile.
Felix looks reluctant, but he gives me a little wave and lets Killian pull him away as they head down the path together.
“Catch ya on the flip side,” the twin who doesn’t seem to have any effect on me says and flashes me a grin.
“See ya.” I smile back.
He slaps his brother on the shoulder, pulling his attention away from me. “Wanna hit the cliffs? I bet I can beat your record without cheating.”
His brother shoots him a cocky smile that makes my dick perk up. “Challenge accepted.” He flicks his gaze to mine. “Later.”
“Bye,” I mumble stupidly as the twins head off together, their every move perfectly synchronized as they walk down the path with all the confidence of two gorgeous guys who know they’re untouchable.
I stare after them until they’re out of sight, then make my way over to a nearby bench and flop onto it. Warm coffee sloshes over the rim of my cup and onto my hand as I sag on the wooden seat and dump my books on the bench beside me so I can pull my phone out of my pocket.
I must be more fucked up from that confrontation than I thought because, for a second there, I heard my stalker's voice when one of the twins said, ‘Challenge accepted.’
But that’s impossible. There’s no way in hell one of the Hawthorne twins is stalking me, a first-gen introvert with no real connections or power. The twins could literally have anyone they wanted; they’d never be interested in someone like me.
They just have similar voices and the same body type, that’s all.
I’m just so fucked up from almost getting shot by an overeager rent-a-cop that I heard what I wanted to hear.
Shaking my head at how ridiculous I’m being, I log into the school portal and navigate to the student directory. It doesn’t take long to find the Hawthorne cousins, and I study their photos one by one. Xavier is the oldest, and a senior. I’ve only ever caught glances of him, but his reputation is as infamous as the others, and I’ve heard that he makes Killian’s temper look tame in comparison. Then there’s Killian, Jace, and Jax, who are all juniors, and Felix, even though he doesn’t carry the Hawthorne name, who’s a sophomore.
I focus on the twins’ photos, and I immediately know that Jax is the one who made me feel like a babbling schoolgirl with a crush.
