Page 34 of Wicked Ends
“Go to the bathroom… and you’re right, I need more water.” I pushed my loose hair back and summoned a smile I hoped made me look sober.
She nodded, biting her lip, and got up. “Try and finish your sandwich,” she directed me, then headed off.
I swayed in the booth, resting my head back against the vinyl. This was dumb. Why had I gotten drunk?
Because you have no normal coping mechanisms and are terrible at dealing with the unknown.
“Thanks, Doctor,” I muttered to the clinical voice speaking in my head, pointing out all my flaws.
“Thanks who?” someone with a deep voice asked.
I opened my eyes to find Marcus dropping heavy bags to the floor and sliding into the opposite side of the booth. In my drunken stupor, it seemed like he couldn’t be real. Why would he be real? He was shockingly handsome, tall, and athletic, and just… bitable, really.
I was clearly still that level of drunk where filter and reason were long-lost, because I couldn’t stop myself from smiling at him. He looked damn good, and he knew it. No, I didn’t just smile, I beamed.
He smirked back and leaned forward to grab my sandwich. “Are you eating this?”
I shook my head. I’d forced down half and I was done. He took a huge bite, ravenous as a wolf. I’d never seen someone eat so fast.
My face must have reflected my surprise.
“What? I’m a growing boy, remember?” he teased me.
“You can’t be here,” I realized aloud.
“Why not?”
“People will see,” I mumbled.
Marcus shrugged. “Not my problem. I’m not the one embarrassed to be seen with you.”
I let out a laugh. “You should be. I’m the one who’s in the wrong… too old, your teacher, too—everything,” I bit out. I stopped short of pointing out the differences in our hotness levels, but only just.
“Stop talking shit about my new professor. I won’t hear it. I don’t allow it.” He sighed and stretched his neck, making it crack. He seemed tired.
“How was your game? You’re on the Hellions, right?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Been finding out about me? That’s cute, but you can come ask me yourself, Ari. No need to beat around the bush. Just agree to my terms…”
“Your terms are ridiculous, like you,” I chuckled. It suddenly seemed so fucking funny that this gorgeous, talented hockey player would be so hell-bent on fucking with me.
“Gorgeous and talented? Stop, you’re making me blush,” Marcus teased.
I stared at him, my drunken brain struggling to catch up.Wait, had I said that out loud?
“I like you without a filter, birthday girl… honesty suits you, as does dropping that prim and proper act you’ve got going on at school.”
“Prim and proper?” I repeated in a squeak.
Marcus nodded. “All upright and morally spotless… the way you talk in class and move… it’s all so careful and restrained. No one has any idea what you’re really like, when everything else is stripped away. Except me. As it should be.”
“What are you even saying?” I spat out, confused by his words.
“I’m saying don’t go lowering your guard or getting drunk around anyone else. This side of you is our secret. You only share it with me.”
I sighed. “There you go, being ridiculous again. Seriously, what is it going to take to make you quit it? It’s bullying, just so you know.”
Marcus’ mouth quirked at my lecturing tone, but he didn’t skip a beat when he answered. “I fuck you again, tonight, and I’ll reconsider what I need from you to forget any of this ever happened.”
