Page 47 of Wicked Scorn
I’m only in the kitchen for ten minutes and I already have the familiar scents of coffee and bacon swirling around, instantly warming my heart. Cooking breakfast for the Blackwood brothers has become a comforting routine, one that makes me feel like I belong. I set about preparing their favorite dishes, humming softly under my breath. The aroma must be swirling down the halls because Penn comes stumbling through the door, his face scrunched up like he’s pissed that his empty stomach woke him up.
“Pancakes are the price for waking me up this early. And don’t forget the butter,” Penn says cheekily, opening up the newspaper. I roll my eyes at him because out of all the Blackwood brothers he’s the one who doesn’t treat me any differentlythan he always has. Also, who still opens an actual newspaper? Penn Blackwood must be single-handedly keeping them in business. He acknowledges that I exist because he happens to like the way I make fluffy pancakes. “I see Jeremiah has you dressed up like his weird little wet dream. Vanilla ass.”
“Good morning to you too, Penn,” I reply, my sass sneaking into my tone. “They’re just pajamas.”
He chuckles and leans back in his chair, his eyes never leaving the paper. “No luck,” he says, curiosity piquing my interest in his annoyed tone. He must notice because he adds, “I always check the obituaries to see if anyone I hate died.”
“You’re…kidding.” I reach under the counter, looking for all the things I’ll need to make the king of the manor his pancakes.
“Would I joke about that?” Penn says, his casual demeanor unnerving, so I decide to just focus on his food while he…checks his list.
The sizzle of bacon fills the kitchen, drawing me out of my thoughts as I flip it with practiced ease.
“Hey,” Penn asks casually, and I turn to see him pouring enough sugar in his coffee for twelve people. “What was the deal with those creepy flowers you got in class the other day? Seems to me you’ve got a lot of creepy little things popping up and considering Jerry didn’t fucking mention it yet…that means someone’s been a naughty little bunny and hasn’t told him.”
My eyes widen, not expecting such a straightforward question from him. Before I can respond, Jeremiah suddenly appears in the doorway, his green eyes narrowed with curiosity and concern. They still have that bleary just woke up look and he’s only in his sweatpants. It’s hard to focus withhis tanned abs and muscled arms on display. “What flowers are you two talking about?” he demands, his tone surprisingly sharp.
I look between Penn and Jeremiah, a flicker of anxiety crossing my features. Taking a deep breath, I decide to be honest with them. “The other day, I received a delivery of flowers in class,” I explain, my voice tinged with frustration. “They were wrapped in a ribbon and accompanied by a note I couldn’t understand. It was strange and embarrassing, and I honestly just want to forget about it. It was probably someone playing a prank because of you telling everyone they can’t come near me.”
“Embarrassing?” Jeremiah’s voice is low, almost a growl, as his eyes darken. “Who the fuck were they from?” I realize he’s talking to Penn, not me. “You knew about this and didn’t tell me?”
“First of all, I’m an unpaid stalker and my shift is one class, so don’t snap at me like you’re paying my bills,” Penn says, shrugging. My fingers twist the hem of my shorts, feeling uneasy under Jeremiah’s intense gaze. “I didn’t know she wasn’t going to tell you about them.”
“It creeped me out, so I threw them away and I knew you’d overreact. Which you just did,” I say to Jeremiah who glowers at me like he has no idea what I’m talking about. I plate Penn’s pancakes that I have half a mind to throw out for the birds to eat since he wants to tattle on me.
“Maybe they thought it was romantic,” Penn suggests, an amused smirk playing on his lips. “You know, some people like that kind of shit.”
“Romantic, my ass,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “It was more like a scene from a horror movie.”
“Regardless,” Jeremiah interjects, bringing our attentionback to him. “We need to find out who sent them and why.” His protective nature, though endearing, only serves to heighten my anxiety.
“I really am convinced it was just a prank. Can we just eat breakfast without something causing mayhem?”
Jeremiah’s jaw clenches tight, his eyes flashing with anger. “Just who the hell would be this stupid? I made it clear that you’re off-limits,” he growls, pacing the kitchen like a caged animal.
“Jeremiah, I don’t think it’s that serious…” I try to reassure him, but his anger is infectious, and my own pulse quickens. The air feels thick with tension, making it difficult to breathe.
“Excuse you, but I love mayhem with my pancakes. Thank you. Prefer murder and mayhem with them, but if I can only get mayhem, I’ll take it.”
“Shut up, Penn.” Jeremiah and I both say at the same time while we have a stare down with each other.
“Where are the flowers now?” he demands, his gaze piercing me with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.
“I told you, I threw them away before you picked me up from class,” I admit, feeling a pang of guilt wash over me. “They unnerved me, and I didn’t want them in my space anymore.” As an annoyed furrow forms between his brows, I realize my mistake. “Obviously, you would have seen them if I walked out with them. I didn’t want you to get in trouble for?—”
“Killing every motherfucker on this campus,” Jeremiah cuts me off. He runs a hand over his hair, frustration etched across his handsome features.
“I can help, I don’t have an appointment till…” Penn holds his wrist with the watch on it, glances down and then says, “Three this afternoon, so I’m pretty open.”
“To kill an entire campus of people?” I turn the stove off and cover the food before turning back around to face the two deranged men.
“Since when do you have ‘appointments’?” Jeremiah uses air quotes and rolls his eyes like Penn having an appointment is the most ridiculous thing he’s heard today.
“Look, I’m sorry, alright?” I finally say, matching Jeremiah’s confrontational tone. “It was creepy and invasive, and I just wanted it gone. I’m trying to destress my life and adding a stalker to the equation is not really on my list of things to do right now.”
The room falls silent for a moment. Jeremiah’s chest rises and falls with each heavy breath, his eyes still locked on mine. I can practically feel the heat radiating from him, fueling the fire within me.
“Mhm,” he finally says, his voice low and controlled. “Whoever sent those flowers obviously has some twisted intentions, and I’m going to find the dumb fuck one way or another. Even if the most minute thing happens, I need to know about it.”
