Page 229 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 11
“I’m definitely playing it cool. Mr. Halifax is going to be thinking of me in lacy black lingerie while he’s in the shower tonight. Trust me.”
I was too busy gaping at Sophie to see that the Triple Gs had walked up to us. And I definitely didn’t see Gigi’s stupid foot in my way. I tripped and fell to my knees as my books went flying in every direction.
Damn it.
Georgia and Gemma laughed along with their demon lord.
“Gigi, aren’t you late for...torturing kittens or something?” asked Sophie as she helped me pick up my books.
The Triple Gs all laughed.
Even though the joke was on them? These girls were the worst.
“I’m so sorry,” said Gigi in a very fake tone. “I didn’t see you there.”
Sometimes I felt invisible in these hallways. But I knew it was kind of hard to be invisible with red hair. I stuck out whether I wanted to or not. And I knew she’d done it on purpose.Again.
“Maybe you should get your eyes checked,” Sophie said. “It’s the second time in a week that your big feet have been in the way of passersby.”
Gigi glared at her, but didn’t take the bait. “I’m actually glad I ran into you guys. Who do you think you’re going to ask to the Sadie Hawkins dance? Because I certainly don’t want us to accidentally ask the same guy.”
Why did that sound like a threat? I brushed off my skirt and grabbed the books Sophie handed me. I looked forward to the Sadie Hawkins dance every year. It was my one opportunity to ask Axel to be my date instead of the other way around. And then every year I was disappointed. Because Axel had always had a girlfriend around the dance. But he didn’t have one this year. And I’d be lying if asking him hadn’t popped into my head a few times.
“That dance is like two months away,” Sophie said. “Homecoming is sooner. And I have no idea who I’ll be into by either of them.” But I saw her eyes trail to Mr. Halifax’s classroom longingly. She was only into one guy. And I didn’t think Mr. Halifax was going to make a move.
I was familiar with the feeling. It was like me waiting for Axel. And it completely sucked.
“Well, I know who I’ll be asking,” Gigi said. “Axel Stevens.”
I swallowed hard.What is my life?
“Axel?” Sophie laughed. “Trust me, Gigi. Axel has better taste.”
“He has fantastic taste. I would know. We’ve been texting non-stop since the party on Friday.”
What? I pictured Axel texting yesterday and today at lunch. Had he been texting...Gigi? There was no way. He wouldn’t do that to me. He’d promised...
Crap.No. He’d promised not to hook up with Gigi if I didn’t flirt with his best friend. And I’d actually been doing quite a bit of flirting with Jacob.
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable in that jacket,” Gigi said. “It’ll be mine by the end of the week.” She blew me a kiss and then she and her minions strutted off in their high heels.
I looked down at my flats. I’d never felt so insignificant in my life. “He’s been texting her?” I whispered.
“Stupid boy games. I hate high schoolers. You should really only date guys that are at least in their twenties. It’s science.”
“You have a date with Pavel tomorrow.”
“It’s just for show. Obvs. But I am excited to see if his nickname is true.”
“You mean the nickname we made up? Pavel the exploder?”
“Oh. Did we make it up?” She shrugged. “I thought everyone called him that. Only time will tell.”
I sighed and walked toward the front doors of Empire High. I just wanted to go home and faceplant into my bed.
“At least we found out about Axel’s betrayal today instead of tomorrow. Tomorrow’s our fresh start. And this would have been a pretty terrible way to start it.”
It definitely would have been. But also...I wasn’t even that surprised. I’d given Axel a million chances. And I refused to give him a million and one. If he liked me even half as much as I liked him, he’d never treat me this way. And I was done with high school boy games.
