Page 72 of Magical Academy for Delinquents
Evan’s arms slowly slid over my shoulders, gently rubbing circles along my upper back. Eventually, his arms wrapped around me and he crushed me into him in a giant hug.
It was a hug to end all hugs, something I knew that I'd replay in my mind over and over again for years to come. It was a whole body hug, the kind where his fingers dug into my flesh and he lifted me off the ground so that my feet dangled in the air, the kind where he pulled me so hard against him that I felt breathless. It was a hug that was years in the making, that was the physical embodiment of apology and acceptance in one. It was a hug on the outside, but on the inside, it was two souls touching, acknowledging for the first time just how desperately they needed one another. Because out of anyone in the world, only Evan shared my love for Matthew, my grief. Only he knew who I was before and who I'd had to become. He was the only one who could ever fully appreciate that fall from grace.
A shrill whistle broke our moment, and we turned to see Coach Lundy striding toward us, his short man legs carrying him faster than most short men could run. "Break it up, people. No PDAs." He waved his arm, gesturing for me to move backward.
I gave Evan one last, long squeeze and then I let go, because I had to. But as I backed away and pretended to stretch, my eyes held onto him, latched onto his stare so that I could stay connected to at least one part of him. Gratitude and a long-latent desire thrummed inside me. My pulse bounced wildly. I licked my lips and Evan's lashes lowered so his eyes could trace the movement. The air between us thickened, and as a storm promised to rain down on the academy, another type of storm brewed between us. The kind of storm that was full of drops of sweat and the wild lightning that seared your eyelids as an orgasm raged through you.
My body tightened in anticipation. It was coming. Evan's eyes promised it was.
Of course, Lundy ruined the moment. "Love birds, you need to separate before your doe eyes make me lose my breakfast. Stretch out!"
I turned away from Evan then, but didn't leave. Instead, I sighed and started stretching my calves. I'd need to be nice and limber later ... I hoped.
Evan stretched his arms and then bent in half until Lundy strode off to break up a fight that the Fangs had picked with another student. That's when Evan walked over in front of me and said, “Hailstorm, I think it’s time. I think we need to bring the guys in.”
I rubbed a hand down my face in exhaustion but also in fear. I chewed on my lip. “I don’t even think … I think there’s like a sixty percent chance Malcolm will say yes. Grayson’s up in the air. Zavier … I still haven’t background checked that jerkwad, but he’s got a tracking device. It’s his last shot here, I dunno …”
Evan stared down at me, his blue eyes studying me, taking in my nervous lip bite even though I tried to stop it before it started. He’d taken my hand and said softly, “They’ll be in, Hailstorm. Don’t worry.”
I shook my head. “How do you know? I mean … taking on the Pinnacle? Grayson’s dad is running for office. Do you really think he’s gonna be up for robbing it?”
Evan’s lips quirked up. “Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
His hand rose and tentatively touched my cheek. His expression filled with so many different things. Sadness. Longing. Heartache. “Because who could say no to you?” Then he turned, and before I could say another word, he walked off.
Chapter 29
April second.Yesterday was the day that everyone celebrated fools––but today I couldn’t help but wonder if I was one.
I gulped as I walked through the quiet library, toward the study room, feeling more inexperienced and intimidated than I’d felt in years.
It was my eighteenth birthday, though I didn’t tell anyone. The day itself had lost its meaning a long time ago. The only birthday wish I had was that I wouldn’t fuck this up.
I stared into the study room through the glass, feeling unsteady on my feet. Evan, Malcolm, and Zavier already sat inside.
That made me bristle. I’d wanted to be first to this meeting, but I pushed the emotions down. Defensiveness wasn’t gonna get me anywhere.
I swallowed hard before pushing open the door. I’d spent all day psyching myself up after inviting all the guys to the library. Only Evan knew why.
The other two had curious looks on their faces when I walked in with a laptop bag.
I gave a tight smile to each as I set my bag on the table of the study room, where Malcolm and I normally had tutoring. I didn’t say anything at first as I took out my laptop and flash drive, fingers twirling the little grey stick nervously as I waited for Grayson.
Malcolm watched me with the cold, evaluating look he got when he was trying to decide if I was being honest. He didn’t say anything, but that look itself piqued my nerves as I booted up the laptop.
When Grayson pulled open the door, he had one of his cronies with him. He hadn’t come alone, like I’d asked. A spike of panic stabbed my stomach. But I tried to keep a cool face as I said, “Sorry, no room for extras.”
“You’ve got your harem here, why the hell don’t I get back up?” Grayson raised a thick brow.
I blew out a breath. “Because I wanted to see if you wanted to join them.”
Grayson stared at me, eyeing me up and down. His eyes got caught on the flash drive that I fiddled with—I scolded myself for the tell. But I was more nervous than I’d ever been. This was do or die. All or nothing. My cool-girl persona was shot to hell.
Grayson waved off his goon. “I’ll call you if I need you.”
“You sure, man?” The tattooed, nose-ringed guy that Grayson had brought along eyed us all suspiciously.
