Page 80 of Magical Academy for Delinquents
Deep breath. Clear your head,I scolded. I turned to look at the two potential members of my team. I needed to focus on them right now.
Malcolm’s eyes probed me as he thought. Then a gentle flicker of warmth ran up my spine. Behind me, Evan made a noise of surprise. But my lips curved into a smile. I knew Malcolm’s decision seconds before he uttered the words, “I’m in.”
I turned to look at Grayson. He gave a slow nod. “No truce, though.”
I grinned weakly at him. “Never.”
Chapter 31
Zavier walked into the girls’dorm like he owned the place. He sweet-talked and joked to distract some girls hanging out in the first-floor lounge, while using his hand to speed up time behind him as the guys and I walked through so that nobody else saw all of us. The girls might make an exception for him, but someone would be bound to call Professor Huchmala, our dorm monitor, if a whole gaggle of guys just strutted in.
Evan carried me up all three stories over my protests. He handled me like I was a china doll and only put me down once we reached my bed.
Malcolm and Grayson set my things down, and then there was an awkward moment where the guys sized each other up.
Evan broke it by saying, “I’m gonna stay with her tonight. I think it’s best if she’s not alone.”
Luckily, Zavier walked in just then, and broke up any brewing tension. “I call dibs on tomorrow night. And Hayley,” he leaned over and winked at me, “it’s not gonna be all backrubs and pillow fights.”
“So, what you’re saying is you want me to paint your nails instead?” I joked weakly. My throat felt raw and I needed to brush my teeth. But I wasn’t quite ready to leave the bed. I wasn’t quite ready to leave the distraction.
“Night after that,” Malcolm called out. He didn’t say anything else.
Grayson didn’t speak for a minute and I wondered if it was too awkward for him.
“I’m a big girl—”
“Saving the best for last, I guess,” Grayson grinned. Then he clapped a hand onto Malcolm’s back and the two of them walked toward the window. “Come on, Zavier.”
The other three left and Evan went and locked my door, before heading to my bathroom. He came back with a prepped toothbrush and a glass of water.
I sat up, drinking the water gratefully before I brushed my teeth.
“I can run you a shower or something if you want,” he offered, a pink blush creeping over his cheeks.
I shook my head.
“Do you want me to help you to the bathroom so you can change?” he asked.
I held out my hand, toothbrush still jutting out from my teeth. He helped me grab some clothes from my dresser.
I went into the bathroom and changed, feeling self-conscious and a little bit nervous. I didn’t really know why. Evan had spent the night at my house a million times before. When we were younger, I’d even lain on the living room floor next to him. I had probably been seven the first time I stayed up longer than the boys. I’d stared at Evan’s eyelashes and the way the moon hit his cheek for nearly an hour that night.
After I’d changed, I found Evan sitting at my desk, rolling his wand back and forth across the surface. Clearly, something was bothering him.
I slid underneath the covers and patted the bed beside me. “You don’t have to stay over—”
“Happy birthday,” he interrupted me. “Um. I know that was a sucky end to your birthday. I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “I got what I wanted.” I scrubbed my hand over my face. “I kind of can’t believe they said yes.”
“I can. Having that contract ready-made was genius, by the way,” Evan complimented me.
“Thanks.” We stared at each other awkwardly for a bit. “You know, beds are a lot more comfortable than chairs. You can sleep over here.”
Evan self-consciously made his way over and laid down on top of the sheets.
“It’s not the seventeenth century, you know,” I teased him. “Sleeping under the covers with me isn’t going to ruin me.”
