Page 41 of Charming Cruel Boys

Something a lot like despair flashes through Rose’s eyes, but it’s gone just as fast. Clearing her throat, she wrings her fingers together and chews on her lip. “Of course,” she says, “Marrying Charles is what’s best for my family... for my boys.”Her voice is set in this determined tone and I sit up a bit straighter to study her.

“What about what’s best for you?” I ask carefully.

Shrugging, she smiles sadly. “A mother does anything she can for her children. And being under the same roof as your father is the right thing to do for all of us.”

“The right thing to do?” That’s a damn lie if I ever heard one. Not a single soul is better off living with my father. Not a one. I furrow my brows, feeling like Rose is speaking in codes or something. It’s like there’s an underlying message tickling the back of my brain, but I just can’t work it out.

“Oh, you know what, sweetheart, I just remembered I have to make a phone call for work. Thank you for spending some time with me. Us girls have to stick together and all that, right?” she says hurriedly, her voice almost shaking. She stands and wipes her palms down her apron. Then she hugs me, squeezing me tight to her chest for a long moment. Pulling back, she smiles softly at me. “You are such a sweet girl, Remi. My boys are so lucky to know you.” And then she walks out of the room, and I’m left gaping at the space she vacated, confused to all hell.

***

In the following days, I’ve hardly seen Rose. She’s been working a lot of extra hours, claiming the need to save up for the big wedding. But after our conversation, I can’t help but feel like it’s something else entirely.

I almost told Duke I was worried, but then what? What is it exactly that has me worried? I don’t have an answer to that, just a gut instinct, and I don’t know how to explain that to Duke. So I’ve kept my thoughts to myself and stolen concerned glances at Rose whenever I do see her. She just smiles at me and scurries on her way every time.

Pushing my nerves to the side, I apply a light layer of mascara and lip gloss and then throw an oversized sweater on before walking out of my room. Is it a navy blue hoodie that I stole from Duke’s closet the other night?Yes, yes, it is.His delicious wood and pine scent wafts up from the fabric with every step I take, and I smile as I inhale it.

Duke and I are finally on the right track again. My hurt and betrayal over Knight is still sharp in my chest, but I’ve decided not to let it ruin what I have with Duke. I’ve been making more of an effort to seek him out, steal little touches and kisses whenever we can. With Knight always around, though, we’ve yet to seal the deal with some intimacy. And I’m just about fit to burst because every time we get close, Knight’s there, interrupting like it’s his new favorite hobby. Hell, maybe it is, I don’t know. Just another reason for me to hate him. Because I do.With a passion.

I turn the corner downstairs into the kitchen and smile when I find Duke standing at the stove flipping pancakes. Knight isn’t down here yet to ruin my mood, so I sneak up behind Duke and wrap my arms around his waist. He startles and nearly drops a pancake, making me throw my head back in laughter.

“Very funny, Remi. The dirty floor pancake would have been reserved for you,” Duke grumbles, although there’s a smile in his voice.

“Uh-huh. I’m sure my very sweet, chivalrous boyfriend wouldn’t allow me to eat something off the floor,” I say in a sing-song voice, giving his trim waist a good squeeze just for the hell of it.

“Mmm,” he hums, his voice dropping into a seductive purr. “Get on your knees, and I’ll give you something you can shove in your mouth down there. I think you’ll enjoy it more than a grimy pancake.”

I groan, banging my forehead against his back. If we had more time before school, I’d one-hundred percent take up that offer. I’d drop and get to work faster than he could tell me to open my mouth. But Knight should be walking in any minute for breakfast, and then we all have to head to Star View High. At least it’s Friday.

“You’re too tempting, cut it out,” I whine, unhooking my arms and leaving him to his cooking while I sit at the table.Am I pouting like a toddler? A bit, yes.

“What if we went out after school today? I’ll leave the truck in the parking lot for Knight, and we can take your car wherever you want to go. Maybe Lover’s Lane?” Duke suggests with a dirty, wicked smile thrown over his shoulder as he flips a pancake perfectly.Hot fucking hell.Get you a man that cooks, ladies. It’s unexpectedly sexy.

I grin back, trying for a saucy expression and hoping I’m not failing. Lover’s Lane is an abandoned street on the outskirts of town. It was an old warehouse district, but they all shut down years ago. It’s not a romantic getaway, and it doesn’t have a very pretty view, but it’s mostly private, hidden in shadows. It’s somewhere to go when the only place you can have sex is in the backseat of a car.“That sounds like a good time to me.” I blush as I think about finally getting this moment with Duke. It’s been too long and I’m ready to enjoy his hands all over me.

28

Remi

Firstperiod,EnglishLiterature,is one of my favorites.Duh, I want a career revolving around the English language. It’s the perfect way to start my day. And now that Sara and I are talking again, that little added tension in the classroom has faded away.

Sara plops down in the seat next to mine, huffing and pouting. She pulls her notebook and textbook out of her backpack and drops them onto her desk super aggressively.

“Damn, you okay? Or do you always try to murder your desks?” I say with exaggerated wide eyes.

Sara fists her hands until the knuckles turn white. “No, I’m not okay, Remi,” she grits out. “My parents were snooping around in my room this morning while I was in the shower.”

I arch a brow at her, trying to fight back a laugh. “What, do you have porno magazines under the bed or something? What could be so bad about them invading your privacy? Yeah, that sucks, but no harm done, right?”

She rolls her eyes and then glares at me. “You wouldn’t get it. I had pictures and stuff of… this guy I have a thing for. Little keepsakes to remind me of him since we’re not together right now. But my parents swept through my room and found everything. Threw it all away!” Sara’s eyes flare, and I back up an inch or two when I realize she’s visibly shaking.

“Hey, I’m sorry,” I say soothingly. I rub her arm slowly, trying to be more sympathetic. “But it’s just stuff, right? The guy is still around. And whoever he is, I’m sure things will work out. You’re a total catch, Sara. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

That seems to calm her down and she offers me a tight smile. “Yeah, well, I am planning on seducing him soon. I’ve got big plans for Halloween night. I’ve been waiting for him to make a move, but a girl can only wait so long, you know?”

“I get it. Guys can be really fucking dumb,” I say with a laugh.

“Clueless, I swear,” Sara gripes, laughing softly and shaking her head. The last trace of tension finally leaves her muscles and she relaxes into her seat. “Hey, what are you doing tonight? Wanna go to the football game with me?”

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