Page 58 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

It’s time to let her go and think about what she’s done.

“You’re an asshole, Noah.”

“Maybe,” I shrug. “But you’ll keep coming back for more. Because you can’t help yourself.”

Penny has her back to me, but I can see her face in the mirror. She looks exactly how I want her to look: dejected, cast aside, broken.

As she should be.

20

Penny

Fuck.

Noah.

Boone.

For the last hour of the school day, I can feel what he did to me between my legs. My body is swollen with pleasure, and I’m sure everyone can tell what I’ve done.

Everyone must know what I let Noah do to me.

They don’t, of course.

It’s only my shame talking.

And itisshame. A deep, gnawing shame that eats away at what little self-worth I have left.

Mostly because Noah was right about my parents.

No one at home loves poor Penelope.

I have daddy issuesandmommy issues, and I throw myself at guys because I can. Because they don’t refuse me.

Because, if only for a few minutes, they tell me I’m beautiful and worthy and wanted.

Then, they slide out, leaving me behind, and the hole in my chest yawns open again.

It used to be that Noah filled it.

Now, he’s the one chiseling away at the edges, making it deeper.

Mr. Thomas is mad about how long I was in the bathroom, but he doesn’t ask any questions.

Anika and Jennifer sneer at Haley Cochran as she passes us in the hallway, but I don’t even glance over.

They ask what my problem is, but I blow them off.

I hate myself far more than I could ever hate Haley Cochran, and I’m not in a mood to pretend otherwise.

After snagging my bag from my locker, I head out to the senior parking lot to get my car, but I’m only halfway across the lot when a car pulls up in front of me, blocking my path.

It takes me a second to realize it’s Momma.

She rolls down the window. “Get in.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask. “I drove to school. My car is here.”

---