Page 15 of Cruel Abandon (Fallen Royals 5)

He nods and smiles.

I’ve been fine with the lack of boy attention. My missteps as a freshman ensured that no guy even wanted to look at me, let alone talk to me. But now, under Mitchel’s eye, I feel… nervous.

Not the sort of nervous that Liam brings out, but… butterflies?

Do I have butterflies?

I wave goodbye, cementing the fact that I’m the most awkward person alive, then spin around and hurry toward class.

I used to talk to boys. I used to kiss them on occasion, too. This isn’t new, but it is foreign. I’ve suddenly forgotten the language. I’m not even sure I want to speak the language. I could just adopt a dog and stay single forever.

At the rate things are going, that isn’t too hard of a scenario to imagine.

I’m one of the first people to arrive for class, and I take my seat in the back. Per usual, a bubble of empty seats forms around me. I pull my books out and flip through them, rereading a section we had for homework.

Liam walks into the room, taking the seat he usually chooses by the window. Automatically, I sink a bit lower. He doesn’t spare me a second glance, and I’m glad for it.

After last night…

And then Mitchel enters, glancing around. He spots me and grins. Before I can register, he’s slid into the seat next to me.

A second later, he’s gone.

And in his place is Liam Morrison, staring straight ahead and scowling at the whiteboard.

Mitchel stands beside him for a moment, eyes wide, then meets my gaze. “Skylar—”

“Thought I made myself pretty clear,” Liam says quietly.

“Seriously?” I hiss.

He smirks, but he doesn’t even deign to look at me. It’s unnerving—this hulking version of the boy I knew, sprawled in his chair. He could own the room with his attitude, and he probably knows it.

Mitchel hovers for another few seconds, then takes a seat elsewhere. I can’t even think about it, because the professor walks in and starts class.

Still, I’m visibly aware of Liam.

The whole fucking time.

He radiates… I don’t know, heat? Animosity?

Feels the same.

My cheeks stay hot—and probably bright red—the whole class. He’s not doing anything to me, but my nerves are on fire. Questions sweep through me: why is he suddenly sitting next to me? Or paying me any attention at all? Finally, the professor stops talking and motions for us to go.

“See you next week,” he says on an end note. “Have a safe weekend.”

Liam gathers his things and strolls out without a backward glance.

“Overbearing brother?” Mitchel asks, coming up the row and pausing in front of me.

I snort. “Something like that.”

“Seems a bit… protective.”

“It’s a new thing,” I mutter. “I didn’t realize you were in this class.”

He takes my bag from me, putting it on his shoulder over his own. “I transferred in. Actually, I just switched from part-time commuter to full-time student, so I transferred in to a lot of new classes.”

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