Page 29 of Ruthless Rose

Chapter 18

Somehow, I’d managed to make it through Monday without any further incident—flashing my panties and unexpectedly getting hot and heavy with Micah in the library had been way more than I’m used to dealing with in a single day. My life is normally so quiet, but ever since I’ve started tutoring Micah, everything has turned a bit upside down. I’m being targeted by Alora and forced to participate in groups I normally wouldn’t, on top of dealing with one very overbearing, sometimes crude, and wholly intimidating football player. And, heaven help me, I’m looking forward to tutoring today way more than I should be.

At lunch, Max, Scarlett, Xander, and I sit at one of the picnic tables in the gardens, huddled together. We probably won’t be able to sit outside much longer for lunches since it’s starting to get way too cold, so we’re taking advantage of it while we can.

Scarlett chews on a bite of her apple thoughtfully before she quirks one eyebrow up at me. “Don’t kick me in the shin for saying this, Daphne, but I could swear your eyes were absolutely riveted to center stage when we passed by the circus on our way out here.”

Center stageis what Scarlett calls the cafeteria table full of cheerleaders and the football team. I know she’s trying to suss out what’s going on with me, but I’m not ready to discuss it yet.

She shakes her head. “And you didn’t seem to give two shits when people started pointing at you and whispering about what panties you might be wearing today. Where’s this un-Daphne-like behavior coming from?”

Wetting my lip, I scramble for what I should say. “I’m over it. Yesterday’s news.” I give a little shrug. Did that sound like I’ve brushed the whole thing aside? I sure as hell hope so. I don’t want to focus on it anymore. I have other things to worry about now, like Micah’s motives behind everything he does and how much he actually means what he says. Once I had a chance to think about it, I had no idea why he’d felt the need to check on me at all, much less touch me the way he had in the stacks. And topping the list of things to worry about is whether Micah plans to continue with his science experiment—and finish the job this time.

Max frowns. “Well, what the fuck happened between the tripping incident and now?”

My face heats. Me and Micah in the stacks had been a book nerd’s dream come true. I’m unable to speak. There’s no way I can tell them about Micah’s library visit yesterday—or how mixed up I am about it.

Xander aims his dark gaze at me, questioning. Oh my God, does he know? Did Micah go back to his buddies and tell them he had his hand up my skirt? I’m not used to eating lunch with Xander, and I’m not completely comfortable discussing things in front of him, especially because of his bro relationship with Micah. I’ll admit, he has kept my spirit girl status a secret, though—so far, anyway.

My shoulders lift partway to my ears and drop. “I guess I realized that in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal. So people saw my panties. Whatever. Maybe they secretly liked it.”

Max grumbles. “Daphne, I hate to ask, but are we talking about someone specific?”

My gaze flicks to Xander’s, and I swear the dude can read exactly what’s flashing through my mind—Micah.

And he winces.

“What? No. No one. Never mind.”

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