Page 25 of Ruthless Rose

My eyes flick up to Xander’s, and I catch my lip between my teeth, shooting him a pleading look. “You can’t tell him! I mean—please don’t.”

He chuckles and draws his pointer finger up to his lips. “I would never.” He then shakes the same finger at Scarlett. “That’s what you were doing Thursday night, wasn’t it?”

She clamps her teeth together, smiling. “Maybe.”

Xander grabs her, tucking her body against his and kissing the shell of her ear. She squirms against him, laughing.

“Okay. It was the two of us baking.” She peers up at him. “But seriously, don’t tell. Daphne wants to keep it a secret for now.”

“But why? He loved it. It was a complete surprise, too. We didn’t think he’d get another spirit girl.”

I look at him, a deer in headlights. “I just don’t think it would be a good idea. You know…” I eye Alora and Farrah, who are standing close to both Micah and Beau, about ten feet away. The girls wildly use their arms as they discuss who knows what.

Xander shrugs looking back at me. “Whatever you say. I’m down with a little subterfuge.”

“Thank you. Okay, I’m going to head to the library now.” I jerk my thumb over my shoulder. “I’ll see you guys later.”

Scarlett and Xander wave at me as I turn to go. When I glance back at them, they’ve closed her locker and he has her pressed against it, his mouth hovering over her lips. She smiles up at him, their hungry gazes connecting. Her hands grip his shoulders, and she pulls him down until his lips take hers in a smoldering kiss. I release a pent-up breath. Wow.

From there, my gaze swings to Micah, who is now alone, shoving a few books in his locker. What a weirdo I am, always wondering what it would be like to kiss him.

I must be so wrapped up in my little fantasy world that I’m oblivious to my surroundings because before I know what’s happening, I feel something hard hit my ankle. Stumbling forward, I slam into the ground, just barely catching myself with my arms and preventing my chin from hitting the hard floor, but the wind is knocked out of me. I’m sprawled on the floor for a full count of three, totally in shock, before my brain kicks in again.

That’s when the howls of laughter start. It’s also when I realize my skirt has flipped up behind me and my ass is on full display for everyone who happens to be walking by.

“Oh my God, is that Baby Yoda on her panties?”

“That’s fucking hilarious.”

“Damn, Baby Yoda. Get some!”

“Oh fuck, look at that!”

“It looks like he’s pretty happy on her ass. Look at his big grin.”

With my heavy book bag slung crossways over my body, I struggle to my knees while simultaneously trying to jerk my uniform skirt back down to cover me.

Strong hands scoop under my arms and lift me off the floor.

“Daphne, are you okay?” Scarlett’s standing right in front of me, but I barely hear her. Blood pounds through my head. Humiliation makes my cheeks burn.

Feminine laughter grabs my attention.

Alora’s eyes gleam. “You should probably watch where you’re going, Double D.”

I shake my head, trying to clear it. Well, she warned me. She wasn’t joking. I’m too stunned to say anything.

“And maybe wear some big girl panties the next time you want to flash them at everyone.”

More laughter erupts.

Everything is happening in front of my eyes, but I can’t quite comprehend any of it. Behind Alora, Micah’s jaw is tense. When I look over my shoulder at where his gaze is centered, I realize Xander is the one who’d picked me up off the floor.

Micah spins on his heel and walks off in the other direction.

Max frowns as he approaches, looking around at the people still snickering.

Scarlett frantically whispers in his ear, and I can only assume she’s filling him in on what just happened. His entire body tenses as he surveys who is standing around watching us. When his gaze meets Alora’s retreating back, he pivots back to us, his face grim.

He slips his arm around me, clearing his throat. “Okay, let’s get you to the library.”

Xander edges closer. “Are you sure you’ve got her? We can come with you.”

Max tugs me closer to him. “We’ll be fine.”

For the last two minutes, I’ve been incapable of speech, kind of in a daze, and in total disbelief over what’s transpired.

My lips tremble as I look up at Max. “Get me out of here, please.”

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