Page 40 of Princess of Hawthorne Prep

“She won’t,” Austin growls in response.

“Looks like there’s just one room left,” Kingsley says, drawing everyone’s attention to him.

Everly pales and sends a pleading look to Summer.

“Can’t we reshuffle the arrangements or something?” Summer’s gaze flickers toward Aubrey. “Maybe you could switch with Duke and share with Everly.”

The other girl wrinkles her nose as if she just walked past a port-o-potty that’s been baking under the hot August sun. “No, thanks. I’ll keep my single bed. Plus, I might want to have a guest spend the night.” She smirks at Everly. “Sorry.”

“No, you’re not,” Everly grumbles.

Aubrey flashes a grin. “You caught me, I’m not.”

“All right, I guess we should get settled in and then we’ll meet on the beach in a couple of hours for a bonfire and a little bonding,” Kingsley cuts in.

Just when I think Austin will release me, his grip tightens and he drags me closer. His warm breath drifts across the outer shell of my ear, sending a shiver dancing down the length of my spine.

“Did you seriously think I’d allow you to sleep in the same bed with him?”

Air gets wedged in the middle of my throat.

“Whether I fuck you or not, no one touches my property. Got it?”

“Yes.”

My body wilts when he finally sets me free, and it takes a second to steady myself. After the room clears out, I pick up my bag and make my way to the second floor. As I step into the spacious bedroom decorated in blue tones with cream colored furniture, I glance around and find the bathroom door closed.

I set my duffle near the end of the king-sized bed and rummage through it to find my father’s old Nikon. Once it’s in hand, I fly out the door and into the hallway.

Even though I realize there’s no way to avoid Austin for the duration of our stay, especially with us sharing not only a room, but a bed, I’ll take any opportunity to put off another confrontation until later.

As I race down the staircase, I pass by a small group of classmates mixing drinks in the kitchen. I don’t say a word as I beeline for the backdoor. It’s only when I step outside into the fresh air that I release the breath held hostage in my lungs.

The cool breeze wafts against my cheeks as it whips through my hair. A prick of excitement blooms in my belly as my attention fastens on the horizon and the deep blue waves that roll toward the sandy shoreline.

It’s a breathtaking sight.

That’s all it takes for my tangled thoughts of Austin to gradually fade. I peel back the soft cover of the bag and carefully pull the camera free from its case before adjusting the lens and snapping a few shots. Everything inside me loosens as I kick off my shoes and allow my toes to sink into the damp sand.

The beauty of the landscape, painted in various shades of tan and blue, does the impossible and lifts my mood. For a few precious hours, I cling to the feeling, knowing there’s no way it will last.

DELILAH

By the time I return to the house, dusk has fallen, and everyone is gathered in the kitchen, eating dinner. Pizza has been delivered and there are at least half a dozen open boxes. The delectable aroma of mozzarella, sauce, and pepperoni hits me, tantalizing my senses. When my belly rumbles, I realize it’s been a while since I ate.

After walking the beach for hours, I’m famished. My gaze lifts, immediately settling on Austin at the far end of the table. The way his eyes stay pinned to mine is enough to have my appetite pulling a disappearing act. Instead of grabbing a plate and helping myself to the food spread out on the marble island, I comb my fingers through my windswept hair and duck upstairs.

When I’d jogged across the dunes to the house, a handful of guys were already gathering driftwood to use for the bonfire. It won’t be long before everyone heads outside for the evening. I’m sure other classmates staying at nearby houses will venture over.

Ever since I started at Hawthorne Prep, hushed rumors have swirled about how rowdy and out of control the annual senior camping trip can get. Since I want nothing to do with it, sticking close to Duke in order to avoid Austin and Jasper will be my best bet. As much as I hate the idea of dragging him further into my problems, he’s the only one I trust.

By the time I wash up and throw on a sweatshirt, the sun has dipped beneath the horizon. The house is oddly quiet instead of bursting with voices and noise. It would seem as if everyone has abandoned the structure in favor of the beach.

As soon as I step foot out the backdoor, music and laughter drift to me on the wind. The closer I get, the louder it becomes. Once I’ve crested the dune, my feet stutter to a gradual halt as I scan the area. While there are only about a dozen classmates staying at Kingsley’s, there have to be at least fifty people gathered around the orange flames. The scent of weed hangs heavy in the air. Everyone is dancing and drinking, living their best lives with abandon.

For just a moment, I consider retreating inside to the relative safety of my bedroom, unsure if I want to join the fray. My mind tumbles back to what happened the last time I was around these people in a party atmosphere. And that’s possibly drugged with hours of blank space that I’m unable to remember.

It’s a relief when I spot Duke in a sea of faces and make my way toward him. He’s talking with a couple of lacrosse teammates. Once I’m within striking distance, he slips an arm around my body and tugs me close.

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