Page 34 of Princess of Hawthorne Prep

It’s only when the driver’s side door opens and Austin steps out of the expensive SUV that I come alive. He’s wearing dark wash jeans that hug his muscular thighs and a black hoodie with the name of his previous high school in Chicago stamped across the front in big bold letters.

My heart trips and my mouth turns cottony as the space between us disappears.

“Duke was supposed to pick me up,” I whisper as a thin waver weaves its way through my voice. Images from Monday in the girls’ bathroom flash through my brain like a slow-motion picture show.

Me on my knees.

Him pumping his thick cock.

Ropes of pearly cum decorating my chest.

Heat scalds my cheeks as I push those thoughts away.

Thankfully, I was able to avoid him for the rest of the week. I took alternative routes in an attempt to avoid both him and Jasper. I spent my lunch break in the photography studio, working on my art exhibit portfolio.

“There’s been a change in plans,” he says, leaning down to pick up my bag before stalking to the Mercedes. With one click of the key fob, the hatch opens and he tosses my duffle inside before walking back to the driver’s side door and staring at me.

My mind somersaults, trying to come up with a reason as to why this arrangement won’t work. Seconds tick by and my brain remains frustratingly blank. It’s bad enough that we’ll be forced to spend the next seventy-two hours under the same roof, but being trapped in the stifling confines of his vehicle with him?

It will be nothing short of torture.

When I don’t make a move toward the SUV, he jerks a brow. “You gonna get in or what?”

The way his green depths burn into mine has my skin prickling with awareness. Even though I try to resist the urge, I shift under his penetrating gaze. My eyes flicker away before being reluctantly drawn back again. “I’d rather ride with Duke.”

Anger cracks in his eyes like lightning. The force of it is enough to have me taking a hasty step in retreat. “Luckily for you, he’s in the backseat. His truck wouldn’t turn over this morning.”

Oh.

My shoulders slump with the realization that my fate has been sealed and I force my feet into movement. Every step feels like a slow march to my death. As I pull up along the passenger side door, I catch sight of someone already sitting there.

A girl.

She flashes me a bright smile as our gazes lock through the tinted window.

Aubrey.

My attention jerks to Austin in silent question.

“You’ll have to sit in the back,” he says with a grunt.

I should be relieved not to be up front with him.

So…why aren’t I?

I scrape my teeth across my lower lip before grabbing the handle and yanking it open. A burst of air escapes from my lungs as I find Duke and Everly sitting in the second row. Out of all my classmates, these are the only two I can count as friends.

Duke scowls at Everly for a long, silent moment as if they were just in the middle of an argument. It’s only when he drags his gaze from her and meets mine that his expression softens.

Marginally.

“Hey,” he says.

“Hi. I heard your truck wouldn’t start this morning.”

He jerks his shoulders and mutters, “It’s a piece of shit. Hopefully, my brother will take a look at it this weekend and it’ll be a quick fix.”

I nod before peeking around him to find the auburn-haired girl. She gives me a tight smile before glaring at the muscular boy taking up space next to her.

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