Page 39 of Princess of Hawthorne Prep

Say it.

But if I do that…he’ll divulge Mom’s secret. If these people find out about her and Pembroke, it’ll only exacerbate the situation. The affair between the married headmaster and widowed secretary will make the pictures look like nothing.

I can’t deal with anything else falling apart.

Do I have any other choice but to jerk my head into a nod?

Summer shoots me a scowl before stomping over to her brother. Her displeasure echoes throughout the room with each footfall.

“We need to talk in private.”

Before he can respond, she shackles her fingers around his wrist and drags him into the kitchen. If I didn’t feel so sick inside, the image of Summer forcing her six-foot tall brother into the other room would bring a smile to my lips.

Even with twenty feet of space to separate us, I’m still able to hear the low hum of their conversation. I might not be able to pick up on specific words, but it’s obvious Summer is pissed.

With any luck, she’ll talk her brother out of going through with this arrangement and forcing me to share space with him. The thought of sleeping in the same bed given the way he feels about me, the way he’s laid his hands on my body, is enough to have my belly hollowing out.

“You should have told him to fuck off,” Duke growls.

If only that were possible.

It’s tempting to pull the muscular lacrosse player aside and confess the truth, but I know it’ll only piss him off more, and I don’t want to cause further problems between these two. There’s already enough tension swirling through the atmosphere to choke on. The last thing I want is for them to get into a fight.

“It’s not a big deal,” I say in a hushed tone.

“The hell it is. It’ll be easier if we just share a room.”

Of course it would be, but that’s not an option.

I recognize it even if Duke doesn’t.

Before I can figure out a way to alleviate his concern, firm hands settle on my shoulders and I’m yanked against a hard chest. I don’t have to turn around to know who holds me captive.

“You need to mind your own fucking business, Carmichael.”

Duke straightens to his full height as his eyes harden. “Delilahismy business.”

Austin stiffens, his muscles tensing as if preparing for battle. “Oh yeah, and why’s that?”

I press my back against Austin as if it’s possible for me to keep him and Duke from coming to blows.

“Because we’re friends,” he growls, taking a step in our direction.

My eyes widen, silently pleading with Duke to back off.

“Maybe the problem is that you wish it were more. Seems like you’re always there, waiting for a chance to ride to the rescue.”

Duke’s upper lip curls as his eyes stay locked on Austin’s. “Fuck off.”

“Stay out of my shit and I will. Delilah and I are sharing a room. If she doesn’t have a problem with it, then neither should you.”

Duke glares at him for a long, silent moment before his gaze resettles on mine and his voice softens. “Are you sure about this? I’m telling you right now that you don’t have to stay with him.”

I’m hyperaware of Austin’s fingers biting into the tops of my shoulders and the firmness of his chest pressed against my spine. “It’s fine, promise.”

Suspicion flickers in his whiskey-colored eyes. I force a smile, only wanting to deescalate the suffocating tension that hangs heavy in the air. Even the people sitting around and toking up have taken notice of the drama.

He presses his lips together as if he wants to continue arguing. It’s a relief when he says, “If you change your mind, let me know.”

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