Page 37 of Sweet Possession

I sigh, feigning a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just got a lot on my mind.”

“I get it. It’s hard being a new student at any school, but here? It’s somehow worse, especially when the rich kids call us ‘the charity cases.’” She uses air quotes. “It makes it ten times harder. If I didn’t think somewhere like Coral Lakes would look good on college applications, I would have left a long time ago. The kids here are ruthless to anyone they deem unworthy, and we are the outsiders, so we take the brunt of their shit. Don’t worry though, they can play the kings and queens of high school if they want. It won’t last forever. Soon, we’ll go off to college, and the people there won’t care about how much money we have or if we were the popular kids in high school.”

My friend is way off base about why I’m panicking, but I roll with it and snort. “Yeah, they’re idiots if they think their reign of power will continue in college. They think they’re big fish right now, but they’re only in a small pond.”

“Right? I wish I could be there to see the shock on their faces when they get in the real world, but as soon as I am out of this place, I don’t want to look at any of them ever again.” I cock a brow, making her grin. “Well, except for yours.”

I chuckle. “Gee. Thanks.” I nudge her shoulder. She smiles, only for it to drop as her eyes go over my head. I follow her line of sight to find Logan approaching us. “Great,” I mutter as he steps up to us.

“Hey, gorgeous.” He slides into the seat beside me, getting way too close for my liking.

I shift toward Jessa. “What do you want, Logan?”

He smiles, flashing his perfect white teeth. “You know what I want. When are you going to give in and go on a date with me?” He acts nonchalant, but I hear the disbelief in his voice. He can’t believe that a girl would turn him down. He is the perfect example of an entitled rich boy.

“When areyougoing to get it in to your head that I don’t want to go out with you?”

His nostrils flare as anger flashes in his eyes, but he covers it quickly, not wanting anyone to see the real him. To everyone he is the all-around, good American golden boy with the world at his feet. They don’t see the side of him that I see. The darkness that lurks in him. I feel it. I’ve been around enough assholes, courtesy of my mother, that I recognize it. Logan leans into me, a smile on his face. “Oh, baby, you’ll change your mind. I’ll make sure of it.” His words are ominous, and I can’t help feeling there is a deeper meaning to them. Pushing out of the chair, he swaggers away like he’s the king of the world.

“What the hell was that?” Jessa whisper-hisses, bringing my gaze to her.

I shrug. “I don’t know. The guy is an entitled ass that doesn’t like being told ‘no.’ He is clearly so used to the girls here just dropping to their knees when he clicks his fingers that he expects me to do the same. Never going to happen. I would rather go celibate the rest of my life than have him touch me.” I shudder at the thought.

Jessa giggles. “You might be the only girl in Coral Lakes that thinks that.” She frowns. “Well, apart from me. The guy is gross and probably riddled with every STD known to man.”

I chuckle. “Probably. Good thing I’ll never find out.”

* * *

I’m standing on the curb, waiting for Asher to come pick me up. We are heading to the DMV, which is around a thirty-minute drive away, to get my license, and then we’re going to look at cars.

I insisted I want to buy my own vehicle, but Asher is having none of it. There’s no point in arguing with him when he gets something in his head. I know I won’t win, so I pick my battles. If he wants to spend money on me, then he can go ahead. It just means I can save more. Hopefully, with all of the money I’m winning from gambling, I’ll be able to open an art studio. That’s my dream. I’m not bothered about going to college, I would rather skip it and go straight to what I really want to do.

I am startled from my thoughts when a familiar black car pulls up. Smiling, I step off the curb, round the vehicle, pull open the door, and slide inside. My eyes lock onto Asher. He wears a smile, but I can feel the tension radiating from his body.

“What’s wrong?” I ask with a frown.

He lets out a breath, his hands darting out so he can pull me into him. His lips land on mine in a bruising kiss, and I feel the tension leave his body. Everything outside of this car is forgotten. It’s only him and me. We kiss for what feels like ages, but in reality is only a couple of minutes before he pulls back. “Nothing, angel. I just missed you.”

I arch a disbelieving brow. There’s more to it than that. I am fully aware of the fact he always seems more relaxed around me, but there is something else bothering him. My eyes widen when I remember what happened earlier. “Did something happen with Brody?”

He huffs out a laugh and runs a palm down his face. “Nothing I can’t handle, angel. I don’t want you to worry about that.”

“How can I not worry? We could lose everything,” I murmur calmly, even though I feel anything but.

“Youwon’t lose anything, angel. I promise. Now let’s go and get your license and then go look at cars.” It’s his way of ending the conversation. I want to say more, but I leave it.

For now.

He pulls out into the traffic, and we make the journey in mostly silence, both lost in our own heads. Finally, we pull into the parking lot of the DMV.

“Ready?” Asher asks.

Rolling my head to face him, I say, “Yeah. I’m about ready to get my license. At least then we don’t have to worry about anyone spotting us when you drop me off for school.”

He grabs my hand, pressing kisses to my fingers. “But I like driving you to and from school.”

I chuckle, pulling my hand out of his grip. “I know you do. But we’ve already been found out by one person. We don’t need anyone else finding out.” I unbuckle my belt and push open the door. Stepping out onto the asphalt, I bend to look at Asher, who hasn’t moved from the driver’s seat. “Are you coming?”

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