Page 10 of PET

Ditching my school-issued jacket, I step back into my closet and put on some street clothes—a tight black tank top, my favorite pair of distressed jean shorts, and a pair of baby pink Chucks. After I pull my hair from its low ponytail, I run my fingers through and then head out. I have to be careful sneaking off of campus. Any of these assholes wouldloveto get me into trouble.

But after I pass the stone archway, I know I’m in the clear. I skip to the end of the road and find the guy from the valley waiting in his parked Mazda. For a second, I thought he might not show, and this was all a joke on me, but I’m glad to find him sitting here.

He jumps when I open the passenger door, hiding my snicker when I get in.

“Hey,” he greets, scanning me up and down with his gaze. “You, um, aren’t wearing your uniform.”

Tossing my hair from my shoulder, I peer at him with my sexy eyes and ask, “Not today, but maybe next time. Do you like a girl in uniform?”

I can see his Adam’s apple bob when he swallows, but he says nothing when he puts the car in drive and takes off away from Reaper Academy. We’re headed down the hill toward the valley, and I love how all the trees are changing their colors. Fall is my favorite time of the year—all the orange and yellow hues, the crisp air and signs of Halloween. It doesn’t get much better than this.

“So, where are we going?” I ask.

He shrugs, throwing me a half-sided grin. “A place I can get us into without trouble.”

As if that answers what I asked. Why are guys so dumb? Just answer the fucking question!

“So…” I urge.

Laughing, he replies, “I thought we could go play some billiards down at Fat Jack’s. Do you like playing pool?”

I shrug and nod at the same time. “Yeah, that sounds fun, actually.” And it really does. It’s been a really, really long time since I’ve been on what feels like a normal date. Actually, most of the time, all Holden did was knock on his wall. Dating wasn’t his thing. And any guy before him was the same.

Oh my God, I am a slut!

“How are you getting us into Fat Jack’s, though?”

He throws me another grin. “Let’s just say I know a guy.”

Here we go with the evasive answers again. I’ll let it go for now, but if he keeps doing this shit all day, we’re going to have a serious problem.

When we pull up to Fat Jack’s, I notice how he parks near the back of the lot. I don’t question him because if I get another stupid answer, I might scream. Instead, we get out of the car and head for the front doors before the bouncer stands and stops us.

“Kids these days don’t even try to sneak in anymore? What is going on with this world?” the bouncer asks, shaking his head as he crosses his arms over his chest.

He’shuge.The guy could probably bench press five people at once. I’m pretty sure his arms are as big as my waist. I’m sweating, looking at Valley Boy to see what the hell he’s thinking. But then it all changes when the bouncer laughs and pulls my date in for a bro-hug.

“Nah, brother, I’m just fucking with you! Have a good time.”

“Jesus fuck,” I say under my breath as the Valley Boy leads me inside.

It takes a hot minute before my eyes adjust to the darkness of the bar, and when they finally do, I see an enormous area near the back with loads of pool tables.

“You want something to eat or drink?” the guy asks.

I nod. “Yeah, I’ll just have water for the moment. We can order food later.”

“No problem. Why don’t you grab us a table in the back and I’ll bring us some drinks?”

Moving away from him, I head to the back area and find the pool table I like the most. I mean, they might all look the same, but the lighting over some of them is horseshit, but this one isn’t.

I take a seat on the barstool nearest the pool table and look around, noticing a lot of older men drinking at the bar, but their eyes are on me. Shifting in my chair, I pull my gaze from them and continue looking around, but I glance back in their direction. Can they be any creepier?

My phone jingles with an incoming text and I’m not prepared for the message I find.

Zeke: Where the fuck are you?

Grinning, I glance at Valley Boy and back down at my phone.

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