Page 28 of Secret Love

“That doesn’t mean shit. Dunc is known for being an asshole.”

“It takes one to know one,” I mutter.

“What?”

“Nothing.” I decide to keep my mouth shut. I don’t want to get into it with Van today.

“I’d take whatever Dunc said with a grain of salt. He seems the type to sleep with a girl and then be a dick.”

He slept with me but was still sweet this morning. Not that I’m telling Van that. I don’t need to add to their drama. Plus, I know that isn’t the kind of sleeping Van meant. I want to ask more, but class starts. I pull out my Chromebook.

I can’t pay much attention to what the teacher is saying. All I can think about is Dunc and Rose sleeping together. He’d called herthat. It could be because of a bad breakup. She was rather possessive of him. Even told me I wasn’t his type.

Van and I part ways when class is over. I head to my next. I don’t know if I’m self-conscious now, but I swear I notice a few girls glancing my way before leaning in to talk to each other. Dunc hadn’t been great at hiding us this morning, but I’d forgotten too for a moment. It had been nice when it was only the two of us and I didn’t have to worry about anything else.

CHAPTER19

DUNCAN

“You’re sweating.”Sadie reaches up and wipes her finger across my forehead. I quiver like we’re naked and she just palmed my crotch. I’m down so bad.

“Ran here so I wouldn’t be late.” I take her backpack and sling it over my shoulder, curling the fingers of my right hand around the strap.

Her gaze falls to my knuckles. Belatedly, I remember that this is the hand I used to punch Scully’s jaw. It’s too late to hide the red marks and, unfortunately, I think she knows what they’re from. She does have a brother, after all.

“You were fighting,” she says flatly.

“Having a conversation with my hands,” I correct.

“What were you fighting about?”

“He locked me in the storage room and caused me to be late. I hurt your feelings. All of those things are worth fighting about.”

“If you say so, but I think the fact you talk with your hands a lot is what gives you a bad reputation.”

“Probably.”

“Don’t you care?”

“No, not really.” Maybe I should put out some effort. Uncle Coop texted me to let me know we’re holding a surprise party for Sadie’s birthday and that I should invite as many kids as possible.

She puts the brakes on and turns to me. “You’re not a bully, are you?”

“What? Of course not.” Where did that come from? “I’m just…disengaged. I wanted to be with my da—Uncle Coop and help him with the business because he—” Guilt creeps in. Coop has taken care of me all my life even when he was a teen himself. I’ve treated him kind of shittily these past few weeks.

“He’s still your dad.” Sadie rubs her hand up my arm. “Like Fischl is my mom and always will be and she never carried me like she did Van, but I know she doesn’t love me an ounce less. It’s the same with Uncle Coop.”

I inhale. She’s right, but I’m not there yet. “I just got to work it out in my head.”

“And it’s not Van’s fault he’s the bio kid. He’s got to work it out in his head too. Don’t talk with your hands with him, okay?” She gives me a pleading look, and it’s one that I know I’m going to be giving in to a lot in the future.

“Yeah, okay.”

Her smile turns brilliant, and my heart flips. “Good thing we’re at school,” I growl in a low tone. “Or you’d be on your back with my face between?—”

“Dunc? I have something to tell you.” Rose appears at my side, her hand coming up to touch my arm.

“No touching the merchandise.” I stare at her fingers until she drops them with a nervous laugh.

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