Page 11 of Pretty Girls Never Lie (St. Mary’s)

“Pay attention.”

“I am,” I snap, still keeping my eye on her. “I’m listening.”

The headmaster’s voice is irksome, but I’m downloading the information he’s giving. My gaze remains on Isla, though. She’s clutching a book close to her chest and nibbling on her bottom lip. A line of fire races down my spine, and my mouth is dry. Her cheeks turn red, and she’s firing off questions to the woman so quickly she can’t even answer. Then she turns and storms downthe hall, leaving the social worker with defeat written all over her features.

“So, what do you think?”

“About?”

Headmaster Ellison sighs. “Brantley.”

“I’m kidding,” I lie. “I’ll get my diploma. Don’t worry.”

He snorts, and I’m certain he doesn’t believe my feigned excitement, but I’m saved by the social worker when she steps beside me. She glances at Tate, but her gaze is fleeting. That’s when I realize she’s actually a lot younger than I thought. I decide to keep my questions to myself and slip out between them in search of Isla.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and it makes me pause. No matter how far away my father is, or the fact that he is currently behind metal bars, the dread is still there. I shake out my shoulders with my phone in my tight grip and sigh at Shiner’s name, thankful my mind is only playing tricks on me.

Shiner - Gem just told me that her dad managed to pull some strings and that you’re coming to college even though your dumber than a box of rocks and didn’t graduate on time.

Me - You’re*

Shiner - I used the wrong one on purpose to see if you would correct me. You’re smarter than I thought.

I snort.

Shiner - We’re going to be the talk of campus when we introduce those city girls to St. Mary’s famous claiming parties.

Isla’s face pops into my head after reading his text, and I stop dead in my tracks.Get out of my fucking head.Visuals of her hands against the door with that naughty look in her eye start flying through my mind, and it pisses me off.

I bypass the few students lingering around the hallway and take three steps at a time to make it to my room. My heart is a thundercloud and skipping every other beat. Sweat pelts the back of my neck, and the only thing I can think about is my father’s hands on Isla when he finds out that I let her live and how it makes me highly uncomfortable.

He’s not going to find out.

My head falls to my closed door, and I exhale all the air in my lungs. I stay holed up in my room way longer than I mean to, and by the time I manage to breathe normally, the sun has set, and the sky is blanketed with stars.

Isla said she’s here to find her little brother, but that won’t stop me from shoving her out the door and somewhere else. The only thing she will find here is my refusal to help her and a shit-ton of baggage.

The school is quiet and nearly black with the night. I prowl down the hall, stopping at the bend to stare at the girls’ hallway. My heart races the more I think about creeping into Isla’s room again.

Tell her to leave.

Pack her bags.

Throw her out the goddamn door.

My head turns at a hardly noticeable sound, and I move to the stairway to watch a figure move down the steps in a hurry.

Isla.

I know it’s her from the peek of light hair below the hood pulled up on her head. Even with the faint flicker of sconces lining the vast space below, I trail my eyes down her long legs as they stick out from beneath her dress.

I hate that she’s wildly hot.

I’ve been deprived for far too long, and I know she has the ability to quench my thirst like no one ever has before. My body’s reaction to her says much more than I care to recognize.

My footsteps follow the ghost of hers, but my eyes are on her shadow. She moves stealthily on the white-and-black checkered floor, and I silently scoff when she doesn’t realize she’s being followed. I let her get all the way through the front doors of the school before moving to the nearest window to watch.What is she doing?

My heart bangs against my crossed arms the more I wait for her next move. I flick my gaze to the two headlights winding up the road and choke with anger when it comes to a stop right in front of her. The moon casts an angelic glow on the side of her cheek, but I note the frown on her face.

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