Page 73 of The Secret Girl (Adamson All-Boys Academy 1)
“I've had plenty of nice girls,” he says in a way that makes me bristle like a porcupine. “Not to mention naughty ones. I want to try …” He pauses and chokes on his words for a second. “Dating introverted nerd boys instead.”
“For the love of cupcakes,” Ross murmurs as Ranger picks one up and chucks it across the counter, hitting Spencer right in the face with strawberry-lemon frosting.
He grabs it as it falls and takes a huge bite, holding it out in Ranger's direction like a weapon.
“Bro, keep throwing cakes at me, and I won't sell you weed for the rest of the year.”
“You wouldn't dare,” Ranger growls back at him, and I'm happy to see I'm not the only one he looks at like he's going to kill. “Bring some pre-rolls to the party, and we'll get stoned by the lake again.”
“Last year you were so high, you couldn't even get it up for that pretty blond,” Spencer smirks, popping a hand on his hip as he takes another bite of his cupcake. “Talk about embarrassing. After you blocked them all on social media, the girls were sending me limp dick memes for months.”
Ranger ignores him, fussing over some fancy cream puff things as Church stands up and moves over to join the rest of us at the island. The twins are squabbling over the last M&M cookie; they've eaten all the rest.
“You should party with us,” Church tells me, his eyes so intense, I feel like I should run and never look back. “You know, just in case your knife-wielding admirer joins us.”
Ranger, Spencer, and Ross laugh, but the twins and Church are staring at me like they won't take no for an answer. Makes me want to say no, just to be ornery, but I also sort of, kind of don't want to die, so I'll just deal.
“Yeah, sure. As long as you don't dump spiders on me again,” I repeat, and Church smirks.
“No promises,” he says, but I needn't have been worried about him.
Much worse things were waiting for me at the Valentine's Day party.Adamson provides the transportation to the party, this fleet of shiny limos that makes my jaw drop as I approach the waiting crowd in the safe bubble of the Student Council. As I move through the students, I wonder if any of them are the culprit. Then again, if the twins and Church are right, and my attacker has something to do with Jenica's long-ago murder, then it's most likely not a student, seeing as they'd have all been kids when she died.
“This is insane,” I whisper, and several of the guys turn to look at me. I'm dressed in jeans, and a huge, baggy black hoodie that does nothing for my pale complexion. I look like a ghost. With the giant glasses, the floppy hair, and the ugly sneakers, I'm sure I don't paint the prettiest picture.
“Jesus,” Spencer murmurs, and Ranger gives him a look like he's insane.
“Did you just get a boner, man? Over him?” Ranger points at me, and my cheeks flush red, but Spencer refuses to answer him, turning away and storming through the crowd. They part like the Red Sea, and the twins grab my arms on either side, dragging me after him.
The other students don't even complain as the Council takes the next available car.
“Wow, royal treatment,” I murmur as we settle in for the long drive. Five hours to the cabins, with only two planned breaks. There are snacks, and even pillows and blankets provided. We're getting an early afternoon start, putting us there around five in the evening. We'll be staying in the cabins and heading back to Adamson in the morning. “This is so old-fashioned. Reminds me of the original Parent Trap where the boys come over to the girls' camp to party, like some 1960s shit or something.”
“The Parent Trap?” Ranger scoffs, giving me a look and propping his giant black combat boot up on the shelf opposite us. “You watch that shit? No wonder you're so weird.”
“I'm weird, and you're the one that bakes naked in the academy kitchen?!” I cringe a bit when I realize I've just told his secret to the entire car. But Ranger doesn't seem to care as the twins snicker. Nobody looks surprised.
“It's my meditation time, okay? Clothes restrict my artistic integrity.” He smirks at me, tapping his boot against the far wall of the car, his black t-shirt dipping low enough that I can see a peek of his ink. Ranger reaches up and tugs at the plugs in his ear, watching me with narrowed sapphire eyes. “I don't barge into your private space and make fun of you while you wank your micropenis.”
“I do not have a micropenis,” I grind out, even though I just told Church that I did. Because, I mean, I have a clitoris. Still, it rubs me the wrong way and Ranger can see it. He's enjoying tormenting me. “Also, fuck you.”
