Page 178 of Their Cruel Play
I lean forward to look. That’s definitely my face and hair, but not my naked body. Jack grabs the phone and narrows his eyes on it.
“Bad photoshop job.” He taps on the screen a few times and hands the phone back to Sidney. “Someone needs help with their skills.”
She snatches her phone out of his hand. “It doesn’t matter that it’s fake. I just thought you’d want to know what the guys of our school are passing around about yourgirlfriend.”
No, she doesn’t. She wants to cause a stir. Put the guys on the defensive again.
Caden tightens his hand on my hip. At least, that explains the heated looks from the other guys in our school. My stomach churns. Even fake, it’s out there. That kind of shit can ruin a girl.
“We can still be helpful to each other.” Sidney’s gaze rests on Luke. “We don’t have to be enemies.”
“Is that what you are? My enemy?” Luke’s smirk tells everyone listening he doesn’t believe it for a moment. Broadcasting to the school that Sidney is weak, which won’t sit well with her.
Eli rises next to Sidney and quietly says, “If you come after ours, we’ll ruin you.”
Sidney laughs, but there’s a hint of fear in her eyes. “We’re not the ones coming after your girl. We just want to be there when she falls.”
Sidney spins on her heel and walks away. As she passes the other table, the Cheermonsters rise and follow her out of the cafeteria. Zach lounges in his chair with his foot out in front of him, watching the whole thing carefully.
He catches my gaze and smirks before sending an arrogant kiss in my direction. My heart freezes, and my gaze drops to my food, which I don’t want anymore.
“Do you have it down, Jack?” Luke’s soft voice catches my attention.
“Yeah, but I can’t take it off every asshole’s phone, unfortunately.” Jack looks at me. “Sorry, sweetheart, but I’ve got an alert running to catch it if it’s reloaded onto the internet.”
“Thank you.” There’s not much they can do. It’s out there. Thankfully a fake and not a webcam session screenshot. It’s stupid and risky to continue to do the webcams, but I like seeing them all at night.
Besides, Jack says it’s secure.
Luke glances my way. “You okay?”
I haven’t really processed it yet. Or looked around the cafeteria to see how others are reacting. Caden tips my chin his way.
He searches my eyes to see how I’m doing before he rests his forehead against mine and takes a deep breath. I close my eyes and absorb Caden, letting him fill every inch of me instead of the drama and worry of the day. He doesn’t have to say a word to make me feel protected and wanted.
“We need to go on the offensive,” Nico says, drawing me out of my moment of peace.
“It’s time.” Luke blows out a breath, and his gaze focuses on me. “How about a short date tonight, princess? Dinner and then we’ll join the others to figure out how we’re going to handle this.”
“That sounds good.”
“H.”Kenz hurries to catch up to me in the hallway. “What the fuck happened in the cafeteria?”
I release my breath and avoid the look from the guy leaning against his locker. “I know why the guys are all looking at me like fresh meat.”
She turns and glares at the guy before hooking her arm in mine as we walk. “What is it?”
“Someone photoshopped my head on a naked body.” Red, hot heat fills my stomach. “And then shared it with all the guys.”
“Fuck. Is it on the internet?” Kenz squeezes my arm.
“Jack got it down and will continue to take it down.” I stop at Caden’s locker and put my books away.
“Where are all your men?” She glances around as if just realizing I’m all alone for the first time in a while. Of course, not really alone, as the hallways are filled with students.
“Practice. Can I get a ride home? I was going to call Mom.”
“Of course.” She leans against the lockers and looks up and down the hallway. “We need to get you some sort of weapon in case one of these assholes thinks it’s all right to make a move.”
