Page 295 of Knox Academy Omnibus
Heads turn as we walk into the ice cream shop. I see her straight away. Her back is to the door, which is her first mistake. The kid’s head is down tucking into a banana split like it’s his last damn meal. Sawyer trails behind and I come to a stop at her table.
“We need to talk,” I say, motioning with my head for her to follow me. She looks at her brother, worried. “He’ll be fine, Sawyer will watch him.”
“Who the hell is he?” she snipes.
“I would lose the tone. It doesn’t matter who he is. It only matters who I am. You’re in now. You agreed to those terms. If I say jump you ask how damn high, do you understand me?”
My heart beats a million miles an hour. She needs to understand that she can’t speak to me like that, especially not around those who won’t stand for it. Onyx wouldn’t be so lenient.
She stands and moves out of the booth seat and follows me to the other side of the store but still within Sawyer’s sight. Through the front windows, I see Jasper and Frost pull in.
We both sit and I look up at her, assessing the situation and choosing my next words carefully.
“Look, I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but we’ve both been through some shit in life. You’re getting a good deal,but you can’t act like a damn child when I pulled strings to get that interview.”
“He made a comment about being sick of charity cases.”
My brows raise in surprise. “He did…did he?”
She nods. “I don’t need my brother to have to deal with that along with not having the money for all the trappings that will help him to fit in. He gets enough crap.”
“Well, I say we finish the ice cream and go back and pay the principal a visit. It’s time he meets me anyway.”
Fuck. I hate men on a power trip. There was never a scholarship. The Order was always going to pay. I just worded it that way so she didn’t feel like it was charity. She has pride and wants to pay her own way; I can respect that.
She smiles at me, and I think we just connected a little. We both stand and make our way back to where Sawyer is laughing at something Falon is saying.
“Are you ready?” Adrianne asks her brother and he nods.
Sawyer stands and presses his lips to mine. “I have to go, are you all good? Frost will be on your detail today.”
“I’ll be fine.”
We all move out and Adrianne hands Frost his keys. I give her a pointed look.
“I apologise for lifting your keys and taking your car.”
“I’ll have your own car delivered by the weekend, and you won’t need my security to drive you anywhere anymore,” I tell her. She blinks at me in disbelief, probably waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Jasper and Sawyer leave, and we all pile into Frost’s car. Falon jumps into the front seat calling shotgun.
Adrianne and I slide into the back. She looks at me, puzzled, opens her mouth and then closes it again.
“What?” I ask, weirded out by her staring.
“I was just curious, you said Kalen was your boyfriend but that guy clearly isn't him.”
“That's his older brother, Sawyer,” Frost explains before I can.
“Do I pay you to speak?” I joke. Frost flips me off. It's taken him a while to loosen up.
“I'm not just dating Kalen. I’m also dating his brothers. There are three more of them. Sawyer, you just met, and then there’s the twins.”
Her mouth falls agape and I laugh. Most people can't get their minds around it.
“Like, you sleep with them all?”
I nod. “Not at the same time…well except for the twins. They are fond of sharing.”
