Page 110 of Disobedient Pawn

L: Yes, because you’ve had so many relationships, and you’re seventeen. Come on, girl. I keep telling you that you won’t be disappointed.

R: Stop pushing, or I’ll stop answering your messages, and you can forget about me visiting for Christmas.

L: What??? Fine, I’m sorry, but gurl, let’s get real. GEG is a keeper. I mean, he brought you waffles and pancakes with all the sides…need I say more?

R: What the hell is GEG?

L: Golden Eyed God, I thought that was pretty self-explanatory.

I shook my head and pictured her face all screwed up, like I was the one being insane and unreasonable.

R: He asked me to date him yesterday at breakfast, but I told him I’d give him an answer after Christmas break. That’s not far away, and it gives me time to get to know him.

L: OMG…Fine, but tell me this…is he a good kisser?”

I sent a shrugging emoji and laughed as she sent me angry faces.

R: I gotta go. I’m meeting the GEG to watch his lacrosse practice.

L: Oh, lacrosse…I love him already.

R: LVU

L: Right back at you, Boo

I’d already passed the doors to the pool and another that led to a weight room, but there were also two gyms, a hockey rink, and a relaxation/rehab clinic. It was an entire complex, complete with concession stands that were open when there were games. Wayward may not have been my first choice, hell, they weren’t even my last, but it was obvious they poured a vast amount of money into every aspect of the school.

Would I admit that to my father? Hell no. If he’d spoken to me, explained why we needed to come here, visited, or called me like a normal parent, I would’ve, but we were so past that now. He’d lied to me repeatedly, ignored my phone calls and texts, ripped me away from the only home I knew, and hid who he really was from me, which may or may not have gotten my mum killed. At the moment, I loathed even the thought of him.

The sound of thundering feet got louder, and a group of guys wearing two different colored uniforms raced by the double doors. They looked like streaks as they passed. My pulse spiked, and my stomach seemed to have perma butterflies since Friday for more than one reason. Not only was I toeing the waters with the idea of a boyfriend, which I’d never had before, but it also felt like I was standing on quicksand trying to get my bearings only to have my footing shift again.

If you were in quicksand, you shouldn’t struggle because you sink faster, but I wasn’t sure standing still would be effective for what I was going through.

My journal had mysteriously disappeared on top of everything else, but I knew Nash had it. My bag was left at my door for me to find Saturday, and nothing made me feel sicker than for him to read all that personal information. For anyone to see how much I’d struggled and feared, what I had wished for on my darkest day. It was all laid bare on those pages because it was my personal space, and I never intended for anyone else to see it.

Conveniently for him, I didn’t have a class with Nash today, and he wasn’t in any of his usual lurking spots. Okay, lurking wasn’t exactly accurate, but I liked the visual.

I glanced at the glass cabinet I was walking passed and skidded to a halt as I stared at the stunning trophies, shiny as mirrors, but the team photos had me looking closer.

There was a tall trophy with a picture of Nash, Liam, Myles, Blake, and Theo posing for the camera. I’d never watched swimming, but as my eyes roamed over the picture, I could certainly see the appeal. I caught myself smiling in the glass and quickly wiped it off my face. This was ridiculous and exactly what I promised myself I wouldn’t do—no gooey and squishy girly reactions.

“What are you smiling at, Princess? Do you like something you see? I can give you a up close and personal view.”

My entire body jolted like I’d been electrocuted by Nash’s voice next to my ear.

“Someone needs to put a fucking bell on you,” I growled, my eyes flicking up to the blue ones staring back at me in the glass. Where the hell had he come from? Maybe lurking was the right word afterall. He was close enough that I could feel the heat from his body, but he didn’t touch me.

“Myles told me it was you the other night,” I said a sharp edge to my tone.

His eyebrow lifted, but he wasn’t shocked.

“I know. He also told you who I am and what I do.”

“But you don’t care?”

“Not really, unless you plan on squealing like a little piglet.” He casually shrugged. “If you threaten my secret, though, all I can say is Myles will cry many tears over your missing body. If he comes for me…well I’m sure you can put together the rest. Don’t test me, Princess.”

My breath froze in my chest, and my eyes widened as I stared into his. Was he serious, or did he want a reaction out of me? Would he really kill me and Myles if I said anything?