Achingly slow, without breaking our mutual glowers, I lower myself until I’m once again standing beneath his daunting frame. I turn away from him, giving them all my back.
“Ready to eat lunch?” I ask my friends.I return to the table where I set my salad and pick up the tray. It doesn’t look as appetizing as it did a few minutes ago.
After a moment, the shuffling of people moving behind me disperses. Although I can still feel one set of blazing eyes on my back. I bet he hasn’t taken one step. That feeling doesn’t dissipate until I’m on the other side of the cafeteria.
Bryce lets out a long sigh as he drags his hand down his face. “For fuck’s sake.”
“I miss the courtyard,” Eden mutters.
I slide into the booth. “Just another day at Monarch,” I mutter.
Eden looks at me, really looks at me. “Thanks, Kinsley.”
I had the entire situation under control until Edge stepped in. Was it just a show of his dominance? Or was it to protect his girl from little ol’ me? He has no idea what I’m capable of. It’s not like he’s ever seen me fight. To him, I’m just some new girl who took his parking spot and doesn’t take his shit. Little does he know.
“Would she have really cut off your hair?” I ask.
Eden shrugs. “I wouldn’t put it past her.”
“What a bitch!” I spew.
Stabbing my fork into the heap of lettuce slathered with ranch, Edge lingers in my peripheral. He’s taken a seat at the largest round table in the center of the room. The rest of Venom has joined him. Brielle perches on Edge’s lap like a poodle. Her arms are dramatically waving around as she talks, no doubt describing to everyone who missed the showdown how she was pushed on her ass and bullied. One of Edge’s arms is bent with his elbow on the table. His head is against his hand. His other arm rests on his thigh. A sense of wicked triumph comes over me that he’s not consoling her. Hell, he’s not even touching her.
Despite the conversations and drama surrounding him, all of his attention is fixed solely on me. Even from across the room, he’s found a way to pin me in place like a butterfly trapped under glass. I can only imagine what he sees when he looks at me like that, what he’s thinking. A million thoughts bounce around in my head. But I seem to be just an enigma to him like he is to me.
No longer hungry, I set down my fork. Without taking my eyes off his, I pick up the water bottle, unscrew the cap, and sip, but the water does nothing to extinguish the unsatiated fire deep in my core. There’s only one way to break the spell. I look away from him. Fuck him and his impenetrable wall. Closing my eyes in defeat, I know I lost this small battle.
There will be a next time.
It’s still raining when I get home. Bryce was nice enough to drop me off. I thank him for the ride and rush to the door. Myuncle must still be at the dojo when I walk into the empty house. Then I remember that tonight is his late night. He won’t be home until after ten.
I grab a bowl of cereal, finish my homework, and shower. The rain is still coming down when I crawl into bed. It’s only eight, too early to try to sleep. The nagging in my chest won’t let me relax. I don’t know if it’s from the drama earlier today or the entire week. The loss of my dad? Trying to fit in? No, scratch that. I’m not trying to fit in. I was never good at that. What I want is to stop getting caught in the clutches of Venom, specifically Edge.
My thoughts drift to the party on Saturday. It’s probably not in my best interest to go, especially after the shit that went down in the cafeteria today. Not that I’m worried about getting my ass kicked. I’m more concerned about adding to their drama, which would seriously suck.
I hear distant hollering outside my window. Being that it’s still pouring, I wonder what’s going on. I put on some shorts and go outside. Water pours off the edge of the patio. Since sleep and my nerves are in opposition, I grab the umbrella propped in the corner by the door and walk half a block to the beach. As soon as my feet hit the cool, wet sand, relaxation wraps around me like a blanket. The swelling waves have summoned the surfers like a siren. They call out to each other. Their voices carry back to shore. There’s just enough light in the sky to make out their silhouettes rising and falling as they wait to catch the perfect wave. I sit on the beach and pull the hood of my hoodie over my head to block some of the wind.
Edge’s warning plays on a loop in my head.Watch yourself.
From what? Him? Venom?
He’s somehow a key player in Venom, and I don’t mean the Venom they portray to be at school, a group of bullies keeping everyone under their thumb. I mean the tight unit of fighterswho willingly kill their opponents. It’s so obvious. There have been so many concrete tells. The feeling nudging me closer to Edge isn’t all heated with desire. The need to know how deeply he’s involved with Venom grows daily. If and how he’s involved in my father’s death. Because I have no doubt he is. I just don’t know how yet. Hell, he may be the one who killed him.
I will find out. And when I do, he’ll be the one who has to watch his back.
12
KINSLEY
When I checkthe party's address, I realize it’s only a few blocks from my uncle’s house. Being that it has been a week from hell, a drink or two might do me good, so I suck it up and go. At least, that’s what I tell myself. I’m pretty sure my body has other reasons for wanting to go. Ignoring the tiny tingles of anticipation, I change into my bikini and pull on ripped jeans and a white, cropped, off-the-shoulder T-shirt.
I haven’t painted my toes in forever. Luca would have a conniption if he saw me going out like this. But I’m in the I-don’t-care mood. After tying my hair up in a messy knot, I grab my lip gloss and phone off the nightstand. There’s only twenty percent left on the charge, but oh well, it’ll have to do.
I may kill Bryce if he doesn’t show. After I told him Josh invited me, he said he knew about it and would probably attempt to go. He was also going to try to get Eden to go, but that would be difficult.
Josh has been riding me all week about the party. So, at least I may have a couple of people I can hang with while I’m putting myself out there.
Luca keeps pushing me to make friends. “Let down your walls,” he says when we chat each night. It’s turned into a joke. He knows I don’t let my walls down for most people—especially undeserving assholes. Plus, it’s not that easy, especially when you have no idea who you can trust.
