“Miss DeQuincy has finished her work placement with us. She has returned to study,” Mr. Frazer said in a bored tone as he looked over his glasses at us. “Everyone should have a paper on their desk...”
I tuned out as annoyance twisted in my stomach.
Why hadn’t she told me?
Where is she studying?
This is fucking mental.
Just move on, Fallon, I told myself as visions of her rose into my mind. The way she laughed, her full lips showing her perfect teeth as she gazed at me. Thatfuckinghourglass figure.
What was I going to do?
I caught Gabe’s eyes as he gave me a sad smile, knowing how much I wanted her. The thought of never seeing her again wasnotan option. Somehow I got through the test, which was reasonably easy considering I had studied when she was in class. As we went to leave, I hovered near Mr. Frazer as he looked at me in surprise.
“Sir, I’m considering teaching,” I lied brazenly, surprising myself at how convincing I seemed.
He lifted his furry brows in shock as he opened his mouth. “It’s avocation, Fallon. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication—”
“I know,” I interrupted him, flashing him a winning smile. “I really admire you. Where would you suggest studying?”
His chest puffed out in pride as he nodded at me vigorously. “Excellent career decision, but I dare say your grades will need to improve. You would study at college, of course. The best one in Winterburg isElite.”
I nodded thoughtfully. “Miss DeQuincy said her college was the highest-scoring with employment opportunities. Would you agree?’ “
He sighed as he considered it. “I don’t think somehow you’d get in there. It would require serious work, dedication—”
This obese fuck is killing me.
“Where?” I intoned as he glanced back at the paperwork on his desk.
“Peyton. It’s just outside of Winterburg—”
I smiled as I nodded, walking away.
“Thanks, Sir. I need to research it.”
Bingo.
CHAPTER 21
SUMMER
Iknew that going public was going to cause ripples. I didn’t know quite how bad, or who with. I expected Kennedy to be pissed off, considering she hadn’t stopped calling Gabe since he’d ended things between them. I’d tried to show some compassion for the girl. I mean, Gabe had dumped her, after all. Hardly a shower of roses.
I gathered my hair into a messy bun at the top of my head and slid some bobby pins into it, holding the extra pins in my mouth. I thought of Christian and felt a pang of sadness. The guy had been my first boyfriend. I’d been obsessed with him since I was five! I just didn’t expect to feel the way I did for Gabriel. I knew I was attracted to him; of course, I wasn’t stupid. But something else happened, something more profound than any of us realized. Since the night he claimed me as his in front of my family and Christian, we had been inseparable. All we had done so far was kiss, but despite me telling him I was ready to take it further, he wanted to make sure.
Which waskillingme.
I smiled when I heard his deep voice booming through the house. The new routine of him coming here every morning was still so exciting. It was even better when he stayed over, but the sexual frustration was too much for us both.
I heard him climb the stairs, greeting my little sister before he pushed open the door to my room. I turned to him, my heart thumping in my chest when he smiled lazily at me, his blonde hair lighter from the sun as he gazed at me with those electric blue eyes.
“How do you look better every time I see you?” he murmured, pushing his hands into his pockets while his eyes ran down my body.
My stomach lurched when he crossed the room, his hand slipping around my neck as he kissed me deeply. We fell back onto the bed as the kiss deepened when I heard a voice from the door.
“Caleb said if you two are too busy fucking you can walk to school,” Alice relayed the message, her eyes glinting as we fell apart, laughing.
