Wes gives me a nod, evidently satisfied that Travis has gotten an eyeful, and I immediately lower my skirt and spin back around, keeping my gaze downcast. I can’t bring myself to look at Travis’ face, so I just stare at the pavement instead.
“There, now that’s settled, why don’t you run along,Trav,” Wes suggests, folding his arms across his chest in a power stance.
“I’ve gotta get to class anyways,” Travis huffs, shifting his backpack strap higher on his shoulder. “I’ll see you around, Ava.”
I peek up at him through my eyelashes as he slips me another little wink, making my cheeks burn even hotter.
Do the Kings really have to ruin every interaction I have? Who am I kidding,of coursethey do. But I never asked to be used as a pawn in their power trip.
As soon as Travis is out of earshot, I spin toward Wes, not even attempting to mask my fury. I let it bleed through my words, demanding, “What the hell is your problem?”
“Trust me, I just did you a solid,” he mutters, thrusting one of the coffees he’s holding in my direction. “Travis Stoker’s not the kind of guy you want to associate with.”
“What, andyouare?” I scoff, snatching the paper cup from him with a scowl.
After all Wes and his friends have put me through, is he for real right now? Nobody’s that out of touch.
He scrubs a hand down his face, but not before I catch him wince. “If you just followed the rules…”
“Oh, fuckingspareme,” I huff, clutching my coffee tightly in my hands as I spin on a heel and stomp away down the path.
“Ava!” Wes calls after me, but I don’t turn around. “The math building’sthisway!”
I grind to a halt, clenching my teeth and scowling hard at the pavement in front of me.Damnit, I’m never going to get the layout of this campus down. Slowly, I pivot, my cheeks flaming as I meet Wes’ smug expression.
My feet feel like they weigh a ton as I force myself to start back in his direction, muttering expletives under my breath the whole way. I’m aiming to storm past him, but Wes catches me around the shoulders before I can, slinging an arm over them and smoothly pivoting to walk beside me. He tucks me closer into his side while I grind my molars so hard it’s a wonder I don’t crack a tooth.
“Word of advice, Ava baby,” Wes murmurs, using Ford’s annoying nickname as he leans in while we continue down the path in tandem. “Don’t let the plebs see anybody get a reaction out of you. They’ll take it as a sign of weakness.”
“So?” I huff, glaring up at him.
“The weak don’t survive here,” he deadpans.
I snort a laugh. “Since when areyouconcerned about my survival?”
“Of course I’m concerned,” he quips, lifting his chin and gazing out at the path ahead. “We can’t play with you if you break.”
I scowl at the sidewalk. “You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re a tease,” he chuckles, grabbing for my waist and yanking me into his chest as he slams to a stop. “But you already know that, don’t you?”
He cocks his head to the side, trailing his knuckles up the side of my thigh. I flinch at the contact, muscles going rigid as his hand tucks beneath my skirt and slides back to grab a handful of my butt cheek– thankfully, the one thatisn’tsore with a fresh tattoo.
“You know these little skirts drive me crazy, yet you keep wearing them.”
“I can wear whatever I want,” I reply breathlessly, stupidly flustered by the warmth of his chest pressed against mine and his possessive grip on my ass.
Wes lowers his face until his lips are inches from mine and we’re breathing the same air. “Exactly,” he drawls, winking before abruptly letting go and stepping around me to continue down the path.
The moment he leaves my space, it’s like I’m doused with a bucket of ice water, snapping back to reality.
What the hell was I thinking, letting him get to me like that?
I suck in a deep breath and will my racing pulse to slow as I watch him walk away, his sculpted back muscles bunching and flexing beneath his thin grey hoodie. Even after all he’s done, I’m still attracted to him on a biological level, and Ihateit.
As if he can feel the weight of my stare, Wes pauses in his steps to throw me a backwards glance over his shoulder. “You comin’ or what?” he asks, a smirk tugging at his lips.
I should know better by now than to follow this man anywhere, but if I skip my classes and flunk out, all of this will have been for nothing. Gritting my teeth, I force my feet to move and start after him.
