She scoffs. “Excuse me, mister high-and-mighty, I’m trying to hold up my end of your blackmail.”
I narrow my eyes.
She jerks free and opens her purse, pulling a small USB from within its depths. Why do women always have so many things in their purse? They’re literal black holes. I’ve seen my mother hide so much stuff in hers, and she slings it over her shoulder like it doesn’t weigh eight thousand pounds.
Okay, I’m getting off topic.
She shoves the USB into my bare chest and pauses, her fingertips on my skin.
I’m suddenly hot.
I catch the plastic gadget and her hand too. Her lips part, and her eyes dilate. She sucks in a breath then quickly yanks away. The USB stays in my hand, against my skin.
“Your end of the blackmail,” I repeat.
“The homework,” she bites out. Theduhis silent.
And unappreciated.
“So sassy,” I murmur. “Might want to tone it down, Wallace. Your life as you know it hangs in the balance.”
Anger flashes across her face. Interestingly, she bites back her retort…almost like youcanteach an old dog new tricks.
I grab her arm again and spin her toward the exit. I don’t trust her to go straight there–and in a timely manner–so I guide her out. I shoot Tyler a cutting glare on our way by, and I open the door for my stepsister.
It’s dark out.
“Stop manhandling me.” She tries to shake me loose.
“Don’t come back here.” I look down my nose at her. The USB is hot in my palm, and I itch to shove it back at her, even though I assume it’s my class assignment I told her to do.
The fact that shedidit is a little shocking. I assumed more of a fight, resistance…but no. The blackmail must’ve been too good. Too mortifying. I could see when I revealed my knowledge that she was surprised but also scared.
Because of her dad? The man could be more strait-laced than I gave him credit for–and that will absolutely work in my favor.
Her gaze moves beyond me, back inside. “This place has something to do with how you got so injured, right? It wasn’t lacrosse. It was…”
I scoff. “You’re not as smart as you think you are, but I’m in a forgiving mood. So, no, thisplacedidn’t have anything to do with my state.”
She eyes my healing bruises, which I didn’t care were on display until right this second. The image of her looming over the tub, her face distorted by my underwater view, flashes in my mind.
Fuck.
“I would’ve given it to you at home if you were ever there,” she grumbles under her breath.
I raise my eyebrow, but she turns around and power-walks down the sidewalk away from me before I can ask.
Instead, I go back inside and point at a waiting Tyler.
“You. Me. In the ring.”
He holds up his hands. “Dude, she said she had something important to give you–”
“Save it.” God, I’m so fucking mad at him. Punching him in the face will soothe some of that, and this will make it so I don’t break his nose.
Or do something irrational like chase afterher.
[ 12 ]
