Page 45 of Crush

He trails off when the class collectively holds their breath, tensing their shoulders with anticipation over what I’ll say or do. All except for Aurora, who faces forward, twisting her fake hair in her fingers with no plans to turn around and meet my eye.

“No need to make a fuss,” I say smoothly, my lips tilting up as I stare at Zeke. The backs of my eyes burn with the promise of retribution. “I’ll switch with Delaney.”

Delaney swivels in her seat where she was furiously whispering to her desk-mate, Jaxon. “I-I don’t think that works.”

Ember visibly becomes ramrod straight, color leeching from her cheeks. I turn to her, frowning. “Which is it, little pretty? Or is it the entire class that makes you ‘uncomfortable’? Perhaps Winthorpe itself? I told you before, you don’t belong here. Lucky for me that you’re finally realizing it.”

If she wants to call me out in front of one-third of the seniors, who will no doubt inform the rest of the students as soon as the period ends, I’ll call her out on her shit, too.

Making her uncomfortable. Puh-fucking-lease. “I make you wet,” I murmur close to her ear. “Uncomfortable in all the right ways.”

She doesn’t react, which is a new one. Instead, she says to Professor Lowell, “I’ll switch with Delaney. She can sit next to … him.” She points at me. Like I’m a reptile. “They go well together.”

What the hell is going on?

“That would be grand if it’s okay with all parties.” Lowell attempts a truce-like smile. The class doesn’t fall for it and braces for my reaction.

“Fine.” I grit out the word.

“We’ll make an exception with the alphabetical order today, but Miss Beckett, please see me privately and we’ll work this out.”

Ember sets her jaw while she rises and stacks her books, deigning to tip her chin to Zeke, who is somehow still here, and whisper, “Thank you.”

The fuck?

“Get lost before I maul that B-story face of yours,” I growl.

Zeke smiles at Ember, ignoring me. “My pleasure, darling. See you at lunch?”

“Sure.”

My gaze pings between the two of them, growing hotter, burning mightier than an erupting volcano. “I’ll deal with you soon,” I say to Ember as she pushes from the desk. “And be prepared for my fury.”

The tips of her ears go red, the sole sign that she’s heard me.

“No one calls me out in public,” I manage to get in the last word before Lowell begins his lecture. “No one.”

Ember darts into the aisle, clutching her books to her chest. When Delaney comes close, she recoils so blatantly, she hip-checks the nearest desk. Muttering apologies, she stumbles to her seat next to Jaxon.

Even more unexpectedly, Delaney doesn’t cackle and point out Ember’s clumsiness. She merely lowers her head and scuttles to Ember’s vacant seat.

I crimp my lips at the exchange.

Jaxon twists in my direction as Ember sits next to him and organizes her things. He raises a brow.

I nod, granting him the permission needed to talk to her and find out more than I could, considering Ember hates me more than usual today.

As for me, I turn my head to Delaney, the pale little mouse who doesn’t notice the trap behind the slice of cheese that is her protector, Aurora, nearby.

I set my elbows on the table, indicating calm.

“So,” I murmur while Lowell drones on, “do you want to tell me what the fuck’s going on, or would you rather follow the path of your glorious leader?”

Delaney bows her head and starts to cry.

Then she tells me everything.

19