Bryce swore and remarked, “Who needs Spanish, anyway?”

“Only anyone who doesn’t want to look like an illiterate idiot.”

He snorted, but dressed in some clothes.

That’s right. He’d gone home to pack a bag.

“Did we…” I started, but stopped.

He looked up and watched me intently. He sat back down and prompted, “Did we…?”

“Did we venture into new lands last night?”

A humorous smile spread across his face and Bryce nodded, “We did indeed.”

“Oh,” I breathed out. “Things are a little blurry, but I just wanted…I wanted to remember it all.”

“Are you…,” he asked slowly. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“No.” I leaned upwards and captured his lips in a thorough kiss. “No, I’m not.”

“Good,” Bryce whispered and kissed me thoroughly. He stood again and asked, “So you’re coming to school?”

“What else am I going to do?” I sighed in acceptance.

Something flickered in his eyes and Bryce admitted, “You’re taking this pretty well.”

“Not counting the drunken fog of orgies last night?”

“That makes sense, but I would’ve thought you’d be…angry, furious, something.

I figured you’d want to get even or something.”

I shook my head and stood to change my clothes.

Bryce watched me the entire time, but it wasn’t from lust.

“What?” I asked, irritated.

“Nothing.” He shrugged and grabbed the keys to his car. “Ready to go? I’ll drive today.”

“How will I get home?”

“I’ll drive you or Corrigan will.”

Bryce pulled into the school’s parking lot a few minutes later. Some other stragglers were just arriving. Still others had decided to skip after the first torturous period of school. So there were more than a few students who were leaving and entering school at the same time we did.

Just as I left my locker, I locked gazes with Leisha as she passed by. I nodded in greeting and she gave me a fleeting smile. When I turned into my Spanish classroom, I saw Collette Chantal smiling seductively down at Bryce. She sat on the table just above him with her legs spread invitingly.

He was paying attention to whatever Chet was saying. As she touched his knee and started to slide down to his lap, Bryce brushed her off.

She looked insulted and about to protest, but Bryce ignored her.

“Doesn’t it piss you off?” Chad had come up behind me.

“Does what piss me off?” I gripped my book and turned to face him. Cold.

He nodded in Bryce’s direction. “Come on. Everyone knows what you two do and yet he’s always got a new girl hanging on him. It has to piss you off, make you just burn inside. Tell me I’m right.” He grinned cockily and moved to stand too close.

“Is this your card?”

His smile vanished.

“Because, really, it’s been played by so many others. Try a new one, please, so I don’t die from boredom.”

His eyes had a glint of malice, but I evaded him and dropped into the seat beside Bryce.

I didn’t have to look to know that Bryce was pissed. He would’ve seen Chad talking to me, but whatever. I had other things on my mind.

For one, my ass hurt.

Thankfully, the rest of the day passed without event. Chad sent a few glares our way and enjoyed licking his lips when his eyes met mine. He did it more when Bryce or Corrigan was around. And speaking of Corrigan, he must’ve been filled in by Bryce about my mental health state because he didn’t pester me with questions. Then again, I didn’t talk. They both knew that.

I dealt with it on my own. Drunken orgies had been a very pleasurable coping mechanism.

Lunch seemed to be declared wanton-free. I think maybe the guys had sent out a bulletin because no girl approached them or the table.

I sat with Bryce on one side and Corrigan on the other. Chet and Holster sat across and they all chatted about the upcoming soccer game. The word had been leaked that Bryce was no longer on the team and everyone seemed to have sent questions through Chet and Holster to ask Bryce. Lunch eventually became a Q & A about Bryce’s plans for soccer.

After sixth period, I grabbed my purse just as Corrigan wrapped his arms around me from behind in a hug.

He chuckled and picked me up as he squeezed me.

“Oomph.” I laughed and asked, “What’s that for?”

He shrugged and fell down on the locker beside me.

We both knew what it was for.

“Yerling’s a dick,” Corrigan said abruptly. He watched him as he passed by and sent the same leering stares.

“Forget him. He’s a loser.”

“A loser that needs another pounding.” Corrigan frowned abruptly. “Seriously.

He’s going to be a problem.”

“You said the cops already knew about him. They were going to watch him, right?”

“Right,” Corrigan scoffed in disbelief. “They don’t unless a complaint’s been filed or he’s harmed someone.”

Something in his voice had me frowning. I leaned closer and asked, “Has he harmed someone?”

Corrigan glanced at me sharply, but abruptly straightened and asked, his eyes on my purse, “Are you leaving?”

“I just like taking my purse to classes,” I said dryly.

He smirked and suggested, “Let’s take off.”

“And go…?”

He shrugged and stuffed his hands in his front pockets.

“You want to go and hustle?”

He gave me a sharp glance and retorted, “Already been to jail this week.”

“For me?” I murmured, huskily, and ran a finger up and down his arm.

Corrigan sucked in his breath, but didn’t move away from the touch. He was thoughtful and finally shook his head, “No can do, Shell. I love ya and all, but I know I’ll be sleeping next to some fat guy named Pervy.” He shuddered and said shortly, “Not going to happen.”

By unspoken agreement we turned towards the parking lot. We were outside the door when we heard a shout from behind us.

Turning, we saw Logan at the end of the hallway. She waved with a smile on her face, but she didn’t move to us.

And Corrigan didn’t move to her.