in our school. Then, after he does, he ditches them.”
I remember what Katy told me. “So I’ve heard.”
His brow quirks as he crosses his lean arms. “And that doesn’t bother you?”
“Should it?”
“Depends on why you seem to like him?”
“I’m not sure I’m following you.”
“I’m asking if you want to fuck him,” he states bluntly. “Because, if you’re going to be in our circle, you can’t fuck any of us.”
“Don’t you think, if I wanted to fuck him or any of you guys, I would’ve taken you guys’ other option back at the bridge?” I tell him, self-consciously wrapping my arms around myself as memories of falling off the bridge flash through my mind.
I just gave up.
He drums his fingers against the side of the pool table. “Maybe. But maybe you just want to fuck Hunter. Who the hell knows? You seem like a really confusing girl.”
“I am, but I don’t want to have sex with any of you.” It’s the truth, too.
Sure, they’re all hot, but I’ve barely kissed anyone, so screwing seems a little far out of my reach right now.
His gaze dissects me. Or tries to. Doubtful he can actually see the real me, especially since I can’t really see her anymore.
“You never did mention who was running their mouth about us to you,” he says.
Strands of my hair fall into my eyes as I shake my head. “I’m not going to rat out this person so you can haul them to the bridge and scare the crap out of them.”
He pushes away from the table, his boots scuffing the hardwood floor as he takes a step toward me. “Being in this circle means telling each other stuff.”
“But I still haven’t said I want to be in your circle,” I remind him, holding my ground.
He inches closer, his gaze piercing into me. “You will once you realize it’s better than being out there alone.”
I scratch my wrist and adjust my leather bands, making sure the scars he still hasn’t seen yet remain hidden. “Alone is what I know.”
He’s thrown off a bit, missing a beat, but he quickly recovers then moves even closer to me. “But it doesn’t have to be that way. I mean, I understand that sometimes it can seem easier to be alone, but the truth is, it’s really not.”
I tip my head back to meet his gaze. “Are you speaking from experience?”
He smirks. “Maybe one day you’ll find out … if you become one of us. But I rarely tell outsiders shit about me. If I did, then they could use it against me. And I don’t need anyone having anything they can use against me. It’s too dangerous.”
I wonder how he’d feel if he knew what Hunter told me about him. Not that I’m going to tell him and rat Hunter out.
“Why’s it dangerous?” I ask.
He just stares at me instead of replying.
“Right,” I say. “I have to join your circle before you start telling me stuff.”
A slow smile spreads across his lips. “Finally, you’re catching on.”
“I guess so. But I still have a ton of questions before I even consider joining you guys’ weird-ass circle that seems an awful lot like a gang.”
“I’m sure you do, but not all of them are going to get answered,” he replies as he digs out his phone then glances at the screen.
“Some have to be answered first … I mean …” I try to figure out where to start. “Is this a gang?”
His gaze elevates to me. “If I said yes, would it be a deal breaker?”
“I don’t know …” I chew on my bottom lip. “Are you guys killers?”
His barely-there smile sends a chill down my spine. “If we were, it’d be stupid to ask me that.”
“Why? You asked me if I was one.”
“Yeah, but I’m fairly sure you’re not.”
“And I already told you that you’re wrong.” I rub my hands up and down my arms as a coldness settles over me.
“Are you saying that because you really can remember what happened that day?” He observes me with curiosity. “Or are you just buying into what everyone’s been whispering about you?”
“How do you know I can’t remember …?” I trail off, frowning. “Right. You read my therapy file.” My frown deepens at how much he really knows about me. “Don’t you think it seems fair that I get to read yours then?”
He grins coldly. “Who says I have one?”
“Don’t you?” I’m going out on a limb here, but I’m betting I’m right. Just like