sarcasm as I am. “Well, shit. Would you reconsider if I tell you about the time I got drunk and dry-humped my uncle?”
A mixture of shock and intrigue washes over her features. “Really?”
“No. My dad’s an only child.”
She starts to laugh, but the sound of the late bell ringing cuts it short. “Crap.” Before I can protest, she steers me toward the exit. “What’s your next class?”
“Chemistry.”
She winces as we walk out the door. “Mrs. Beck can be difficult, but I can help yo—”
Her sentence is interrupted by the sound of something heavy hitting a locker…followed by shouting.
When we turn to see what the commotion is, my breath freezes in my throat.
Jace’s arm is pinned over some poor guy’s neck while Oakley and Cole stand in front of a visibly irate girl who’s so pretty, I have to do a double-take.
“Leave him alone, Jace. We were only kissing.”
Sawyer tugs on my arm. “Let’s go. Jace Covington is not only bad news, he’s Britney’s obsession. Your life will be so much easier if you stay away from him and the drama his family causes…especially now that baby Covington has entered the chat.”
Oh, shit. Last time I saw Bianca she had a mouthful of braces and still watched cartoons.
Now she’s…
I can see why Jace wants to pummel her make-out buddy.
“Go to class, Bianca,” Jace grits through his teeth. “I’ll deal with you when we get home.”
Before she can protest, he seizes the guy’s collar and slams his head against the locker. “She’s a goddamn freshman, pervert.” The guy starts to speak, but Jace pulls him forward and slams him against the metal for a second time. “She’s also my baby sister.”
The dude looks positively petrified and I can’t say I blame him.
Jace has always had deep-rooted anger issues—but most people wouldn’t know because they usually mistake his silence for contentment.
However, deep down, he’s quietly stewing in all the rage simmering beneath the surface…like a deadly volcano on the verge of erupting.
It’s why I sought him out on the playground that day.
We were best friends…but our demons were kindred spirits.
“I had no idea, man,” the guy chokes out. When Jace eases up slightly, he adds, “She told me she was a senior and a foreign exchange student.”
Bianca winks at him. “Bonjour.”
Sawyer motions for us to leave again, but I stay rooted to the spot. Jace is a jerk, but I can’t shake this intrinsic need to make sure he doesn’t do something stupid.
Like commit homicide in the middle of a school hallway.
“See?” he proclaims innocently as Jace takes a step back. “It was all her. She was practically beg—”
His sentence is cut short by Jace’s fist.
“Try not to rough him up too much,” Cole utters as Jace winds his arm back, preparing to deal him another one. “The first game of the year is Friday and Declan’s one of the better players on the defensive line.”
The knee Jace sails into Declan’s groin makes it clear he doesn’t give a shit about his brother’s upcoming football game.
“Jesus Christ, Covington,” the guy wails as Jace strikes his jaw. “You made your point, all right? I won’t go near her again.”
Bianca rolls her eyes. “Pussy.”
Oakley and Cole snicker, but Jace isn’t amused. In fact, he appears to be growing angrier with every passing second.
Whatever’s happening now goes beyond some guy hooking up with his little sister.
“Take Bianca to class.” Jace’s tone is clipped. Threatening. “Now.”
“Are you serious?” Bianca groans as Cole shoves her messenger bag at her and Oakley takes hold of her elbow. “I’m not a bab—”
Jace sends a sharp kick to his adversary’s stomach. It’s so brutal I wince as he slumps down the locker. “Get the fuck up—”
“Stop,” I interject before Jace rams his foot into Declan’s abdomen. The guy is already on the floor, curled up in a fetal position with blood oozing from his lip…pleading with Jace to end the torture. Enough is enough. “I’m pretty sure he got the memo.”
Those piercing dark eyes flick to me. “F—”
“What the hell is she doing here?” Bianca interjects.
Aside from stating the obvious, I’m not really sure how to answer that.
Bianca takes several steps forward until she’s standing directly in front of me. “Haven’t you done enough?”
The venom laced in her words makes me inwardly wince. We didn’t hang out much given our age difference, but we were always cool with one another.
Or so I thought.
Before I can ask her what her issue is, she edges forward, getting uncomfortably close to my face. “Stay