Empire High Betrayal (Empire High #3) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,60

his fingers trailing down my palm. “See you tomorrow, Sanders.”

I shivered. “Wait. Rob?” If he really had my back, he could do me another favor. “Can you please stop pushing Matt’s buttons on purpose?”

He shrugged. “But they’re so easy to push.”

“Please?”

“Anything for you, Sanders,” he said with a wink.

Instead of going to my locker to get my things, I went straight for the auditorium. The last time I’d met Matt in the auditorium, I’d been scared out of my mind. And angry. God, I had been so angry at him. But this time? I loved him so much it hurt.

The heavy door closed behind me with a thud. The smell of old wood wafted around me, reminding me of our first kiss. The kiss he’d stolen. He didn’t have to steal anything from me now.

“Matt?” I whispered into the darkness.

Okay, this time was scary too. But not because I was expecting some terrible prank. It was just because the Empire High auditorium was really freaking creepy. “Matt?” I said a little louder.

I laughed as he wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“God you’re beautiful,” he whispered into my ear.

“It’s pitch black in here.”

“It’s not like I forget how beautiful you are in the dark.” He kissed the side of my neck. “You drive me crazy, baby.”

I turned in his arms and tried to make out his face in the dark. “Do you really think I can move in for a whole year? My dad said he’d talk to your dad…”

“It’s fine. I promise. I’ll let my parents know tonight, okay? Now, where were we?”

I laughed, but he silenced me with a kiss.

Not just any kiss. One of his frantic ones. Like we were running out of time. I had been getting used to his slow ones. The ones where we had all the time in the world. But right now…we didn’t. His football practice was starting any minute. And God, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love when he was a little wild. It reminded me of our start. I wasn’t a dirty little secret anymore. But maybe I kind of liked being treated like one sometimes. Sneaking around with Matthew Caldwell was the most thrilling thing in the world.

He backed me up until my back hit the auditorium door. He pushed up my skirt, bunching it around my waist.

“What are you doing?” I gasped.

His fingers slid underneath my tights.

“Matt someone could come in…” I moaned instead of finishing my sentence. Fuck.

“Do you know what causes panic attacks?” he whispered as his fingers drove me insane.

God. I dropped my head back against the wooden door. How did he expect me to answer him like this? My fingers dug into his strong shoulders.

“Stress,” he said and gently kissed my neck. “And I think I know how to make my girl relax.”

Chapter 20

Friday

“No way,” Kennedy said when we were ushered out of our car on 5th Avenue.

I was just as surprised as she was. We were in the fashion center of New York, standing right outside the world famous Odegaard boutique. I had never been here before, but I’d remembered Justin mentioning it. He worked for the head stylist of Odegaard – Diane Cartwright. Who just so happened to be my personal stylist too thanks to my dad. I wonder how pissed she is that all those clothes got destroyed by Isabella…

“For girls’ night we’re getting makeovers!” Matt’s mom said.

Kennedy opened her mouth but no words came out.

“I’ve rented out the whole store for the evening,” Mrs. Caldwell said. “We have a hairdresser and a makeup artist coming. And of course we have to go shopping. Plus you two will need costumes for our annual Halloween party next weekend. My treat, of course.”

Wow. When she mentioned that all girls’ nights involved shopping, I kind of figured we’d end up at the mall or something. But Mrs. Caldwell was always dressed flawlessly. This made perfect sense. I’d seen Matt, Mason, and even Mr. Caldwell around the house in pajamas. But never Mrs. Caldwell. “Mrs. Caldwell, you don’t have to…”

“I want to. That’s why it’s my treat. Come with me, girls.” She walked through the ten-foot-tall glass doors and greeted the person standing there with a kiss to each cheek.

Kennedy and I both looked at each other. “I feel like I’m going to be arrested just for stepping foot in there,” she said.

I laughed. “This is surreal, isn’t it?”

“It’s freaking amazing is what it is!” Kennedy grabbed my arm. “I mean…makeovers?! At