The Entitled (The Entitled Duet #1) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,27

us. I want to stick my tongue out at him, but I’m turning fifteen in a week, so I don’t.

“Jay, no one but I will ever see Tess’s tattoo no matter how old we get.” Reed’s voice is dismissive.

“Really? Because when I was your age, I thought I was in love too. Until a year later, when I found someone else. Guess what? I’m still falling in love. Trust me—it doesn’t last.” He shakes his head in disgust.

I reach over and lace my fingers with Reed’s because he looks like he wants to hurt Jay. Also, I was starting to feel better, and now Jay is bringing me down. I hate it. “Come on, Reed. Please focus on me. Tomorrow, I’m going to have to deal with all the crap at school. Tonight, I want to be with you. Don’t you feel like… I don’t know, like you and I have this big secret that no one else knows about?” I bat my eyelashes at him.

He stops giving Jay the kill stare and turns his focus on me. His hand caresses mine… eyes lock with mine, and I launch myself at him again. He catches me. Reed always catches me.

TESS

The next week of school is exhausting. Everyone talks behind my back but pretends they want to be my best friend. I show up Monday morning with Reed and Jax walking me everywhere. Reed has decided that if he kisses me all the time, everyone will stop talking about us. Sure enough, it only makes it worse. I know everyone thinks Reed slept with the blonde at the party. And I’ve worked hard to ignore it since I know the truth. Still, it hurts when I hear Tiffany and her posse giggling about how I have no self-esteem because I’ve stayed with him.

I’m over it today. My mother has risen from the dead. After three weeks of silence, she contacted me yesterday, informing me that she will pick me up tomorrow. This, along with all the other garbage in my life, makes me want to grab Reed and lock us in his room.

Is that too much to ask? It must be. Because here I sit, like a pathetic girlfriend who can’t think for herself, waiting for her boyfriend. His football coach has called an emergency meeting after school. How annoying.

“Explain to me again why I can’t go back to the penthouse?”

Reed leans over and kisses me. “I need you close.”

I almost laugh. “Reed, that is ridiculous.” My lips twitch. “Come on, I don’t want to wait around while you and the other players get lectured about having personal trainers over the summer. Or what you’re supposed to tell your chefs to prepare for you.” I know I sound whiny, but sometimes it works with him, so I give it a shot.

He laughs and pulls me in for another kiss. This time, he tries to sneak in some tongue. I kiss him back for a moment because I can’t stop myself until we hear catcalls from his teammates.

“Great. Exactly what I need—more people talking about me.” Crossing my arms, I close myself off.

“Don’t do that.” He grabs my hands. “Fuck them.” He motions at the team. “This is not going to take long, and then we’ll go home together.” His tone signals this is the end of the discussion.

Getting butterflies when he says ‘home,’ I know it’s silly, but I can’t wait until we’re old enough to get our own place.

With a frustrated sigh, I say, “I hate this. I’m going to have to sit here with all of the football players’ girlfriends. Pretend like I’m on the phone, so they don’t talk to me, then watch them whisper behind my back about you.” At least I see a flash of regret in his eyes.

“Tess, come on. I know this has been a shitty couple of weeks, but it’s getting better. School is almost out. What will make you happy? Whatever my kitten wants, I will give her.” He winks, damn him. “And we can’t forget it’s your birthday.” He rubs my lips with his thumb, his eyes starting to change as I lightly suck the tip.

“Whatever.” When I bite his thumb, he grins and I roll my eyes at him. “Why can’t Jay take me home?”

He stiffens and pulls back. “He is not allowed to be alone with you,” he says through his teeth.

“What is your problem with him?”

He glances in the direction of the guys filing into the locker room.