to my cheek. His dark eyes move with shadows, and his full mouth is pursed tight. He’s as miserable here as I am.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” I say, glancing out Tristan’s front window to see Harper climbing from her car. I exhale sharply, and turn toward the door to follow Creed.
“Drive safe, Marnye,” Zack says, and I give a little wave for him, Zayd, and Windsor before I leave, snatching my suitcase, and my bookbag from the floor of my room.
It all feels so dramatic, but … it’s just another summer for us academy kids.
Today, we’re plotting intrigue. Last week, we meted out vengeance. Tomorrow, we’ll probably go to the beach.
One year, one choice, one improbable future.
Who knew that being the new girl would be so damn difficult.
There are five gorgeous guys in my bedroom.
The tension is so thick, it could be cut with a knife. This is insane, I think as I exhale and inadvertently draw every gaze in the room. Frankly, I’m still reeling from last night. Having five boys invite me to spend summer vacation with them … priceless. Also, confusing. Heart attack inducing. Squeal worthy.
Their attention makes me shift uncomfortably, and Windsor grins.
“Do you how many girls at Burberry would give their entire family fortune to be in your position right now?” he asks, and it takes a lot of effort not to roll my eyes. Then he winks at me and licks his lower lip, and I’m rolling my eyes anyway.
“And what position, exactly, is it that I’m in?” I ask, crossing my arms over my baggy t-shirt. As soon as the guys swarmed my dad’s new little rental home in Grenadine Heights, I changed clothes. My party dress from last night is now in a plastic bag near the front door. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to wear it again.
I shiver.
Zack notices and his face softens. He’s got three stitches in his forehead, a swollen left eye, and a seriously puffy lower lip. I mean, puffier than normal. He’s always had a nice, full mouth …
“The five hottest, richest guys at the academy, all right here in your boudoir,” Windsor purrs, standing up from his position in the corner and sliding his palms down the front of his short-sleeved, pale blue button-down. “You now get to make the tricky choice of deciding exactly who you’d like to bunk with during the summer.”
“Assuming my dad says I can go,” I insert slowly, my eyes catching on Tristan’s gray ones for a moment. He’s not engaged to Harper anymore! Part of me wants to run in the bathroom, close the door, and squeal. The rest of me … has no idea why he’s even here. Zayd, either, for that matter. Windsor is my friend; Zack has a crush on me. What about Creed?
I try my best not to look at him because every time I do, I think about the way his eyes looked when he cornered me in The Mess that day. “Avoiding me won’t do you any good.” He notices me looking and lightly rests his fingers under his chin.
“She’ll stay with me, obviously. She can room with Miranda. My sister won’t accept anything less.”
“Bullshit,” Zack snorts as he shakes his head, eyeing the three Idol boys warily. “You can’t make that decision for her.” He doesn’t trust them anymore now than he did yesterday. But … maybe I do? Hell, I’m not sure. I’m not sure about anything at this moment. Well, except for the fact that Dad’s at work. He’s a pretty chill parent, but I don’t think he’d appreciate me inviting all these guys over while he’s not home, particularly when all but one of them have been involved in bullying me.
Oh, and I’m pretty sure all of them are man-whores, too. Charlie would most certainly not appreciate that part of the equation.
“No doubt I’ll be alone at my place,” Zayd interjects, his emerald gaze dark with emotion as he eyes me from across the room. There’s this broken sort of tenderness between us that feels even more difficult to traverse than the shit I have to deal with in regards to Tristan or Creed. “And I’ll give you the master upstairs, so you won’t have to see much of me … unless you want to.” His already husky rockstar purr gets a little rougher, a little more strained.
“It’s probably best you don’t come with me,” Tristan says, his voice this cold thread of steel. There’s a