Kings of Anarchy (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #3) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,75

himself even further.

I pulled on my uniform in record time, taming my hair and adding minimal makeup to my face before sprinting back downstairs again. The guys were just stepping out the door as Saint barked at them to leave when I fell into step between Saint and Monroe with a smug smile, blowing a loose lock of hair from my face.

"You didn't shower," Saint grumbled.

"Don't nit pick," I insisted and surprisingly, he didn't. "Did 52 reply?"

"Not yet," Saint said. "But if they do fall for this, we must be prepared."

"I'm sure you're working out a ten point plan in your head right now," Monroe said, sounding hopeful instead of mocking him for it.

"Eighteen points," Saint corrected and Monroe smiled, making Saint almost smile too.

We made it to the Acacia Sports Hall and I split away from the guys into the girls’ changing room, finding Mila already in her dark green shorts and t-shirt with the Everlake crest on the breast. I realised I should have just dressed in my gym clothes before I left The Temple, but I guessed Saint wouldn't have been able to accept that.

"Hey girl," Mila said with a sad smile. She often gave me that look since the news had come out about my dad’s death. "How are you doing?" she asked with genuine empathy and it cut into my chest, splitting the wound wide.

"I'm better," I said, which wasn't untrue. I was still deeply hurting, but it wasn't the viciously keen pain of the first couple of weeks. Part of me hated finding any reprieve from his loss though. I was caught between not wanting to feel this devouring ache, and not wanting to let go of it. "I just need constant distractions."

"Well, that I can do," she said firmly. "I can offer you mindless chat, cookies and hot chocolate on a girl’s night at mine tonight? I can even throw in a cheesy movie or two and upgrade the hot chocolate to hard liquor, if you prefer."

"Yeah, that sounds like a dream," I agreed, my heart lifting.

"Great, do you need to like...ask permission?" she lowered her voice to a whisper and my stomach clenched at her words. Things had shifted between me and the Night Keepers, but between Saint's rules and all of their possessive ways, I knew they were going to be difficult about this. But I wasn't going to let them cage me anymore.

"I'll be there, don't worry about it," I said firmly and she beamed.

We filed out of the changing room with the rest of the girls and I had the feeling this day was going to be one of the easier ones. I just had to find a way to convince my jealous little tribe that I needed a few hours off from them tonight for girl time. Easy.

We headed into the sports hall where Monroe was waiting with the guys in our class. He was chatting with Kyan, the two of them chuckling about something as we approached and my lips tugged up at the sight. He always seemed to smile so much more these days since he’d joined the Night Keepers, and though I knew he’d never admit it, it was clear he’d found a place amongst them that felt natural. I shared in that secret too. Because I would never have thought I’d not only fit in with the Night Keepers, but feel like I belonged with them on a base level, like we were always meant to find each other.

"Today we're going to be completing a fitness test to see how you have improved since the start of the school year," Monroe announced.

I hungered for that kind of challenge, I wanted to push myself until I couldn't feel anything anymore. There was nothing like the sweet burn of exercise to drown out every other feeling in my body.

"Line up on both sides of the hall," Monroe instructed and the class split up.

I moved to stand beside Mila at the far end of the hall, but we soon had company as Blake, Kyan and Saint all walked over to stand to my right.

"Memphis!" Monroe barked. "Sit your ass out. You're excused from this class like I've said a thousand times."

Saint scowled, standing there in his P.E. uniform with his arm in a sling.

"I'll watch then," he seethed, snapping his fingers at Freeloader further down the line who came running his way. He murmured something to her and she raced out of the room even when Monroe