Make My Move (Hannaford Prep #5) - J. Bree Page 0,100

she stumbles over to the steps. When she pulls the earplugs out, she finally cracks a weak-looking smile and chuckles at Avery’s overly enthusiastic cheering.

She looks so unsteady as she wobbles over to us, her eyes darting around at each of us but I can’t think of a single thing to say to her… other than how fucking badly I want her in my bed tonight.

Avery tucks her into her side and whispers to her, the blush spreading over her cheeks entirely too tempting, and I have to pry my eyes away from her.

Lips lets out a breath and settles into her seat, wedged in-between Avery and Harley, and we watch as a guy with a cello walks out onto the stage. It's only quiet for a second before Blaise and Harley start fighting, the beginning of the end.

“Move,” says Blaise.

Harley spits fire back at him. “Fuck off. You've just decided to do something about it because she passed your little singing test?”

“Don't be a jealous dick and move. I need to tell her—”

“You'd have to climb over my dead fucking body, and we both know I could take you. Now shut up before you get us in the shit.”

Avery is grinning like this is the most amusing shit in her life, but I’m not sure she knows how bad this really is because if Blaise has finally decided to do something… we’re not going to survive this and all still stay together. This isn’t about sex or reputations or any of the other bullshit it usually is. I’m not desperate to fuck the Mounty for a notch on my bedpost or just to say I’ve had her.

I want to keep her.

I was ready to break all of the rules and fucking obliterate Joey when he came at her the other day. I’ve hospitalized students all year for talking shit about her, and the thought of her going home to the Bay in a few weeks and finding some guy to hook up with there has me ready to spill blood.

I want to drive down to the Bay right now and gut the Jackal for being a threat to her.

There’s no way I’d be feeling all of this shit if I didn’t want to call her mine and covet her; keep her the fuck away from the Bay and all of the dangers that place holds for her.

I feel the Mounty’s eyes on me, but if I look over at her right now I’ll do something stupid and ruin everything, something like hauling her ass out of here and finding the closest flat surface to spread her out on.

I spend the rest of the performances trying to get a hold of myself.

The second Trevelen dismisses us, Avery sighs at Lips like she’s a problem child and says, “I’m making dinner, are you coming up to eat with us or are you hitting the dining hall?”

It’s a bad idea, but none of us seem to be able to pry ourselves away from Lips right now, so we all agree to go eat with Avery. Harley is glaring around at everyone and everything surrounding us and Blaise watches him like he’s about to start a fight.

I focus on the girls and when Lips’ leg gives way and she almost takes a dive, I’m glad I’ve been watching.

What the fuck has happened to her?

Avery immediately gets a hold of her elbow to support her, tucking her phone away and focusing entirely on Lips with a frown.

“You know how I tell you not to buy me shit? If a new leg is on the table, I'll take it,” Lips grunts through clenched teeth, and Avery rubs her back with a little smile as they hobble out of the auditorium.

I last exactly ten steps before I step in.

It’s a miracle it takes me that long because the wincing and grimaces make the killing rage fill my veins and if I find out someone did this to her, they’ll be dead before dawn. I will fucking destroy them for doing this to her.

I wrap an arm around her waist, moving slow enough that she can stop me if it jars her leg in any way, and pull her into my side firmly. She tenses for a second, her own version of flailing about, but then she takes a deep breath and clutches at my waist to lean on me more fully. That tastes like victory, and Harley immediately starts to bitch me out from where he’s