Never His Girl (Kings of Cypress Prep #2) - Rachel Jonas Page 0,13
it even more.
“Fuck you,” I hiss, feeling unstable as I aim those words right at Austin.
I’m completely aware of being on probation, but instead of that making me walk an even straighter line, it’s left me feeling like I have less to lose.
“Fuck me?” Austin huffs a laugh with the statement. “Very interesting choice of words. Kind of in the same vein of what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“That’s it.” Lexi’s on her feet, prompting the two seated beside her to stand too.
“Relax, I only came over to see if West’s leftovers are still warm,” Austin says to his teammates, before turning to face me again. “I’ve been thinking. If we win semifinals this weekend, a little reward would be nice. You know—you drop by my place and hook me up. Maybe some of my boys, too. That is, if you can still walk after I get done with you.”
The edges of my vision darken and all I see is the idiot seated beside me. Without thinking, my hands plant flat against his solid chest and I shove as hard as I can, knocking him right off his chair. I don’t flinch when his ass slams to the floor. In fact, it sends a wave of relief surging through me and I don’t even regret it when he gets to his feet quicker than expected, fury raging in his eyes.
“Psycho bitch!” he thunders. “Put your filthy fucking hands on me again and see if I don’t end you!”
I’m poised to snap right back at him, fearless because I’m pissed as hell with everything right now, but before I can come to my own defense…
“Wanna try saying that shit to me, motherfucker?”
My heart pounds inside my chest and I’m suddenly riding a wave of rage and confusion. All because of who just spewed those angry words—West, full of fury, nose-to-nose with Austin as he backs him down like a trained puppy. It’s insane how quickly the loyal subject falls into place when his king delivers a swift reminder.
Dane and Sterling are late to the party, proving just how quickly West must’ve stood and rushed over. Under different circumstances, the move might’ve been seen as valiant, but nothing concerning West Golden impresses me. Not with who and what I know him to be. Actually, I wouldn’t put it past him to have set this whole thing up—some sort of ploy to fool me into thinking he has a soul after all.
From where I stand, I see West’s jaw tick, see his nostrils flare with anger—whether real or faked.
“Look, man, I don’t want any trouble. I was just joking with her,” Austin explains, putting his hands up in surrender as he backs away. The maneuver is so hasty his thigh slams the corner of a lunch table, knocking him a little off balance.
“Let me catch you so much as breathing in her direction and I’ll mangle you. You understand me?” West seethes, so tense the veins in both arms protrude just beneath his ink.
“Yeah, I got it,” Austin concedes, volleying a look between West and his brothers, seeming to regret having ever walked his happy ass over to my table.
By now, nearly the entire lunchroom is watching and it’s just a matter of time until a staff member notices, too. And thanks to West, I can’t afford to even be associated with trouble.
Sticking around to see how it all unfolds is out of the question. So, the moment I see a lunch monitor’s brow furrowing at the situation, I hightail it down the center aisle, headed straight out of the lunchroom. Not even stopping when I hear that deep, familiar voice calling after me.
“Southside! Wait up!”
Move faster, Blue. Don’t give him a chance to speak. Don’t give him a chance to fill your head with whatever lies he’s come up with to draw you in again. Everything he’s ever said, everything he ever will say, is a lie.
The doors burst open when I push into the empty hallway, and to my horror, they burst open a second time as heavy steps come bounding through right behind me.
“Wait,” he calls out again.
I pretend not to hear him, picking up speed as I head God-knows-where. The one thing I do know is that I have to get as far away from West as possible. The urge to kill him still hasn’t dulled and if I thought I could overpower him, I just might try it.