once she breaks past her line.
The move is hers to make, but I hope it won’t be long before she craves it too much to care that it’s me. I wasn’t kidding, I’m betting I’m the only one who can give her what she wants. Her stupid Wyatt couldn’t handle her, not like I can.
I might not believe her word, but the physical chemistry between us? It’s a firecracker.
Thinking about her texting me, knowing it’s me this time… I trace my lip and cock my head. Anticipating the satisfying thrill is almost too much to handle.
I’m stalking the halls, looking for Devlin before first period when he didn’t show in the parking lot, but something else makes me halt. Some underclassman crashes into my back and I swear I can see his soul leave his body when my scowl lands on him. The kid squeaks out some apology and disappears. I turn my attention back to what made me stop.
Thea. Standing awfully fucking close to Coleman.
Her secret blog I discovered flashes in my head. Is Thea better at this than I gave her credit for, putting on a good girl act to get attention? I knew it. No one’s that naïve. And here I was, all protective over her when I saw those creepy comments. But she clearly has no qualms throwing herself at men.
Fake girlfriend or not, teacher or not, no chick of mine should be seen cozying up with another man. I need to do a deeper dig on Coleman to find something—anything on him that will keep him away from Thea. My suspicion from the other day hasn’t faded.
She touches his arm for a brief second with a big smile, then gestures to the pastry-filled table beside them. Vague recognition crosses my mind. There was a new Instagram post Thea made this week of her kitchen exploding with baked goods with the caption bake your feels away followed by a yellow heart and a sun emoji.
To make matters worse, she’s wearing the same sweater from the photo I was looking at last night. My hands ball into fists and my teeth clench. How many guys would she send a photo like that to, pulling the edge up to show off her stomach and a hint of her tits?
I’ve seen the fucking blog. That was a couple of years ago, but maybe she’s had good practice since then and upgraded to the way she was with me.
Jealousy is an irrational emotion, but there’s nothing I can do to stop it surging, calling on the vicious anger threatening to break free, threatening to break Coleman’s face for looking at her. I don’t fucking share.
I stalk the length of the hallway. If he didn’t get the message the two times he’s seen me all over her, I’ll make it crystal fucking clear this time. She’s mine and he needs to stay away.
“I think you’d be a perfect fit to head the winter formal planning committee,” Coleman tells her, waving at the table. “You organized this so well. What do you say?”
“I don’t know,” Thea murmurs, blushing a pretty shade of red. “I’m not a great public speaker.”
“This wouldn’t be like that. I was the faculty advisor last year, and the students kept it informal, more like a club meeting. I think you’ll do great.”
“Really?”
Christ, she’s so starved for attention, she needs him to praise her? I’m going to put my fist through a locker.
Thea spots me as I stop a few feet away and goes still. She picks up a wrapped pastry and takes a step toward me.
Acid feels like it’s boiling beneath my skin, seconds from exploding. I have to get out of here. I might not listen much to that quack therapist every week, but the coping methods keep me in check.
Without acknowledging Thea or Coleman, I keep walking down the hall to cool off before I deal with them.
After I skip first and most of second period to go for a long run on the track, then grab a shower, I’m late to English class. Exercise helped, but I’m still on edge as I enter the room. The sight of Coleman is enough to have me teetering close to the uncontrollable anger again.
What’s so great about him that the girls are always eating out of his palm? Until Thea, I didn’t care about a young teacher getting his rocks off with the ego boost of high school girls fawning over him.
Coleman’s eyes harden at my interruption. That