Saint (Angelview Academy #1) - E.M. Snow Page 0,60
read that sociopath’s mind!
I’m a little spaced out as I’m walking to my seat, and don’t realize that the chair next to mine is occupied until a familiar voice catches my attention.
“What’s the matter, Mallory? You look out of it.”
I stop and stare with wide eyes at Liam.
“Oh, hey!” I say, my surprise clear in my throat. “I … I didn’t think you wanted to sit with me anymore.”
He grins, and it’s strangely charming.
“That’s when I was avoiding you,” he explains. “I’m not avoiding you anymore.”
He’s giving me friendly Liam again, and it’s throwing me off balance. I’d never have expected this from him while at school, so I’m not entirely sure how to proceed.
“Umm … why were you avoiding me?” I ask as I move to settle in my seat.
He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter.”
I don’t miss the irritation that crosses his gaze, though it’s gone in a split second.
“Hmmm, sure. I’ll pretend to believe that.”
He chuckles and stretches his arm to rest behind my chair. I stiffen, at loss as to what he’s thinking. It almost feels like he’s flirting with me.
“I’m sorry about that, by the way,” he says. “That was a dick move to just ignore you.”
“True.” I nod. “But it’s fine now, I guess.”
We’d managed to meet by up on Wednesday, as planned, and finish our project together. He hadn’t been this friendly while we worked, but he hadn’t been a total dick to me either. I’d taken the evening as a win.
“Good,” he says, breaking me from my thoughts. “I don’t want things to be awkward between us.”
I’m at a complete loss. He’s throwing me for a loop, and I’m struggling to keep up. One moment he wants nothing to do with me, the next he’s overly friendly and flirty.
He’s like Saint, except Saint is neither friendly nor flirty.
Saint just expects what he wants when he snaps his fingers, no questions asked.
“Hey, Liam, can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” he assures me with an easy grin that seems so out-of-character, I briefly wonder if maybe he has a twin who’s pulling a prank on me.
“So, I was wondering…why did Saint have you watch me at the pool? What was his game?”
Liam’s brow furrows, and he looks less than pleased by my query. “Saint? You want to talk about Saint right now?”
“Well, no, not necessarily…”
He removes his arm from the back of my chair, his scowl deepening. “What makes you think Saint asked me to do anything?”
I’ve upset him, and I could kick myself for it. That’s the last thing I wanted to do.
“Well, Gabe said—”
“Gabe said what? That Saint fucking ordered us to look out for you? Like some goddamn king? Jesus Christ, what is with everyone kissing his ass all the time?”
I wish I could take the question back. I wish I could pluck my words from the air and shove them back into my mouth. Liam’s not just upset. He’s legitimately pissed off.
“Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
He turns in his chair so he’s facing me. “You think Saint really gives a shit about you? Really? He’s not the type to care about anyone, Mallory. Not you. Not me. Not a fucking soul. The sooner you realize that, the better it’ll be for you.”
Where is any of this coming from? I never thought Saint cared about me. He’s proven time and time again that he doesn’t.
But he saved your life and made you scream his name in pleasure.
Stupid fucking inner voice.
“Liam, I—”
He shoves away from his desk, gathering up his things, and storms away before I can get a word in edgewise. Returning to his usual seat, he drops down in the chair and doesn’t even look my way the remainder of the class.
So much for apologies.
The morning of Parents’ Weekend, I’m having a difficult time putting on a cheery smile. It’s got nothing to do with the fact that I don’t have anyone coming to see me. In fact, it’s a relief that Jenn hasn’t made an appearance, and I pray to God she stays far, far away from here.
No, what’s bothering me are the gods.
Gabe’s probing questions.
Liam’s explosion of temper.
Saint’s icy silence.
He’s gone back to pretending I don’t exist, and I haven’t bothered to try confronting him again. I have a feeling it’ll do little good. If I was smarter, I’d get over his behavior and attitude and carry on with my life like nothing was the matter.
If I was smarter.
But I can’t help my disappointment and sense of rejection. The guy