Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest High #3)(46)

All traces of humor left. His arm dropped from my shoulder, but he didn’t move away. He only tensed. “What are you talking about?”

“You and my ex-bestie. I’ve heard that you two get it on almost every night now.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Who told you that?”

“Was that supposed to be a secret?”

His jaw tightened as he ground out, “It wasn’t supposed to be public knowledge.” He cast an accusing look to me.

Heather spoke up, “Nope. No way. She didn’t say one word so don’t blame her for that gossip. It came straight from Tate’s mouth. She was bragging about it in class to Morgan.”

“Who’s Morgan?”

“Drill team,” she informed me.

I nodded. “Enough said.”

“She was bragging?”

Heather turned back to him. “Seemed like it. I think Morgan was planning to make her move on you after the basketball game Friday night. Tate was friendly about it, but made it known you’ve been too occupied to notice other girls.”

“We’re not dating. We’re screwing. There’s a difference.”

“Then you better handle her because Tate’s laying claim to you and no one’s going to argue with her. You two were together for two years. It makes sense to people. She’s the only girl you’ve ever loved. That’s common knowledge around here too.” Heather cast a frown at me, biting her lip and I got the feeling she wanted to add more, but thought better of it.

Logan was like stone beside me. He was standing close enough so his arm grazed mine. I frowned and asked, “Why’s this upsetting you so much?”

He swung to me. “What?”

“Tate can’t be the only girl who’s tried this with you. Just do what you normally do.” I paused and when he didn’t get what I was implying, I added, “You hook up with someone else. Hook up with someone else Friday night.” But he still looked upset and that confused me. Normal Logan would’ve laughed this off. He wasn’t. “Are you developing feelings for her again?”

“Why the hell would you say that?”

“Don’t talk to her like that,” Heather pulled me from him.

I placed a calming hand on her arm. I could handle Logan just fine. “Because you’re not acting normal. Hooking up with someone else shouldn’t bother you, but I can tell it does.”

“That’s not—” But he stopped and left.

Mason was coming towards us with Ethan and Strauss. Logan brushed through them, shouldering the last two out of his way. Both paused, frowning at him until Mason was close enough to ask, “What was that about?”

Heather opened her mouth, but I grabbed her arm. I answered first, “Nothing. Some test that he took.”

Mason swung his head so he was only focused on me. When he didn’t comment, I felt a swift kick to my gut. It was another lie, but I couldn’t take it back. I wasn’t even sure why I lied, but I managed a calm smile. “He’ll get over it.”

“Sure.”

“Test, my ass,” Ethan griped. His face was scrunched together in a snarl. He raked a hand through his wavy sandy hair before letting it fall to his side. He was shorter than Mason, but just as muscular. He wasn’t happy. “Logan doesn’t get worked up about tests. I bet it’s because of Tate. She could always wind him up like that. Why haven’t you stopped that yet?”

“Right,” Mason bit out, “because my brother always does what I want him to do.”

“He has many times,” Strauss added. “It’s already started. He lost his head over her before. He’s doing it again.”

“And speak of the devil,” Heather murmured, her gaze trained on someone down the hall. The group followed her gaze as one. Tate was standing at a locker, laughing with another guy. He wasn’t one of their friends, and I didn’t recognize him from any classes. He was built like an athlete. His brown hair was cut short and was spiked. When she flicked her hair over her shoulder, his gaze fell to her shirt. He moved an inch taller and a satisfied grin came over him. I had no doubt he’d gotten a good view of cle**age. Then her hand found his chest and rested there for a moment before she moved it down his stomach. As we watched, she leaned closer, and he sucked in his breath. His chest bulged out, and his stomach flattened as her fingers ran all the way down to grasp the waistband of his jeans.

Ethan grunted. “Whore. Always was, always will be.” He left the group, and as he passed the flirting couple, his gaze locked with the guy’s. Whatever unspoken message was relayed in his stare worked. The guy straightened away from Tate and moved her back. Before she could say anything, he grabbed his bag and hurried away.

Strauss chuckled. “Well if Tate didn’t know she was getting inside Logan’s head, she knows now.”

And sure enough, Tate was standing in the hallway with her arms crossed over her chest, staring at us. Correction. She was studying us.

Strauss flicked her off before walking after his friend. When he drew abreast Tate, his gaze locked with hers. He smirked and we saw him say something to her before he moved past. There wasn’t much of a reaction from her, but she cast condemning eyes back to us.

Mason laughed. “He said the same thing, but to her face.”