A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime (Lancaster Prep )(78)

“Natalie was caught in front of the dorm in a big argument with Crew. Can you believe it? I thought you two had something going on, but maybe they’ve been hooking up the entire time?”

I fall heavily onto the bed, her words on repeat in my brain.

With Crew.

Natalie was outside with Crew.

Maybe she was trying to sneak in and he saw her since he walked me over? That has to be it.

“What exactly happened?” I ask. “Do you know?”

“I guess they were fighting? I heard Natalie scream. We all did. She was yelling at the top of her lungs, like she didn’t even care, though it was past curfew so she had to know she would get in trouble. Not sure why Crew was out in front of the building. For Natalie, maybe?”

No, for me, I want to tell her. We watched a movie and forgot all about it. He kissed me until I was breathless, and I could feel his erection against my thigh. We did inappropriate things with a Blow Pop and he made me come with his mouth and the candy. It was the hottest experience of my life.

Ruined by him ending up getting caught with…Natalie?

I can’t even begin to understand what happened after I left him outside last night.

“I’m glad I wasn’t the one caught sneaking back into the dorm,” Maggie says, oblivious to my shock. “I would’ve been if I’d gone and met with Fig like I was supposed to.”

“Yeah,” I say numbly. “You’re lucky.”

“I know.” She grabs another tissue and mops up her face, then goes to the full-length mirror on my wall, checking herself out. “I look like I’ve been crying.”

“You don’t look that bad,” I reassure her, wishing she could reassure me too.

But that would mean I’d have to tell her everything that happened between Crew and me last night, and that’s the last thing I want to do. Especially with everything else that happened on top of it.

“I could look better.” She keeps her gaze on her reflection, sighing. “I guess this will have to do. I’m going to go talk to him.”

“You think he’s already here?”

“He always gets here early. If he’s not in his classroom yet, I’ll go grab a coffee in the dining hall first,” she says as she starts for the door.

I don’t bother telling her to stay or try to convince her she shouldn’t talk to him. Make him come to her. She wouldn’t listen to me anyway. She’s going to do what she wants.

“Okay. Good luck.” My voice is weak, my thoughts turbulent, but she doesn’t even notice.

“Bye, Wren. See ya in class. Wish me luck!” She shuts the door before I can say anything else.

I flop backward on the bed, overwhelmed. I don’t even know what to think. Will Natalie and Crew get in trouble? Suspended? Oh God…expelled?

They wouldn’t expel a Lancaster, would they? I know he’s claimed they have zero tolerance with drugs, and even he could get kicked out, but what about a situation like this?

What if he’s gone already and I never get a chance to talk to him again? What then? I don’t even have his phone number, which is so stupid. I suppose I could contact him via social media but…

Okay, I’m getting way ahead of myself here. I need to get ready for school and leave a little early to see if he’s waiting out front for me like he usually does. If he’s not there…

I don’t know what I’ll do.

I get ready in a hurry, pulling on a thick pair of white wool tights and the bralette I wore last night, then I don my uniform. I slip a navy sweater over my white shirt, forgetting the jacket, then my skirt, rolling it up a little to show off more leg.

Tight-covered leg but who cares? I’m trying to catch someone’s attention.

Hopefully he’ll be there. Waiting for me by the entrance like he normally does. Before, when he used to level that cold stare on me, I’d run by him, just to get away.

Now I walk slowly, savoring that one-sided smile that appears on his face when he first spots me. He makes me feel beautiful.

What in the world was he doing with Natalie last night?

Once I’m finally out of the dorm hall, I make my way toward the main building, my steps careful thanks to the slushy mess the sidewalks are. The sun is out again, a little warmer this morning, and even though it’s still cold, it’s causing the snow to melt.

There are people all around me, most of them with their heads bent as they walk, whispering to each other. I hear Natalie’s name mentioned time and again, along with Crew’s.

It’s all anyone can talk about. The gossip is going to be rampant.

If they all think Crew and Natalie are together, I’m going to feel like a fool. Even if it’s not true.

Holding my head high, I pick up my pace, marching toward the building when I spot Ezra and Malcolm standing in Crew’s usual spot, frowns on their faces as they watch everyone walk by them.

There’s no Crew in sight, and I can’t fight the disappointment sinking in my stomach like a stone.

“Wren.”

Malcolm calls my name in that crisp British accent of his and I go to him, nerves making my entire body shake.

“Yes?” I ask, shoving my gloved hands into my coat pockets.

“You heard what happened to our boy?”

I like how he calls Crew our boy. He must be aware of what’s going on between us, and any other time, that would be embarrassing. Not right now, though.