Logan Kade (Fallen Crest #5.5)(17)

“Logan.”

“What?” My scowl didn’t go away. That bothered me.

“I was joking. You’re the same sarcastic jackass you always are.”

“Oh thank God.” I pressed a hand to my chest, giving him a watery grin. “That scared the living shit out of me. Don’t do that.” Sam called to him from inside the bedroom, and I waved him off. “Go back to Sam. Sleep tight, big brother. You’ve got a day full of twofers tomorrow.” Which reminded me… “Oh hey,” I added as he opened his door. He glanced back at me. “The coaches had a rough night. All four of them spent the night at the head coach’s house tonight.”

He cursed. “Are you sure?”

“Yep.”

A second, third, and fourth curse. “That means we’ll be doing sprints all practice.”

I laughed. “Have a good night.” I yelled past him, “You, too, Sam.”

“Stop talking so we can go to bed!” she yelled back.

Mason closed the door behind him, and I went to the kitchen.





MINDF*CKING PARTNER IN CRIME





TAYLOR


“What did you say to him?”

The sight of Jason waiting outside my classroom building hadn’t registered before he saw me and pounced. Well, he didn’t pounce, but it was almost the same thing. He straightened from the building, crushed out his cigarette, and flung a hand in the air as he rushed over to meet me. His hair stuck up all over, like he’d been running his hand through it.

“Uh…” Wait a minute. I frowned. “What are you doing here? You don’t go to school here.”

“I’m waiting for you.” He glared and crossed his arms over his scrawny chest. “Kade turned me down. He asked for my competitor’s number instead.”

My mouth twitched. I wouldn’t laugh. “He did?” I could feel myself smiling. I couldn’t stop it.

“It’s not funny. Do you know how much money I lost out on?”

I shrugged. “Look, I told him you’d do it. That was my job. I didn’t say anything else about it.”

“Then why’d he change his mind?”

“I don’t know.” A swarm of students headed inside—even the smokers were going in. “I have to go to class. Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

“Because I can’t.”

I started for the door, but turned around to walk backward. “What do you mean?”

“He called me from a disposable phone. It’s not in use anymore.” I could see the wheels start to turn as he spoke. His gaze went to my hands, which were empty, then shifted to my book bag.

“No.” I shook my head, stopping before I hit the door.

“You have his real number. He doesn’t give that out.”

I reached behind me, finding the door handle. “Apparently with good reason.” My hand tightened around the handle. “And no, you can’t use mine.”

“Come on…”

I gave him a look.

He trailed off, his shoulders dropping in a sigh. “Fine. Okay.”

“I have class. If you want, I’ll brainstorm new jobs with you.”

“New jobs?” He lifted a hand to scratch his head.

“You know, so you’ll stop with the gambling stuff. Because you know I hate it.”

“Uh…” He bit his lip and glanced around. “I think you’re going to be late for class.” He gestured behind me. “You should get going. We’ll talk later, maybe this weekend.” He began backing away.

I waited, watching him go. No matter which side he was on—taking the bets or making the bets—it was all the same to me. Same world. A dangerous world. I repressed a sigh. Jason would never stop. He’d just stop being honest with me about it.

But at the moment he was right. I needed to get to class. I was a few minutes late, but I slipped into one of the back chairs unnoticed. Or I thought I was unnoticed. I looked to the front of the room to find Jeremy Fuller, the TA from yesterday’s class, leading this one as well. He had the syllabus projected on the wall and pointed at it as he ran through what was expected of students.

Without interrupting his speech, he grabbed a piece of paper and began walking toward me. He was explaining which textbooks were approved for the class when he placed the sheet of paper on my desk. Glad to see you made it, he’d written. My cheeks warmed, and I glanced up. He’d moved on to the criteria for an A grade, but he winked at me as he headed back to the front of the room. A couple of girls next to me witnessed the exchange, and I could feel their speculative gazes.

But whatever. I didn’t think their attention was academically rooted. I looked over and one girl was still glaring at me. That was definitely not academic jealousy. Jeremy Fuller was good looking. I’d noticed it yesterday too, but he was the TA. I wasn’t one of those girls who signed up to screw the TA for a better grade. Glaring Girl did not have to worry. At all.

I ignored her, and eventually she turned her heated looks back to the TA. When class was over, I grabbed my stuff to make a quick getaway. I felt like Jeremy might try to talk to me afterwards. Maybe I should’ve stayed and apologized for being late, but I didn’t want to draw any more attention.