Page 381 of Filthy Elites

I grin. “So good. It’s been a long road, but her cancer is finally in remission.”

“Oh my god, Aubrey. That’s such good news. I hadn’t heard. I’m so happy for you. Tell her I said… Actually, I don’t know what you say to that, but it’s fantastic news. Congratulations, I guess.”

I laugh. I’m too happy not to these days. “Thanks. I will. How have you been?”

“I’ve been—” She stops and looks over at Dare. “Did you just take my picture?”

Dare shrugs.

I frown, confused when I look at his phone and see that he did.

What the hell?

“If you’re gonna take a picture, you could at least take a picture of us both,” I say lightly.

“Sure,” he says easily. “Get in there, I’ll take your picture.”

He sounds a little too eager and it makes me uneasy, but I don’t have any pictures with Hannah, and if he’s giving this one his blessing, I might as well.

I leave his side and approach hers, feeling a sudden and no longer familiar wave of shyness as I try to figure out how to pose with her. She chuckles, as awkward about it as I am, and wraps her arm around my waist the way Dare does.

My heart lifts a little as I look up at him. His dark gaze is following every uncomfortable breath and I suddenly feel like this was a terrible idea.

I shake it off, though. I don’t have to worry about Dare and Hannah anymore. Whatever conversation they had that day in the classroom, Hannah never really came around again after it. She liked photos and posts on social media from time to time to show we were still good, but we never actually talked.

Until tonight.

My chest feels tight. I tell myself there’s no reason to be so nervous and flash a smile as Hannah and I pose for the picture.

Dare snaps it. Looks at it. Puts his phone back in his pocket.

I feel like I’m at the end of my first date and I don’t know why. I try to shake the fluttery feeling, releasing Hannah and stepping away from her.

I drift back to Dare. He reclaims my waist, pulling me close, his gaze never leaving Hannah.

That feeling is back. The one where I think I’ve put her between his crosshairs. Why did I have to act so awkwardly around her?

“Anyway,” I say, pulling Hannah’s focus back to me. “We were just about to head up to our room.”

Hannah smiles and nods with a polite, “Oh.” She glances away as if searching for her date, but before she opens her mouth to politely get away, Dare speaks.

“You should join us.”

My heart drops clear out of my body.

Hannah’s eyes widen and she looks a little faint.

Dare smirks.

“Um, what?” I ask.

“You said I could have all the fun I wanted tonight, right?” he teases, looking down at me. “Maybe you can, too.”

I can’t speak or think or breathe. I’m afraid to move.

I don’t know if he’s messing with me or being serious. He has to be messing with me, right?

“I have to go,” Hannah blurts before I can answer.

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