Page 76 of Sinful King

“Where are you taking us?” Blair asked after a bout of silence stretched as long as the road did to the warehouse.

“I’m including you,” was all I said.

TWENTY-THREE

sean

17 YEARS OLD

BLAIR (16 YEARS OLD)

Valentine’s daywas exhausting when it fell on a weekday.

It turned into a competition more than an expression of love.

And by next week when the girls started to compare who sent them a rose and realized the person they thought liked them, sent and accepted roses from multiple, the drama started.

“Here you go, Sean…”

I looked up from the book I wasn’t supposed to be reading during class and frowned.

The girl staring back at me with her hand pushed out and five roses, one of them white, started to fidget when I didn’t reach for them right away.

“Take ‘em back,” I mumbled, dropping my gaze while flipping a page.

Blair hadn’t come to school today and she wasn’t answering my texts either.

Flowers from anybody but her would be a waste.

“But, they’re from Blair,” she whispered, laying them gently on the desk. “I’m sure you want them now.”

She walked away before I could respond but my gaze had already fixed itself on the roses bound together by a black ribbon with a little note rolled inside.

I pulled it out and read what she wrote four times.

Always thinking of you, little deer. Happy Valentine’s day. I love you.

—Your beautiful goddess

Setting the note aside, I flipped my phone over, checked to see if the teacher was paying attention, and sent another text.

Thank you for the roses, Amoy

Do I have to show up at your door to see if you’re okay?

Because I will

I worried about her, especially when she missed school.

Thankfully, I got a response this time.

Sorry, Oisin

I was sleeping. It’s been a long night.

Come to my nana’s after school? Please.

You don’t have to beg. I’ll be there.

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