Page 68 of Ice Princess

With one word from Carol Kinsey, it all came tumbling down. In a snap.Justlike that.

As I wait for a taxi, I feel a presence behind me and glance over my shoulder. Gunner followed me out.

“Did I not speak English?” I snarl.

He stares at me with those cold, unfeeling eyes. As usual, he says nothing.

I scoff and turn my head away. “Go ahead. Walk all over me too. It’s a Kinsey tradition.”

“That’s not why I’m here.”

“Then leave.”

“I will. After I see you get home safely.”

“Whatever. Who am I to tell you what to do?” The car I ordered drives to a stop in front of me.

I tap on my app, double-check the license plate and get in.

To my surprise, Gunner opens the door on the other side of the car and climbs in too.

I glare at him.

He stares straight ahead, ignoring me.

I don’t have any energy left to fight. My tank’s on E. So I just lean my head against the window.

It starts to drizzle and fog gathers on the thick glass. I try not to think about the last time I saw fog on a window. But of course,trying not to think about it drags the memory to the forefront—Gunner leaning into me. A steady hand on my neck. A hot mouth caressing mine.

Kissing Carol Kinsey’s son feels especially pathetic now that I’ve been banned from the Society. But in a way, I’m glad I got rejected. Now that my bid to join the Society is over, our fake relationship is over too.

It’s about time this ruse was taken behind the barn and shot.

The driver glances at me in the rearview mirror. “You’re heading to Lucky Falls, right?” He rattles off my home address.

Gunner sits straight up like a vampire roused out of his casket and grunts my mother’s address instead.

The driver punches it in. “That Lucky Falls too?”

“Yes,” Gunner says.

The driver taps the navigation app on his phone. “Okay, got it.”

I pin Kinsey with my stare. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He looks at me coldly. “You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”

“I want to be alone tonight.”

“Would you prefer to sleep over at April’s?”

“Gunner.”

“Bell.”

I stiffen.

“You’re holding back tears and your voice is cracking on the end of every sentence. You either spend the night with your mom or with your best friend. Or you can spend the night with me. Take your pick.”

---