Page 24 of Scornful

"Hmm." She's not buying it, studying me like I'm a particularly interesting science experiment. "So if it's not getting rid of the asshole, it must be someone new."

My cheeks burn traitorously, and I curse my fair skin and the way it always gives me away. "Focus on your homework, pest. You have a test tomorrow."

Instead, she snatches my phone from where it's peeking out of my pocket, dancing away from me as I lunge for it.

"Ingrid, I swear to all the gods—" I start, panic rising in my chest.

"Relax, it's locked," she says, tossing it back to me. "But your reaction tells meeverythingI needed to know." She flops back onto the bed, green eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're into someone, and you don't want anyone to know. So it's either someone totally inappropriate or someone Dad would hate."

I stare at her, momentarily stunned by her perceptiveness.

She gasps suddenly, sitting bolt upright. "Is it Geirolf? I saw how he looked at you at the clubhouse the other night, and then he just happened to show up at the spa for a massage yesterday? Come on."

My heart stops. "How did you?—"

"Mom told Dad at dinner," she says with a casual shrug. "Dad made some joke about Geirolf being too tough for a massage, and then he and Mom exchanged this weird look." She tilts her head, studying me. "Holy shit, it ishim! You're into Geirolf!"

"Keep your voice down!" I hiss, leaning over to close her bedroom door completely. "Are you trying to get me killed?"

She squeals, clasping her hands over her mouth. "It is him! Oh my God, Astrid, he's so hot! All broody and muscly with those eyes that look right through you."

"Jesus, Ingrid, he's twice your age," I say, though I can't deny the accuracy of her description.

Hell, the man is twelve years older than me, too.

"I'm not the one who's into him," she points out, her expression getting serious. "But Dad really would kill him, you know that, right? He doesn’t want either of us with guys in the club."

I drag a hand through my hair, suddenly exhausted. "I know. Trust me, I know. It's not... we're not... it was just a moment, okay? Nothing's going to happen."

My phone vibrates again, and this time I can't stop myself from checking it.

Tonight. After closing. I'll be there.

Seven simple words that send fire racing through my veins.

"Your face right now!" Ingrid whispers, eyes wide. "Let me see!"

"No," I say firmly, tucking my phone away. "This isn't happening, and we are definitely not talking about it."

She falls back against her pillows with a dramatic sigh. "Fine. But I think it's kind of romantic in a Romeo and Juliet way. Star-crossed lovers and all that."

"They both died at the end of that play, Ingrid."

"Details," she waves dismissively. "But since we're sharing secrets..." She sits up, suddenly serious, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I slept with Bjorn."

The textbook slips from my fingers. "You didwhat?"

"You heard me." Her chin juts out defensively, but there's uncertainty in her eyes, like she's looking for my approval.

"You can't!" I exclaim, struggling to keep my voice down. "You're just a teenager!"

She rolls her eyes again. "Half the girls I went to school with lost their v-card when they were fourteen. At least I waited until I was sixteen."

"Oh my God, stop talking. I don't want to know anymore." I cover my ears childishly, as if that could erase what I've just heard.

My baby sister…with Bjorn.

Kraken's son Bjorn, who's been running around the clubhouse his entire life.

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