Page 17 of Tainted Romance

The school bell rang, and dread filled my stomach. The final period was Math, and I sucked with numbers. I usually spent it bored out of my mind and scribbling in my notebook.

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ZANE

She hadn’t listened to one word the teacher had said. I knew that because Mr. Burts had called on her twice and both times she hadn’t answered. Whatever she was drawing in her notebook had her full attention.

“Why can’t I figure it out!” Ebony snapped at herself next to me. She was trying really hard to work out some problem.

Ebony didn’t like failing at anything so when it came to her school work, she always gave it her all.

“Don’t ask me, Ebs. I stopped trying ten minutes ago.” I stretched, resting my hands behind my head. Allie looked more attractive today than usual. She was wearing tight fitted jeans and a tight long sleeve t-shirt.

It showed off her every curve, and I would bet she hadn’t even realized that.

I was sure her foul mood at lunch was due to Lexi and me. I knew I could make her jealous. It caused pride and joy to burst inside me, knowing I could make her, the sexiest woman I know, jealous.

My joy was short lived when I found out she was going on the camp. Nightmares flashed across my mind. I wouldn’t let my mate spend the week in a tent with another guy.

It wasn’t going to happen. I had signed my name up before coming to class.

She hadn’t looked me in the eye all day, and she basically ignored me in the hall. It bugged me she wouldn’t just look at me. I just wanted to look into those big doe-eyes of hers.

What the hell was she drawing! I began to get frustrated, seeing her full attention was on that piece of paper.

I couldn’t go much longer without speaking to her. I had hoped she would break the silence before me, but it looked like I would be giving in.

‘What are you drawing?’I spoke in her mind.

I watched her back stiffen out of shock as I took her by surprise.

‘Nothing.’Her voice echoed in my mind. Damn, I loved hearing her.

‘So, I hear you are going on a camp.’

‘You mean you were eavesdropping.’Her voice floated back to me quickly.

‘You knew I was listening.’Just like I knew she was jealous.

‘You looked too busy with the brunette.’Her bitterness could be heard in her tone.

She let her hair fall around her, blocking any chance of me seeing her face.‘Are you going on the camp?’

No way was I going to let her go by herself and spend more time with her so-called boyfriend. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head at her.‘Of course, I am. You didn’t think I would let you go without me, did you?’

‘I don’t need you to look after me.’

‘I’m not planning on looking after you.’

She didn’t say anything back, and I wanted to hear her voice again. Her mind was empty as she was thinking of nothing on purpose - not wanting to let me get a glimpse into her actual thoughts.

Just when I thought she was done with me and I was about to pull out, she finally spoke.‘I hate Math.’She sighed in my mind.‘I suck at it, and the teacher keeps looking at me like I’m stupid.’

I felt bad for her. Hearing that tone in her voice, that sadness or disappointment, stirred me with protection. I wanted nothing more than to wipe that feeling from her.‘Math isn’t my thing either.’If I couldn’t help, the least I could do was make her see she wasn’t alone.

‘Everyone else gets it.’She looked up, her eyes scanning the classroom. She was right, everyone seemed busy with their work; everyone but me, who was more interested in staring at my mate.

‘They’re working in partners so it isn’t like they are doing it by themselves,’I reminded her. I was meant to be helping Ebony with questions, but she always let me off and ended up just doing them herself. She hated it when I clogged up her paper with my working outs.

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