Page 136 of The Jack*ss in Class

“Young ladies, remember your curfew is two a.m. sharp,” she announced, her gaze lingering disapprovingly on Tempest. “And I expectallof you to return to the house tonight. No... exceptions.”

The implication was clear, and I felt Tempest stiffen beside me.

“Actually, Mrs. Henderson,” Bettie stepped forward, her expression pleasant but her eyes ice cold. “We are grown-ass adults, and if we’d like to stay out all night long, or spend the night with our dates having wild passionate sex, we have every right to do so.”

“Well, I never—” Mrs. H quite literally clutched the pearls at her neck.

“And we know what you did,” Bettie added with all the venom of a pissed-off sorority president. “Helping Rosalind spy on Tempest, letting her into our rooms, going through our things. That was a betrayal of every KAT woman, past and present.”

Mrs. Henderson’s face flushed. “I was protecting the reputation of this house. The morals and standards that?—”

“Were never yours to define,” Alice cut in, joining Bettie. Hannah and several other sisters moved to stand with them, a unified front. “KAT stands for sisterhood and support, not judgment and betrayal.”

“Which is why we’re so pleased you’ve decided to retire at the end of this semester,” Bettie continued smoothly. “The national board, especially Dr. Sterling, the president, was very understanding when we brought thisto their attention.”

Mrs. Henderson’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. “You can’t?—”

“We already did,” Parker said, stepping forward. She put two fingers to her eyes, then pointed them at the house mother. “I’m watching you. Every digital footprint, every keystroke, every surveillance attempt. Don’t even think about ever applying to be a house mother at any other sorority. Ever.”

“Ladies,” Hannah called out, as if laying their conniving house mother out flat was a regular Saturday evening event. “Our carriages await.”

As we filed out the door, I squeezed Tempest’s hand. “Your sisters are like the freaking mafia. Remind me not to get on their bad side.”

She looked up at me, her eyes bright with unshed tears, but she was smiling. But Parker poked her head between us. “Yeah, no matter where we all are in the world after graduation as we spread our wings and fly out on our own into adulthood, just know, that, if you ever break our Tempest’s heart, we will hurt you.”

Bettie, Hannah, and Alice all stared me down. “Yes,” Bettie said. “Like mailing you cow’s tongues in Tiffany boxes just like the patron saint of badass women, Carrie Fischer did once.”

I never, ever planned to break my girl’s heart. “No horse heads in my bed?”

“No horses were harmed in the planning of your downfall, Mr. Kingman.” Bettie looked at me like I was on crack. “Gross.”

But Parker gave me an evil grin. “Oh, I’ll do muchworse. Credit history schmedit history, Kingman. Remember that.”

Okay, Parker was actually fucking scary. And it made me glad that Tempest had such loyal friends.

Outside, a line of limos waited to take us to the Peachy Creek Country Club. I helped Tempest into one of the cars, then followed her in, ogling her ass that was right in front of my face as she maneuvered her way into a seat.

“Did you know they were going to confront Mrs. Henderson?” I asked as we pulled away from the house.

Tempest shook her head. “No. But I should have. The Donkey Sitters Club doesn’t mess around when one of their own is threatened.” She turned to look at me, the passing streetlights casting a soft glow across her face. “Kind of like the Kingmans.”

I laughed, reaching over to take her hand. “We do have that in common.”

Peachy Creek Country Club was a sprawling estate right in the heart of Denver, its grounds meticulously manicured, the place looking like it was straight out of one of Jay Gatsby’s infamous parties. The main ballroom had been transformed for KATman, soft lighting, floral arrangements in the KAT colors of black and gold, a live band on a stage at one end of the room.

We handed our invitation to the doorman and stepped inside, the sounds of music and laughter washing over us. Heads turned as we entered, whispers following in our wake. First-round League draft pick and recently revealed best-selling author. We made quite the entrance.

The next hour passed in a blur of introductions, drinks, appetizers, and dancing. I twirled Tempest aroundthe dance floor, delighting in her laughter as I showed off the moves Jules had been mocking me for practicing. Gryff and Bettie joined us, along with Parker and Artemis, the six of us forming our own little group in the middle of the dance floor.

“I didn’t know you could dance, Kingman,” Artemis shouted over the music, executing a perfect spin that had Parker laughing.

“Full of surprises, aren’t I?” I called back. “Not just a pretty face and incredible athletic ability.”

“And so humble,” Gryff added dryly, though his own moves were drawing appreciative glances from several nearby dancers.

The band took a break and played some upbeat pop song, then a more electronic dance song, and the energy on the floor intensified. Tempest moved with surprising grace and rhythm, her body swaying in a way that had me completely mesmerized. Seeing her having fun, her body in action, was something else entirely.

“You’re staring,” she said, her cheeks flushed from dancing.

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