Page 44 of The Jack*ss in Class

“I called you what?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

His eyes narrowed. “You don’t remember?”

“I... parts of Saturday night are a little fuzzy.”

“Just parts?”

“Most parts.” I focused hard on a spot just past his left ear. “Okay, fine. All parts after you left with that girl.”

“I came back.”

“So I’ve also been told.”

He was quiet for a moment, just scratching at Supersweet’s ears.

A moment passed where we just watched the enormous and adorable pig try to nose his way into Flynn’s pockets.

“I, umm,” I said slowly, surprising myself, “I don’t actually mind when you’re being... what did I apparently call you? Arrogant?”

His mouth quirked. “Among other things.”

“It’s kind of nice.” I focused on Supersweet’s snuffling, avoiding Flynn’s eyes. “Having someone who challenges me. You know, intellectually.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.” I took a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have skipped our study sessions.”

When he didn’t immediately respond, I risked a glance at his face. He was watching me with an expression that made my chest tight.

“Tempest...”

“Not that I’m admitting you’re right about Iago’s motivations,” I added quickly. “Because you’re definitely not.”

“Actually, about our study sessions...” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m going to have to miss the next couple.”

“Oh.” Something cold settled in my stomach. An all too familiar rock.

“The big Bowl stuff with my brothers. We’re headed out to LA early. There’re all these media appearances, family events, meetings with scouts while I’m out there...”

“Right. Of course.” I turned back to the water line, pretending to measure something. “That makes sense. Have fun with all that.”

“When I get back?—”

“Supersweet needs her afternoon feeding.”

“Would you just—” He reached for my arm, but I stepped away.

“I’ll see you around, Flynn.”

I waited until his footsteps faded before looking at Supersweet. “Don’t give me that. Whatever happened to ‘We listen and we don’t judge?’ You’d have done the same thing.”

Supersweet snorted in what was definitely disapproval.

SCHOOL OF JULES

FLYNN

The suite buzzed with pre-game energy as Gryff and Isak argued over the last of the nachos, but I couldn’t focus on anything except my phone. I’d sent Tempest three texts in the past hour, each one carefully crafted to seem casual. Like I wasn’t thinking about her every five seconds.

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