Page 2 of Wicked Games

“Where were you?” She blinks at me with big eyes, the way she does when she wants something.

“At a meeting,” I answer curtly. I’m not in the mood to deal with whatever drama she’s about to drop on me, especially not after what I learned earlier today.

“At the house?” She glances at the twins.

I nod.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asks, shifting her attention back to me. “I’ve been waitingforever.” Her lip comes out in another fake pout.

“Waiting for me?” I arch one eyebrow at her.

She nods demurely.

“Why?”

“Because you didn’t answer my texts. I was worried about you.” She adjusts the designer bag on her arm. It’s one of the half dozen I’ve given her in the three months we’ve been together, but since handbags are low on my list of things I care about, I have no clue when or why I gave her that particular one.

“So worried you came to my room to wait for me.” I speak slowly enough that her brow furrows, like she knows I’m getting at something but hasn’t quite figured out what.

“Yes.”

“Then why weren’t you outside my door?” Lifting one leg, I toss it across the settee and lean against the arm. The thing is ridiculously impractical and way too small for my six-foot-three frame, but it’s exactly what you’d expect to find in the dorm room of an elite private college where opulence is revered and traditions are a way of life.

“What?” Her voice takes on a slight wobble that tells me she knows exactly what I mean.

“If you were waiting for me, why weren’t you in front of my door when I got here?” I rest my arm across the back of the settee.

“Oh,that.” She laughs, the sound shrill and as fake as her earlier pouting. “William let me hang out in his room since I didn’t know how long you’d be.”

“Did he now?”

William lives across from me, and the only reason I don’t get my ass up and beat his face bloody is that I know nothinghappened. William is a first-year initiate of the Rebels, the same frat Jace, Jax, and me are members of, and disrespecting me by touching my girlfriend would be more than enough reason to end not only him but also his pending membership.

The Rebels are the most powerful fraternity on campus, and like all of the Four Corners Houses, a Rebels membership is a golden ticket into some of the most exclusive and powerful circles in the world. No one, not even William, is dumb enough to risk their chances at being part of our legacy for anything, not even a round ass or a pair of perky tits.

“Yeah.” She nods, her glossy dark hair bouncing around her head in the perfect beach waves that are her signature look. “He was just being nice.”

“Why were you looking for me?” I ask, my tone still clipped.

“I wanted to see you.” Her expression goes from innocent to seductive. “I thought maybe we could spend some time together,” she purrs. “You’ve been so stressed out lately, and I want to help make it better.”

“Maybe later,” I say dismissively, not interested in what she’s offering.

Usually, losing myself in a willing body is the best way to get my head in order when I’m stressed or dealing with shit, but I have zero interest in her, or anyone, at the moment.

A flicker of anger breaks through her careful facade, but it’s gone a second later as she resumes her earlier pouting. “Are you sure? I got some new lingerie…” She lets that hang in the air.

I don’t miss the way her gaze flicks to the twins, or the flare of heat in them.

“You should go.” I point to the door. I’m used to people checking out my cousins wherever we go, but right now isnotthe time for her to be eye fucking them in front of me. “We have business we need to take care of.”

That’s a lie, but it’s the only way to get her to leave me alone without more pouting. Natalie knows that business is what keeps her in handbags and expensive gifts, so she never pushes back when I use that as an excuse to dismiss her.

She gives me a flirty little smile, but I can see in her eyes that she’s pissed off. “I’ll see you later?”

“Later.” I keep my answer vague.

“Tonight?” she asks hopefully.

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