Page 15 of Desert Heat

Shame filled me.

He might be an arrogant ass but his learning issues were real.

I meant to apologize but he slipped out the door.

Next time I see him I’ll be nice.

Maybe I’ll even smile.

Except he avoided me for the rest of the week, slipping into class thirty-seconds before the doors shut and sitting in the farthest free seat from me.

Whatever.

F-him.

He got the message just like everyone else. I’m not interested in anyone for anything.

So why does my eyes keep looking for the broody, silent, arrogant, giant everywhere I go?

CHAPTER 5

“…yeah?”I rolled my eyes while cutting through the quad on my way to the next class. Regan’s been lighting up my burner phone since I arrived in Maine. But I needed time to settle in, establish my street cred here. She was on the back-burner of my to-do lists. Something Regan’s not used to.

“Ghosting us already? How’s the Outlaw Princess?”

“She hates me.”

“Good. You listened. I want details. Don’t leave a thing out.”

“I ignored her. Froze her out, refused to give her even one glance while invading her space. Then I lied and told her I was dyslexic… that I had a learning disability when she called me out for not taking notes. I even remembered to spritz on that woodsy cologne you and Mouse went cross-eyed for on my clothes. Now I’m purposefully avoiding her. I think I’m getting under her skin.”

“Nice. But you do have a disability. It’s called being a dumbass.”

“Cute,” I pinch the bridge of my nose as another cluster of girls with fake eyelashes and nails giggled as I passed by.

“Trust me. Keep up the bad boy act and she’ll be yours in no time. Reel her in nice and slow. She’ll be caught in your net before she even realizes she should’ve given more of a fight.”

“I was livid. My jaw almost cracked just sitting next to her. I kept seeing Danny’s face. I had to clench my free hand just to stop it from wrapping around her neck. Space from her has been good.”

“A good hate fuck might help.”

“Maybe I should just bail on this plan and kidnap her. I’m not an actor. How am I going to fake falling for her when all I can think about is avenging Danny?”

“You have the patch now. Do whatever it takes. Film that shit and send it to everyone in every fucking MC if you need. Think about bringing them to their knees before you cut their balls off.”

“Maybe I’ll blow their clubhouse up, burn everything and leave them all out back like they did to Danny. After I take their princess prisoner.”

“Good. Mouse and I are handling your social media… Hunter Northport. Just text us pics of you partying and shit. She can stalk you like you’re stalking her.”

“All right. Rogan and I are pledging to a Frat. There’s a rush party later. He also made the football team. Walked on during tryouts. They nicknamed him, ‘Tank.’ It’s a fucking joke up here.”

“Trust me. Keep the hot-hole vibe going and she’ll be creeping you on social media trying to bump into you…”

“I’ve never dated anyone. Never mind fake dating or whatever.”

I practically felt her eye roll through the phone. “Just keep being broody like you are, and she’ll fall on your lap like a bitch in heat.”

I instantly recalled the fire in her eyes, her huff of annoyance at my presence. The way her lip curled as my knee banged into hers. “Doubtful.”

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