Page 91 of Saint

“So, what’s the deal, Vi? You’ve been MIA.”

“You knew I was here. I texted Patience.”

“This morning, yes.” Patience leans forward against the table. “The rest of the weekend is a different story. You left Friday and haven’t been back since.”

“Not true.” I shake my head. “I changed before class this morning.”

The three of them look at me—Mila grinning, Patience annoyed, and Teal picking paint off her nails. None of them believe a word I’m saying.

“She was with me.” Kole’s voice comes up behind me, and I nearly jump out of my skin.

He’s only approached me in front of my friends once, and even then, it was only around Mila. Other than that, he keeps his distance.

I didn’t expect that to change anytime soon, regardless of the connection we shared over the weekend. With Liam’s missing person’s investigation underway, I assumed he would be more careful and only communicate through messages he can delete in the app.

Apparently, that’s not the case.

My friends’ glances shoot behind me as he grips onto my chair.

Tipping my head, I look up, and Kole stares back.

“Up,” he says as Declan and Maddox circle around him.

I stand, and he sits in my chair, pulling me down onto his lap.

My friends are still speechless as Declan and Maddox drop into two free chairs at the table while Kole leans in to whisper to me.

“Don’t look so surprised, kitten.” He plants his hand on my thigh and wraps his other arm around my waist. “You’ll only seem more suspicious.”

Casually, he leans back, like it isn’t odd for him to be treating me like his girlfriend when we’ve never touched in public.

I’m about to ask him what he thinks he’s doing, but Teal pushes her chair out, distracting me.

“Not going to stay, Tealene?” Declan leans forward and winks at her.

She spears him with her glare. “I’d rather drown in paint.”

Teal and Declan grew up together, but she refuses to talk about why she hates him so much. All I know is that it’s better if she leaves because the two of them are gasoline on an already raging fire.

“Paint, huh?” Declan bites his lip, pretending to think about it. “If that’s your kink, I’m sure it can be arranged.”

Teal grits her teeth. “I bet you’d like that.”

He shrugs, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’ll see you at home.” She looks at the rest of us, clutching her bag to her chest and storming off.

“Teal!” Mila tries to call out, but Teal ignores her, so she turns to Declan and narrows her gaze. “Asshole.”

“Don’t bother,” Patience says, scrolling through her phone. “He’ll just take it as a compliment.”

“Isn’t it?” Declan grins.

Mila takes the opening to tell him what an egotistical jerk he is, but I’m too busy focusing on Kole’s arm around my waist to listen.

“What are you reading?” Kole flips open the book sitting next to my laptop, stopping on a random page. “Women who love serial killers?”

I grab the book and slap it shut over his hand, but he just smirks at me.

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