Page 133 of Tag

Zoe smiled in return, tugging her hoodie sleeves over her hands. “Hey.”

I offered a friendly smile of my own, withholding judgment. Zoe was nice enough, but I was going to be on guard until The Hunt was done and over with. I shifted on my feet, trying not to look at Ryder. I couldn’t deal with that this morning. Not with Brooke beside him, smiling like sunshine and wearing the same hoodie from a few days ago. All I could think about was last night. The things he said, everything I’d let myself feel, what I had agreed to. I wasn’t sure what I expected. Nothing about his relationship status had changed between then and now, and he’d all but told me it wouldn’t until the time was right.

Where did that leave me?

Whatever we were, and whatever we were becoming, it wasn’t public or official. I was still the girl pretending not to be hurt when I saw him standing next to someone else.

Still, the girl putting on a good front like none of it mattered.

Was this karmic justice? Some cosmic slap to the face for doing what I had while Ashton was somewhere in the wind?

“Morning,” Brooke greeted us, chipper but not overly sweet.

“Morning,” I echoed, forcing another smile before I looked away, focusing on the fountain ahead and the sudden, irrational urge to grab her perfect ponytail and drown her in it.

I thanked God when Xander spoke and gave me something else to think about. “You guys shouldn’t be walking around alone. From now on, stick with at least one of us.”

Roxxi placed one hand on her hip, letting her cheer bag swing lazily. “You know you’re Marked too, right? Also, The Hunt doesn’t start until damn near Monday.”

Xander gave a half-shrug. “Come on, Rox, who’s actually going to Hunt us?” He gestured lazily to himself and the rest of the guys as if the answer was obvious.

“Good. I could say the same aboutus.”

Nick stepped forward, but whatever he was about to say died the second he caught her expression.

Rook, calm as ever, turned toward me with a small smile. “You look very nice today, Sanj.”

I smiled brightly. “Thank you, Rook. You look nice too.”

“Okay, suck-ass,” Cade cut in, “she looks pretty every day. So do you,” he tacked on, looking at Ari.

She responded with a polite, almost hesitant smile, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, clearly not quite sure what to do with the compliment. She reached out and nudged Roxxi to get her attention.

“I love you and all, but I kinda agree with Xan. Not now, of course, but next week? When The Hunt actually starts, we should keep at least one of them with us.”

Roxxi made a face, clearly not sold on the idea, but Ari kept going.

“If someone tries to earn their hours, that’s one thing. It’s another way for them to snatch us up if we have one of them with us. Alternatively, they take whichever guy we’re with instead.”

Cade’s jaw dropped in mock offense. “I give you a compliment, and you delegate us as human shields.”

Ari’s eyes went wide. “No—I didn’t mean it like that.”

Roxxi grinned. “You should have. I can get on board with that plan.”

Ari shook her head, laughing lightly.

Around us, students were starting to stare. Some curious, some cautious, others with outright envy etched into their expressions. A few called out in greeting. We probably looked like something out of a campus myth. One you admired from a distance, maybe whispered about in the dorms, but never dared to join.

I finally turned my head, just in time to see Brooke go up on her tiptoes and whisper something into Ryder’s ear. He laughed—low and easy. Whatever she said had Nick grinning too. Their hands were linked casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world. The ache in my chest spread fast and sharp, but I didn’t outwardly react. I was a pro at watching him belong to everyone but me.

Cloe glanced at them and made her thoughts known by the slightest twist of her lips.

Her poker face was a skill I tried to replicate. “Alright, we’re going to be late if we don’t get a move on.”

“Talk later,” Roxxi said to the others in parting, tugging me in the direction of the athletic building.

“Take one of us with you,” Xander called after us.

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