Page 180 of Wicked Minds
Somehow, I just know it’s Grayson watching. I stare into the camera for a minute, but when the light doesn’t turn off, I give it the middle finger before returning to my reading.
An hour later, when I turn out the light and climb beneath the covers, the light is still on, and despite myself, I find some comfort in knowing one of them is watching over me while I sleep.
When I wake in the morning, Royce is curled around me and the light on the camera is switched off. And I didn’t have a single nightmare.
51
RILEY
“Girl, it is so good to see you!” Tara says when we arrive at The Depot on Thursday night. She pulls me in for a fierce hug. “How are you?” She searches my face, but my smile is genuine. “I’m okay.”
I truly am. The guys—all three of them—have been by my side all week, ensuring no other students get too close, and if I haven’t fallen asleep with either Royce or Logan, then I wake up to one of them having snuck into my apartment in the middle of the night. And every night, I fall asleep to the green light on my bedroom security camera.
It’s… weird. And yet, it’s working. I’ve barely had any nightmares, and despite it being less than a week, I feel relatively okay. That’s not to say I’ll always be okay. I know how these things go, but for right now, I’m feeling more myself than I could have expected.
She glances at the three tall shadows at my back before returning her attention to me. “Are these three assholes taking care of you? Need me to beat some chivalry into them? I’ll do it. I’ll even take on Ruthless.”
Royce chuckles while Grayson scoffs. “We’ve met once. You don’t even know me.”
Tara pierces Grayson with her sharp stare. “I know everything I need to know about you,Grayson Van Doren.You treat my girl with anything less than the love and respect she deserves, and no one will ever find your body again.”
Grayson’s wide eyes bounce back and forth between us, trying to determine if Tara’s pulling his leg or not. I’m about ninety percent certain she’s being serious.
“With a love declaration like that, I’m thinking I might have to leave them for you,” I tease.
“Pssh,” Tara says, draping her arm over my shoulder and navigating me toward the bar. Of course, my three ever-present shadows follow. “We would be so hot as a couple. Everyone would be mesmerized. We’d blow guys’ minds everywhere.”
“Yeah, pretty sure that’s not what they’d be blowing,” one of the guys retorts, and Tara and I share a look before we both crack up laughing.
“My favorite girl,” Xander calls with a smile when we rock up at the bar.
I hear a growl from behind before Grayson snaps, “She’s notyour girl.”
Huffing out a breath, I toss him an exasperated look over my shoulder. “For the hundredth time, I’m notyourseither.”
Fucking caveman needs to get his tendencies under control. The other day, he nearly ripped the head off a junior in the food court because he was staring at me. Poor guy was just staring off into space, and Grayson had him nearly pissing his pants as he tried to explain himself.
Grayson’s eyes narrow on mine, but I dismiss him as I turn back to Xander.
“As your only sister,I’msupposed to be your favorite girl.” Tara pretends to huff as Xander hands out beers to each of us, except Royce, who is here to fight tonight.
Xander gives his sister anare you crazylook. “By definition, as my sister, you’re destined to be my least favorite personever.”
Tara gapes at him. “How dare you! Take that back!” Twisting the top off her beer, she tosses it at him.
“See, maybe if you didn’t do vicious stuff like that, youwouldbe my favorite person.”
“Whatever,” Tara mumbles with an eye roll. “I’d rather throw shit at you, anyway.”
“Has anyone ever told you what a delightful personality you have?” Xander snarks, and damn, get me popcorn and a seat cause I could watch this sibling show all day.
“The voices in my head tell me every day,” Tara taunts with a smirk.
“Tara,” Xander growls in mock exasperation as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “You’re not supposed to tell people about the voices in your head. It’s bad for business, and being that we’re related, everyone thinks if you’re crazy, I’m crazy. Definitely not the impression I like to leave girls with.”
“Better than the impression of your micro dick.” She smirks viciously.
“Aaand we’re done with that,” Logan interjects. “I don’teverneed to hear about Xander’s micro dick.”
