Page 50 of The Teacher of Nothing
“I’ve been told to be on my best behavior.” His blue eyes gleam with wickedness. “It’s like they don’t even know me.”
“Spencer,” I admonish. “Don’t do anything dumb.”
His grin turns into something equal parts boyish and terrifying. “Never.”
“Ew, Spence, go away. You can’t dick down every girl at school. It’s gross.”
We turn to the sound of a female voice. Gemma prances our way, lip curled up in disgust at her cousin—er, nephew. Spencer laughs at her and shrugs. I’m assuming the insult is for him, not me, so I smirk at him.
“For fuck’s sake, Gemm. You can’t turn this one. I like her.” Spencer pulls me over to him, making an over-the-top move of hugging me and sniffing my hair. “She smells like honey.”
Giggling, I try to shove him away, but he’s really strong. Someone starts playfully punching him from behind, which hashim releasing me. Dempsey shoves Spencer away and flashes me a bright grin.
“You’re welcome.” Dempsey winks at me and then he turns to Gemma. “You can’t sink your claws into her. It will get you nowhere.”
Gemma huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “You guys get to be friends with the new girl, but I don’t?”
“Lovers,” Dempsey corrects as Spencer says, “Yup.”
“I’m not new,” I mumble. “You guys just didn’t see me until now.”
Gemma gasps, clearly affronted by my words. Dempsey punches Spencer in the arm like this is all his fault. Spencer narrows his eyes at me, carefully taking in my words.
“We see you now, speedy,” Spencer says. “You’re one of us.”
I feel the power of his words. He doesn’t even know I’m in a relationship—that is what this is, right?—with his uncle, yet here he is claiming me as a friend in their little group. My heart warms at the sense of belonging rushing through me.
“Come on,” Gemma says, taking hold of my elbow. “If we don’t leave now, Dempsey will start humping your leg.”
“Fuck off, womb leech,” Dempsey chirps.
“Back at you, genetic garbage can.” She laughs and then gives Spencer the finger. “See you idiots at lunch.”
They take off in the other direction while me and Gemma walk toward the science building. Even though she and Dempsey are juniors, I have a couple classes with each of them. My next class is with Gemma.
This is surreal.
The Park family really has welcomed me into their fray.
“I’m sure they told you all about the party, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I say slowly. “I’m not sure if I’m going yet or not.”
It depends on what Callum says.
I need to get an answer since tomorrow night is the party.
“Your parents controlling gatekeepers too?” Gemma asks as we enter the classroom. “My dad thinks if I go anywhere unattended, I’ll get knocked up like Mom did at this age. It’s so unfair. Dempsey gets to do whatever he wants.”
“That’s totally unfair,” I agree. “My stepbrother has more freedom too.”
Her dark eyebrow arches as we take two seats beside each other. “Levi?”
I cringe at hearing his name. This morning, I was forced to take another ride with him to school. He didn’t bother me like the day before, so that was a win in my book. He was probably still gloating over Darren bursting into my room to yell at me last night.
“Totally get you,” she continues. “Dempsey is awful. He literally gets detention like every day and guess what. Dad doesn’t do anything about it. If I hear that boys will be boys one more time…” She slams her notebook onto the table. “I’m going to go feral.”
It’s amusing that this flawless, perfect specimen of a young woman could even be capable of going feral. I’m not sure what that would entail, but I think it would be entertaining.
