Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
No matter how much I want to, I can’t make myself stop.
*
I don’t so much as look at Tiernan for a couple of weeks. I’m not an idiot and know that if I push too hard, it’s just going to make him slam the door in my face.
If I’m being honest, I need a break from him too. It’s so much easier for me to…well, be me around him. I don’t have to try to be kind because his anger at the world seems to match my own. Though I don’t know what he has to be so angry about. He has everything he could ever want. He’s lived a privileged life. He’s the little lord who will one day be the king of his empire.
That’s what his name means. Little fucking lord.
But I have been keeping in touch with Aislin. It would be impossible not to, even if I tried. I can’t figure out what she’s playing at, if there’s a reason I don’t understand that makes her try to be my friend, or if she actually likes me. We only have the one class together, and she sits by me each time, and somehow, we end up texting daily. She’s hard to deny, a force of nature, but…sad too.
We’re in class now, and when it’s over, just like I assumed she would, she asks, “Want to have lunch?”
“Sure.” I shrug.
“Don’t sound too excited.”
I chuckle softly. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. At first, I took it personally, but I’ve come to realize that’s just how you are. You don’t have much experience with friends, do you?” I open the door for her to walk out. “Such a gentleman. Your mama must have raised you right.” She winks at me, and I immediately scowl. “Shit. I’m sorry. I forgot your mom passed away.”
My jaw aches, but I can’t seem to stop clenching it. I pull a deep breath into my lungs, then do my best to pretend I’m not freaking the fuck out. I don’t want any of their family to talk about mine. Ever.
“It’s fine.”
“Dean…seriously…”
“I said it’s fine,” I snap. Then curse. I’m so bad at this. “Now I’m sorry. I just…miss her.” I don’t know what else to say. I avert my gaze, feeling weighed down by vulnerability.
“You can talk to me about her if you want. I might not have experienced losing my parents, but I’ve lost people. A lot of people.”
Her father’s soldiers? Is that what she means? I also know Sloan used to have another brother besides Rian, and I know he died.
“Thanks, but I’m good.”
I shove my hands into my pockets as we walk to the café. While we grab food, I can’t stop myself from looking around to see if Tiernan is here.
“Something up?” she asks. I must look like I’m casing the place.
“Nah.”
We head outside to eat, and Aislin finds a spot under a tree. She sits across from me, then leans forward and pokes my neck. “My brother’s marks are finally fading. I can’t believe you hooked up with Tiernan. I thought for sure he didn’t have a chance with you.”
He shouldn’t have had a chance with me. I’m still fucked up in the head about what happened…and that even though I say I won’t, I’m not sure I wouldn’t do it again.
I shrug. “I needed to come. He was easy.”
“I can’t believe he marked you. I haven’t seen him do that before.”
Hearing her say that makes my skin heat. The sad part is, I can’t pinpoint the reason why. “I don’t want to talk about him. What’s up with you?”
“Why, Dean, I’m so glad you asked. I’ve been talking to this guy online. He goes to Ashford, but I haven’t met up with him yet. I’m giving it some time.”
“He hot?” I figure this is what most people our age do, how they talk to each other.
“Wicked hot.” She scrolls on her phone, then holds it out for me to see.
He definitely is—blond, blue eyes, and thick arms like he spends too much time in the gym.
“I’d fuck him.” I grin.
“Hey, this one’s mine.” She laughs, and for this one moment, I feel almost normal…but then I remind myself I’m not allowed to like her. That her family is my enemy, and it will break her heart when she finds out who I am. That I’m using her.
My chest tightens.
Sometimes I hate myself as much as I hate the O’Sheas.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Tiernan
I sit outside the dean’s office, waiting for him to call me in. He’s the one who asked for this meeting, and he can’t be on time? That would never fly in our family. My father is brutal and cruel but always punctual. Well, maybe always isn’t accurate. If he doesn’t think a person matters enough, if he doesn’t respect them, he doesn’t bother with being on time.