Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Well, if you’re sure,” Emma said.
Lace let out another sigh. “I’m unhappy about it, but yeah, I’m sure.” When Emma skated away with our orders, Lace immediately turned to me. “So, what’s this about you being dumped by a biker?”
My head snapped towards KC. Blabbermouth!
KC only lifted her shoulders in a helpless shrug. “But you didn’t tell me I wasn’t supposed to tell her.”
I scribbled on my board. THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M MAD ABOUT. Erasing the message after KC had read it, I scribbled another message and showed it to Lace. I WAS NOT DUMPED.
Her gaze was doubtful. “Well, I guess you could use another word, but really...if a guy goes from walking you to school every day the entire week and then suddenly not showing up...”
I shook my board to emphasize my point. I WAS NOT DUMPED.
Lace threw her hands up. “Okay, okay, I get it, don’t get mad.”
“Have you found out from Bobby or MJ though?” KC asked.
I gave her an affronted look. Like I’d ask.
KC rolled her eyes. “Pride, thy middle name is Aria.”
My eyes narrowed. Look who’s talking.
KC reddened.
Ever protective of her best friend, Lace said loyally, “What happened between her and Himura’s different.” Both of us noticed the way KC winced at her ex’s name, and I felt instantly guilty for even bringing up the topic of her past. KC was such a nice person it was physically painful to see her smile fade. It was like watching the sun set, forever.
“Going back to your biker,” Lace began, an obvious ploy to distract our friend.
I nodded encouragingly. For KC, I was willing to talk about anything.
“Do you think maybe it’s like in the movies? He took a bet, tried to see if he could get you in his bed in a week?”
Slowly, I shook my head. Right now, I really did think Kellion Argyros was the biggest jerk on the planet but I just couldn’t see him being that...shallow. He was a very confident guy, enough to know that he didn’t need to take bets to prove he was a man.
“Mm...then I just don’t get it. Are you sure you didn’t do anything to turn him off?”
I lifted my shoulders in a shrug. I really didn’t know.
Lace hesitated.
I cocked my head to the side. Go on. Say it.
“Maybe he suddenly thought dating you was...a complication he wasn’t ready for?”
Oh.
I fell back against the booth.
Stupidly, I hadn’t thought of that. Weird. That should have been the first thing to come to my mind, right? But it hadn’t. Because...because the way he had been with me all those days, he never made me feel...different.
I pressed my hand to my chest. It had started tightening up again. So, so tight.
ON MY WAY HOME, I RECEIVED a text message from Bobby.
Bobby: Want to earn an easy fifty?
Me: I’m not going to talk for fifty.
Bobby: How about a thousand? Just kidding. MJ has a package for Needs Heard at the club’s headquarters. I don’t have time to pick it up. Could you...?
Me: No.
Bobby: Is it because of Kellion?
I gritted my teeth. Evil redheaded queen. She just knew when she said that, my pride would force me to deny it.
Me: I’ll get it.
Bobby: Knew you would.
Me: Evil redheaded queen.
Bobby: Haha. I know you all call me that.
Me: SUPER EVIL redheaded queen.
Bobby: Say hi to Kellion for me, please?
I shoved my phone back in my pocket. Bobby Granger would always have the last laugh. Why couldn’t I just learn to accept that?
It was a full twenty-minute walk to get to the Afxisi’s new headquarters. The old one had looked no different from other frat houses on campus, but ever since it had been burned down – the incident used to cover up MJ’s kidnapping – the Afxisi hadn’t bothered to pretend it was an ordinary college club with their new home.
This time, they went all out. The multi-story building was protected with a state-of-the-art CCTV system, round-the-clock armed security, and windows made of bulletproof glass.
Since I was not a member of the club, I had to give security my school ID before I was allowed access to the elevator. I expected the guard to punch the floor for the club’s work lab, but instead he pressed the button for the officers’ private floor.
My eyes widened. Umm...
When the elevator doors opened, a smiling MJ was already waiting for me. Even though she was now the wife of one of the richest and most famous underground bikers in the entire world, there was nothing about her clothes or attitude that indicated it. She was still dressed in her usual checkered polo, tank top, and jeans, her sneakers cute but obviously worn.
Behind her was the President. Helios Andreadis. At six-foot-seven, he was definitely godlike, and the way his admittedly handsome face rarely showed any expression only added to his intimidating aura.