Page 47 of Their Cruel Play
Lying would have made me miss out on this though. All these sparks of attraction and being with them. And facing a restaurant of judgy teenagers.
I search his pale blue eyes and sigh. “Fine. Let’s go. I’m not going to the bathroom though.”
I can only imagine what the girls would say to me without the horsemen present. Or the snickering while they discussed me in whispers. I’m not ready to confront that yet.
The restaurant is the breakfast place everyone goes to be seen on the weekend. I’ve been here with Kenz that one morning and with the guys in the middle of the night, but today, we’re joining the after-party crowd who needs grease to help combat their hangovers.
We haven’t had a chance to talk about what they plan to do about Zach. I’m worried the Cheermonsters and Zach will be here having breakfast. Last night, realizing he was the one who tried to attack me made me glad Luke is so fucking possessive. His grip tightened on me and held me close. I needed him.
Even when Eli got in Zach’s face, Luke didn’t pass me off to someone else but kept me. It put my emotions in a tailspin though. I had to remind myself he’s possessive of my body, not my heart.
Luke leads me into the restaurant. When we’re shown our table, we have to walk past groups of students.
I keep my chin up and my eyes straight ahead and Luke’s hand in a death grip, trying not to pay attention as people bend their heads and whisper behind their hands. I miss the days I was invisible.
“Hey, Jack.” A senior girl with blond hair and a short skirt sidles up next to Jack with a pouty smile and twirls her hair. “We should catch up. It’s been a hot minute.”
Jack smirks. “Why don’t you go see what Brewster is doing? He’s probably needy since Sidney is with Zach.”
Her eyes widen, and there’s a little twist of anger to her lips before she smiles again. She puts her hand on Jack’s arm, and I almost growl.
“Why would I want him when I could have you?” She blinks at him with faux innocence.
“I’m good, Becca.” Jack steps away so her hand drops to her side.
Fortunately, Becca takes the hint and returns to her table. When she catches me watching her, she sneers.
Yeah, this is going to be pleasant. I notice Angela, Nico’s art partner, at the table with Becca. They catch me looking at them and turn to talk to each other. Part of her boldness might have been because Penny and her group joined us last night.
Eli pulls me down next to him in the booth, and Luke sits on my other side. Nico, Jack, and Caden sit across from us in the oversized booth. When I pick up my menu, I look around the restaurant.
It’s still early so not all the tables are full. There’s a smattering of students and a few families. When I don’t see the Cheermonsters or Zach, some of the tension eases from my shoulders. One less thing to worry about.
I don’t see Kenz or the girls either, but it’s not like I need a posse when I have my guys.
“You should expect that to happen more.” I gesture with my head toward Becca and the girls preening for the guys’ attention.
Jack straightens and smirks. “Getting hit on? It never stops.”
I raise my eyebrows.
“Girls want us, sweetheart.” Jack leans his elbows on the table. His blue eyes glitter as they sweep over me. “But we have you to service all our needs now.”
Heat flashes through my face as Luke’s hand lands on my bare thigh like a brand. I don’t know what possessed me to pack a skirt for today. I really wish I’d worn jeans.
My eyes widen, but I just reach down and try to pry his hand off.
“Hands on the table, princess.” Luke’s voice is dark in my ear and sends shivers through me. “Unless you want to be punished.”
I blow out a breath. He’s not saying how he’ll punish me, but I wouldn’t put it past him to punish me in this diner in front of everyone.
Putting my hands on the table, I decide to just ignore him and his hand and pay attention to the menu.
The server stops. “What can I get you all this morning?”
When I lift my gaze, I recognize our server. Rebecca Forester, the girl who the guys tormented sophomore year, so much that she transferred schools. She must be going to the private school. Lucky her. Her gaze skips over Eli as she scans everyone.
Nico starts the ordering. I watch her carefully. Kenz said they tormented her until she gave it up. But she doesn’t even flinch as she takes everyone’s order. But her gaze doesn’t lift to Eli as she writes down his order.
