Page 65 of Roses & Ruin

“I’d love for you to walk me to class,” I say sincerely. “But please don’t pee on me.” Hayden rolls his eyes and huffs.

“You ready yet?” he asks.

“Yup.”

“Great.” He grabs my wrist and pulls me to the door. “We’re out of here. And, Dee?” He shoots Delia a meaningful look, and her face loses the humor, falls serious.

“Of course. Ears to the ground. Eyes peeled. I got you.” Delia’s gaze swings to me. “I got her.” Hayden smiles with fond gratitude.

“Later,” he says, and we’re out the door.

—

When we’re outside the arts building, my heartbeat starts to rise. As soon as it does, Hayden’s face darkens, his eyes flicking over my face.

“You okay?” he asks, concerned. I smile softly, pulling Hayden to a stop before we get any closer to the big stretch of glass windows that I know belong to Julian’s classroom.

“I’m more than okay,” I say. “Just nervous. I don’t want him to make it awkward.” Hayden grinds his jaw, shooting a dark look at the building.

“Well,” he says, voice low with threat, “if he does…”

“It’ll be fine.” I have to bite back my laughter. After all the things we’ve faced together over the centuries, he thinks this is something to get worked up about? Hayden drags his eyes from the front doors and sucks his teeth.

“Yeah, I’m sure it will be fine. I trust you, I just…” He shakes his head. “Whatever. Come on.” Hayden shoves his hands in his pockets and heads toward the front door. I clear my throat, shifting my weight. I don’t follow him. When Hayden notices, his eyebrows rise. “What?”

“It feels mean, you know? Like…you showing up at the classroom door? Like you’re already so…” I wave a hand up his entire body to indicate, like, everything. “You know?”

“No,” Hayden says dryly. “I don’t.”

“Ugh, Hayden, you’re the most beautiful boy in the universe, and Julian was so sick and unhappy, and it just feels mean, you know?”

Hayden’s eyes narrow, and he smirks. “Fine by me.”

I’m about to be pretty annoyed, but I think about how I would feel if I found out Hayden had shared a super-hot rain make-out with the incredibly gorgeous girl with lotus-leaf tattoos on her shoulders from Notorious. Jealousy rockets through me, and my empathy for Hayden is sudden and present.

“I get it, okay?” I say, walking up to him. I put both my hands on his chest. “I think I’d find a way to, um…as Delia said…dry hump you in front of Lotus Leaves if our positions were switched. But, like, it’s not the first kiss that counts. It’s the last, right? Firsts in general are overrated.” I tilt my head up at him, smiling warmly. “It’s the last kiss. The last touch. And, Hayden, you’re my last…everything.”

Hayden’s expression goes inexplicably soft. He lets out a long, low breath, closes his eyes.

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Okay. Thanks for walking me to class. I’ll see you—” Hayden’s hands shoot out and he sweeps me up in a sudden, fierce kiss. I know this is in front of god, the entire arts building, and probably Julian, but the vampire of my dreams is kissing the hell out of me, flooding my body with electricity, so what else can I possibly do but throw my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss? When Hayden makes a sharp, delicious sound and licks into my mouth, I’m a total goner.

When Hayden pulls back, I whine. His eyes are glittering with mirth.

“Time to go, Ro,” he murmurs, his voice rough with lust.

“I…” I blink, clearing my head. Hayden gives me the most self-satisfied smile any boy has ever given a girl. When I look over at the windows and see a couple of students from my class gawking at us, I’m immediately embarrassed. “Oh my god,” I say, shoving at him. “You totally just peed on me.”

“Vampires don’t pee, beautiful,” he murmurs against my neck. He straightens, pulling out of my reach. “Enjoy class.” Hayden’s hands are in his pockets, his eyes gleaming as he walks backward.

I think the thing I’m most annoyed about is how all I want to do is sprint toward him and launch myself at his body. But I have some semblance of control, so I whirl around and march into the building.

I expect to have to slink in sheepishly to class, since I’m at least ten minutes late. But when I peek my head in, Julian’s not here yet. Everyone’s sitting at their easels, chatting with their neighbors. A few of the other students look up at me when I walk in, and their eyes get big.

My entire face goes hot, and I march to my usual seat, head down, tucking my hair behind my ear. I wish Delia were here. I glance up at Bianca’s usual seat, but she’s not here yet either.

Man, I am striking out today.