Wicked Liars (Windsor Academy 1)

Bentley and Reed approach me as the crowd of gawkers finally disperse.

Bentley’s lips curve into a grin. “You wanna tell me what that was about?”

I motion for them to walk with me so we’re not late for our first class. “Change of plans.”

“What exactly happened between you and Jazzy Jazz last night?” Bentley wiggles his brows. “You tap that?”

I roll my eyes. “No, dumbass. Not yet anyway.”

“So that means she’s still fair game?”

I shrug, trying to mask my annoyance. “Even if I had fucked her, she’d still be fair game. It’s not like I actually give a shit. She’s just a means to an end.”

Maybe if I keep telling myself that, I’ll believe it.

Reed laughs. “Right. You think we’re that stupid? We know you better than anyone, man. Drop the bullshit.”

“It’s not bullshit.” I slap Bentley on the back, maybe a little harder than necessary. “You wanna hit it, be my guest. Just don’t get in my way if I do, too. I need her to trust me for this to work.”

Reed frowns. “How would banging her accomplish that?”

I scoff. “Please. We all know chicks can’t have sex without emotion, no matter how vehemently they deny it. If Jazz feels some sort of emotional attachment to me—any sort of attachment, really—she’ll be much more willing to trust me. More importantly, she won’t get in my way. If I need to feed her the D to make that happen, so be it. It’s not exactly a hardship.”

Bentley fist bumps me. “Hells yeah! Operation Bang New Girl is officially on!”

Reed shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing, man.”

Yeah, me too, buddy. Me too.

BY THE TIME LUNCH ROLLS around, things are still running smoothly. All conversation ceases when the guys and I walk into the dining room. We had already discussed it, so Reed and Bentley aren’t surprised in the least when I bypass our usual table, but the rest of the room is, including Peyton and her bitch squad. I hear all three of them audibly gasp when Bentley and I pull out the chairs on either side of Jasmine and Reed takes the one next to my sister.

Jasmine is equally shocked, staring at me with an open mouth. I fight the urge to press my lips against hers and instead, place my index finger under her chin, gently pushing up until her mouth closes.

“Didn’t want you to start drooling, princess.”

My teeth grind together when Bentley pulls her into his side and kisses her on the cheek. “Hey, Jazzy Jazz. Whatcha having for lunch?”

She pushes him away. “What does it matter? And what are you doing here?”

“I’m with Jazz,” my sister says. “What the hell are you guys up to? Why aren’t you sitting with the other royals?”

Reed smirks when she uses air quotes accompanied by an eye roll on that last word.

Bentley bumps his shoulder into Jasmine’s. “I wanted to be by you, baby.”

She shakes her head and looks at Reed expectantly.

He shrugs. “I don’t give a fuck where I sit as long as I have food in front of me.”

Reed and Ainsley exchange a loaded glance. I make a note to ask him about it later.

Jazz narrows her gaze on me. “What about you?”

“I felt like eating here.” I raise an eyebrow. “Anyone got a problem with that?”

She glances over at our normal table and sees three sets of false-lashed eyes glaring a hole through her. Yep, they definitely have a problem with it. My lips twitch when Jazz raises an eyebrow in challenge, which only incenses them further.

She turns back to me. “Fine. You can stay. But only because I know it drives those fake bitches crazy.”