These Thorn Kisses (St. Mary’s Rebels 3)

As if he can feel it.

The mark I’ve left on there.

Then, “Let’s go.” At my frown, he explains, “I’m driving you and your friends back.”

“Talk.”

I look up from my book and find Poe — who’s just said that — and Salem, sitting across from me on my roommate’s bed.

“Now,” Poe adds impatiently.

“Yes. About everything,” says Salem as impatiently as Poe. “But especially about last night.”

Before I can say anything at all, Poe bursts out, “Did we really get to ride in his truck? I mean…” She pretends to swoon and sprawls down on the bed.

Salem laughs. “I know. And he didn’t even punish us.” She stares at me with wide eyes. “Can you believe that? The most hardass teacher at St. Mary’s, who took your outing privileges for four whole weeks, caught us last night. And he didn’t even say a word about it. Like, what is that? You have to tell us what’s going on.”

At Salem’s mention of last night, I bite my lip.

After he agreed to let me draw him and I kissed his jaw — God, I kissed him — he took us back to St. Mary’s in his big black truck. And they’re right: he didn’t say a single word to us. Except to ask us about the drop-off point. Which is the woods behind St. Mary’s.

And then he walked with us — I knew he would — to the spot in the brick wall, from which we usually sneak in and out. Poe and Salem went over first and, when it was my turn to go, I faced him and said thank you.

To which he responded, “Remember your promise. Behave.” I remember biting my lip then too and I remember him glancing down at it before saying, “No more late-night adventures with your friends. Or I’ll come for you.”

I’m not sure he realized what that ‘I’ll come for you’ would do to me.

Because now I want to go on late-night adventures even more.

But anyway, now it’s Saturday morning and my friends have questions.

I knew they would.

And honestly, I want to give them answers. I want to talk to them.

They’re my best friends. I want to share all the things inside of me and so I shut the book and sit up. “Okay, but you have to promise me that you won’t tell Callie.”

My heart twists.

I feel like such a betrayer. Especially when she’s always been such a close confidant. She was the first person, the only person, I told about that night. She’s always been so involved and so excited about that one crazy incident in my life.

And now I’m keeping things from her.

Such important things.

I know I should tell her especially now that he remembers me – he remembers me – but I’m still not ready to risk it. I’m not ready to risk the damage it may or may not cause our friendship. I just need more time to figure things out.

Poe rolls her eyes at me. “Duh. Of course. Why else do you think we’ve never brought it up during school hours?”

“What?”

“We know, Wyn,” Salem tells me, swinging her legs back and forth. “That something is going on between you and Coach Thorne. Remember on the dance floor last night? I told you I knew.”

Right.

She did tell me.

I completely forgot about that in the midst of everything, and now something occurs to me. “Do you think Callie knows?”

Salem waves my worries away. “No. She doesn’t know anything. The only reason we know is because ever since he arrived, you’ve become quite the bad girl.”

Poe grins. “Yes, and I’m so proud of you. You’re finally a St. Mary’s rebel.” She puts both her hands on her chest and sighs happily. “All my hard work and bad influence is finally paying off.”

I stick my tongue out at her. “Yes, that’s it. I couldn’t resist your charm, Poe.”

Poe flicks her dark hair. “No one can.”

Salem looks at me expectantly. “So? Tell us everything so we can help.”

I blow out a breath, close my eyes and then tell them.

Everything.

From the beginning.

How we met over a year ago and how he changed my life and how I’ve been obsessed with him ever since. How it was such a jarring shock that he turned out to be Callie’s brother. Who in turn became our new soccer coach.

And then I tell them about Helen. About his past with her and what I discovered.

I know I promised him — also her — that I would never tell anyone. That I would never gossip. But this isn’t that.

This isn’t gossip.

Because after last night, I’ve decided something.

I’ve decided that I’m going to help him.

And I need their help with that.

When I finish, there is complete silence. They are both staring at me like they think I’m joking. That whatever I’ve told them can’t possibly be real.