“Yeah, 210 and 107 are leaving today,” Dad answered with a smile, happier than I’d seen him in ages at the challenge of revamping the motel.
“I’ll get them done when I get back,” I responded as I grabbed my backpack and headed out.
My drive was quick, but after parking, I hesitated. Part of me thought I must have exaggerated what happened Friday, since I’d spent the entire weekend reliving it. Dominic wasn’t lusting after me and there was no way they’d known who those guys were. I’d misunderstood the entire thing, but it didn’t escape me that their initial warnings had been valid. Almost as if they’d know what happened was a possibility.
I shook off my nerves with a quick pep talk, reminding myself that nothing had happened over the weekend and I was perfectly safe on school grounds. I didn’t feel a shred of shame for avoiding the front entrance as I ducked through a side door. I wasn’t ready to run into Anna or Caleb. I had no doubt they were well aware of what happened on Friday. My chest clenched at the thought that they might also know about Dominic’s reaction to me. I faltered for a second before pushing on, my head held high. So, what if they did? I’d done nothing wrong. Except walk home alone when they warned you not to, my conscious chided.
“Shut up,” I hissed, startling a passing freshman. I forced a fake smile and kept walking but there was no escaping the curious glances thrown my way from members of the Pack. There was a new intensity to them, and even if I didn’t know exactly what it meant, I knew it had to do with what happened after school on Friday. Dominic had sent Caleb to warn the others, and the Pack were the only others I could think of. And now they all watched me with careful eyes.
By the time I reached my locker, it was all I could do not to duck my head and hide. My hands trembled and I curled them into fists. I would not be afraid or embarrassed even if they all knew what had happened.
The memory of Dominic’s heat and the intense desire in his eyes rushed through me and my knees weakened. If nothing more than a memory could cause such a reaction, it didn’t bode well for when we came face to face again. It was almost guaranteed I’d embarrass myself. The only thing that kept me moving was the fact that the only chance we had of running into each other was in the cafeteria. I patted the lunch I’d packed just to avoid such a situation and the reminder kept me going.
The weight of their curious stares followed me as I kept my head down. I was grateful the entire school wasn’t gossiping about it, but the few who knew were watching me deliberately, almost studying me and it was creepy as hell. I wanted to confront them, demand to know why I’d been targeted and what it all meant, but at the same time my desire to stay aloof remained. The conflicting desires frustrated me and I forced my mouth to stay shut. The only thing that truly mattered was that the guys in the truck didn’t go here, and that they had just been out joy riding and would never come back.
My thoughts were interrupted as someone sidled up next to me. I slammed my locker shut and eyed the girl before walking down the hall. She didn’t take offense, only gliding along next to me, her movements silent, and I sighed.
“Why am I not surprised,” I said, adjusting my backpack on my shoulders. Her tinkling laugh matched her tiny stature, leaving me feeling like a giant compared to her, and I had the uncomfortable sensation of knowing what it felt like to be Dominic.
“You’re the talk of the Pack,” she responded, putting stress on pack in a way that hinted at an internal amusement. “I imagine you’ve noticed all the sideways looks you’re getting today.” She caught me off guard by directly mentioning the few who’d been studying me so carefully. “You made quite the stir when Caleb came home Friday.”
“I bet,” I replied noncommittally.
“But it was nothing compared to when Dominic came home,” she added lasciviously, and my eyes widened at her implication. She laughed as she noticed my shock. “I wondered,” she said amused, before bumping me and I had to catch myself against a locker. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Dominic so close to losing control, except for when his sister….” Anna trailed off, clearly not wanting to say anymore.
This was the first mention I’d heard of a sister, but considering I’d tried to avoid knowing anything about them, it wasn’t too surprising.