Lake (Trinity Academy 3)

“Everything,” and lifting his hands, he begins to tick the names of one by one, “Dr. Jart, Klairs, Missha, Sulwhasoo, and Laneige.”

“Damn,” Mason mumbles, “you sure you didn’t miss anything?”

Preston shrugs off Mason’s comment, and when he turns his attention to Lee, I dart forward. “Before you continue, let me introduce her to Falcon and Layla.”

I gesture to Falcon, but Lee’s eyes go straight to Layla and her lips part in wonder, while she murmurs, “U-waaaaa… ye-ppeo.”

“She says you’re pretty,” Preston goes ahead and translates as if he’s spoken the damn language all his life and didn’t just start learning it.

“Show off,” I mumble under my breath.

Layla walks closer and smiles at Lee. “It’s nice to meet you. Is it okay if I call you Lee?”

Lee nods still transfixed with Layla, then she says, “I haven’t seen anyone with such light hair and skin before. You’re so beautiful.”

Layla grins at Lee, totally basking in the damn spotlight, and then she says, “You’re just as pretty. How do you get your skin looking so smooth? I need some beauty tips.”

“Now we’re talking,” Kingsley adds.

I throw my hands up in the air at the guys. “Well, I guess that’s their way of telling us to take a hike.”

“Hike? Where? I’m not the outdoor sports type,” Preston begins to ramble.

“He meant we need to get our asses out of the suite so the girls can bond,” Mason grumbles.Chapter 6LeeFalcon hugs Layla, pressing a kiss to her mouth, while Mason pulls Kingsley to his side, saying, “I’ll see you at dinner. Have fun.”

The men all begin to move toward the door, and it has me darting forward so I can catch up with them.

“Thank you so much.” The words explode over my lips, and I wish I knew a way to express how grateful I am. I expected to see another room like the one at the hotel.

I meet Preston’s eyes and hoping he’ll understand, I bow. “Jeongmal gomapsseumnida.”

“Chunmaneyo,” he replies to my formal thank you.

They begin to leave again, and I move toward Lake. Touching his arm to get his attention, I smile nervously when he turns to me.

I take another step closer, then whisper, “I’m embarrassed to ask this, but is there a phone I can use to call my mother?”

I’m willing to sacrifice all my pride just so I can hear her voice again. I’m so desperate I’ll even go down on my knees and beg if I have to.

“Of course,” he says, and reaching for my hand, he pulls me deeper into the room to a desk standing by the window. He points to a phone and the numbers printed above the keypad. “These are the numbers for the campus.”

I forget about Lake holding my hand because I’m filled with intense relief, knowing I have a way to contact my mom.

Then he frowns and looks at me. “What happened to your phone?”

“I don’t have one,” I automatically answer, but I quickly realize my mistake when his frown darkens.

“Who’s phone did you use for us to text?”

It’s too late to think of a lie now, so I answer honestly, “Jo Yoon-ha’s.”

Lake glances to the other girls and without having to say anything, Layla and Kingsley walk to the door. “We’ll be right outside.”

I lower my eyes to where he’s still holding my hand, wondering how much trouble I just got myself into.

When the door closes behind the two girls, Lake tilts his head. “Look at me, please.”

An awful feeling of apprehension fills my chest, but I gather my courage and lift my eyes back to his.

“You didn’t send any of those texts, did you?”

I swallow hard and shake my head.

A smile flashes over his lips, but there’s nothing happy about it. Instead, it makes him look worried. “So, you don’t know anything about me?”

I read the messages before every video call, but I can’t recall the details. I only remember the shame I felt because of the things Jo Yoon-ha said.

Owing him an answer, I shake my head again.

He pulls his hand away, and I let mine fall back to my side.

Maybe he’ll tell me to go home now.

Instead of feeling insulted and demanding I leave, Lake’s mouth curves into a gentle smile and he inclines his head, “Hi, Park Lee-ann. I’m Lake Cutler.”

My heart fills with gratitude because he’s showing consideration for me as an individual. It makes me feel like I matter, and that’s something I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Hi, Lake,” I greet him back. It’s hard to swallow the overwhelming emotions down, but I push through, adding, “You’re different from what I expected, and it’s really nice to meet you.”LakeI’m always the one telling Mason to stop talking with his fists and to use words, but right now I wish Park Je-ha was still in California so I could beat the shit out of him.