Page 35 of The Honor Society

I ignore him, and tap my screen. “Rhodes, how lovely to hear your voice.”

“Looks like you’re having a bit of trouble keeping all your pawns safe, Proctor. Should I be worried?”

“A lot can happen in fifteen days.” I check my watch. “Almost fourteen. Jenner’s right here so careful with your words, we don’t want to upset War’s soon to be replacement.”

“Cocky aren’t you?”

“Someone has to be since you’re back to hiding in the shadows while I do the dirty work. They’re trying to get to her but keep her alive, they think they can use her at the last minute, or they think they can use her as leverage against Axel but he’s about to have a very broken heart so...”

Rhodes chuckles, low, dark. “Sinister, even for you.”

“I’m just as excited as you are that they’re about to lose that leverage, try not to get too hard too soon, Chancellor.”

He curses under his breath. “I’m sure The Proctor will keep her safe as long as he sits on his hands and tells his dick it’s not playtime.”

“When have I ever talked to my dick like that?” I hear a noise from the room, someone standing? Moving? “Gotta go.”

“—Ax.”

I hang up and shove Jenner towards the door. “Ow! What? Why?”

“She knows who you’re with you dumbass!” I shove him harder. “And you can’t just hide in the pantry. She’s a nervous eater. Go to the car.”

“—but. I made cookies.”

I stare him down. Hard. “Did you take some of the ketamine too?”

He rolls his eyes. “No, I just like a mean chocolate chip.” He goes to the door, then whips around. “Save me at least one.”

“Two if you sprint.”

“I’m barely alive you jackass!”

“Because of me.” I point out. “Now stop being a pussy.”

“Bring milk.”

“Fine!” I slam the door and turn around just in time to see a very lethargic looking Charlie stumble out of her room and lock eyes with me.

“Who was that?”

“Wrong door. Was asking for milk, I think he was drunk.” I shrug. “You feeling any better? You texted me some weird gibberish about kidnapping only for me to find you tucked in your pajamas in bed like nothing happened.”

She looks down, a bright red spreads across her cheeks. “Pervert.”

“What was that?” I cup my ear.

“Nothing. No one.” She shudders. “I just can’t believe I’m in my least favorite pajamas of all time.”

I hide my smile. I have to. I mean, come on, I had once chance to mess with her before getting my heart broken into a million tiny little pieces. So, yeah, I tugged the tags off her hotdog pajamas and went to town. The bottoms were shorts with dancing hotdogs, the top was a brown tank with a yellow sleeve on one side and a red sleeve on the other, I think she’s meant to be the dog, and her arms are the condiments, I could never quite figure it out. Lilah got them after Charlie drunkenly proclaimed love for Costco hotdogs and she never lived it down. Nor did she ever wear them. Until now.

“I think you look cute.” I force a smile. “I’d take a bite.”

“These are not cute or sexy, how did he even fin⁠—”

“He?” I frown. “What do you mean he?”

Charlie’s posture stiffens, she goes from tugging at the front of her shirt, to dropping her hands to her sides, her eyes dart from mine down to the floor then back up again. “There’s…someone else.”