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I sat up, slowly, keeping my voice hushed. “What are you talking about?”

“They’re scared of him. They did leave because his dad cheated for the millionth time, but it’s not the only reason they’re away. They haven’t been here all summer. A marriage retreat doesn’t last five months. They’re not coming back because they’re terrified of their son. Maybe ponder what the reason for that might be?”

He was going. I knew he was going to go, but I still reached for whatever was closest to me and threw it at him.

Poof.

He disappeared. The empty cup hit the chair he’d been sitting in.

He was starting to piss me off.

“Cole?” Lee murmured, drowsy. He rolled closer to me, his arm curving around my waist and he tugged me to him as he fitted himself behind me. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” I lay down, trying to relax and slid my hand through his, lacing our fingers. “Just a nightmare of a pest.”

“Hmmm.” He pressed a kiss to the back of my shoulder.

I’d like to say that I didn’t lie awake wondering if it was true, if Lee’s parents were afraid of him. If so, what could be the reason for their fear? Lee had been nothing but wonderful to me. Protective. Adoring. Caring. Sensual. A dark shiver went through me.

I didn’t know.

I didn’t think I cared either.

That was the part Noah was getting wrong.

16

The popular group was outside the front of the school. Why were they here? They were always not here when I walked to school. Now, suddenly when Lee was dropping me off and they could see me in his car, they decided hanging out in the front of the school was the place to be?

“You okay?”

A shrill laugh left me. It sounded like a kitten being murdered. “No. I’m not okay. Why are they here?”

“Who—oh. Uh…”

I focused on him instead, my eyes narrowing. “Uh what? Did you do this, uh?”

He grimaced, looking apologetic. “I might’ve. Sorry.” His eyes shifted behind me and there was a tapping on the window.

I almost shrieked before seeing that it was Cassian, who was smiling widely and waving. “Hi.” He tried for the door, but it was still locked.

Lee put the car in neutral. The door unlocked and Cassian had it open in an instant. “Hey!” He leaned down. “What are you doing? Let’s go to school. Hey, man.” He greeted Lee behind me.

“Did you do this?” I hissed at Cassian.

His goofy smile dropped. “Huh?”

Lee answered behind me. “She’s freaking about the audience.”

“Oh.” A foolish expression flared on his face. “I was excited. I didn’t think about the whole catty bitches of it all.” He gestured behind him, shifting on his feet, both his hands shoving into his pockets.

“Cole! Cole!”

I frowned hearing my name but not seeing where it was coming from.

“Cole. Oh my ghostly goodness. Cole.” They were frantic and then a head shoved through the middle of Cassian’s chest.

I screamed, seeing Shelton there.