As if sensing my stare on him, the new guy’s eyes turn to me. He takes me in with a disinterested sweep of my body. Starting at the top and slowly making his way down to my feet, treating me like a piece of meat that he might or might not want to fuck around with later, only something is missing. I just can’t work it out. I don’t get that creepy vibe that I usually get when a guy looks at me like this. It’s like a key element is missing, but I can’t put my finger on it.

  His eyes come back up and meet mine with a raised brow, probably wondering why some chick is glaring at him first thing on a Monday morning. “Ahhh, you need something, babe?” he questions, narrowing his eyes in curiosity.

  My mouth opens to put this guy in his place when my name is called across the room. “Henley,” Miss Jamison says with a fake enthusiasm as she cuts me off. I turn my head, taking her in as she gives me a determined look. “I was just thinking how lovely it was for you to offer to show Mr. Jones around school today.”

  “I did what?” I grunt.

  “That’s right,” she says, indicating to the guy in my seat with a nod of her head. “Aiden Jones, our new transfer. He’s going to need someone to show him the ropes and I thought it was great of you to offer.”

  “I don’t know where you got your wires crossed, but I certainly didn’t offer to show Mr. Jockstrap around.”

  Snickers are heard around the class before Miss Jamison starts riffling around in her desk drawer. "I thought you might say that,” she murmurs before pulling out two pink detention slips. “These are the detentions you received on Friday afternoon,” she informs me. “Now, I’d be more than willing to…forget about these if you decide that you can be a team player.”

  “But…” I whine.

  She holds the detention slips out and hovers her hand above the trash. “What’s it going to be, Henley?”

  Shit.

  That’s two whole detentions that could be gone in the blink of an eye. That’s my lunchtime freedom. How could I possibly say no to that? I let out a heavy sigh and look up to meet Miss Jamison’s eyes. “You know, it’s bad form offering your students bribes.”

  She gives me a carefree look before a smile lifts the corner of her lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she tells me before shaking her hand above the trash and drawing attention back to the detention slips. “The offer will expire in three, two, o-”

  “Finnnnne,” I draw out. “I’ll show the guy around, but don’t expect me to be thrilled about it.”

  “Noted,” she grins before tearing up the detention slips and dropping the papers into the trash. Fuck, that feels good.

  With a sigh, I turn back to my seat. I expect the guy to be somewhat offended, but he stares at me with amusement, confusing the absolute shit out of me. One thing’s for sure though, Miss Jamison called him Aiden Jones, meaning he most definitely is related to Spencer.

  I want to jump up and down for being so freaking clever, but then I remind myself that too many people are watching me and I’m not a fucking child in a candy store. I’m supposed to have my game face on, but I momentarily forgot about it.

  “First up,” I say to the guy. “Don’t look so fucking cocky. You didn’t get away with shit. And second, if this is going to work, you need to move your big ass down.”

  He raises a brow, challenging me but quickly realizes that I’ll put up a bigger fight than the chair is worth. Reluctantly, he scoots down to the next space and I take my seat. “Smart move,” I say, twisting in my chair to face his. “Aiden, is it?”

  “That’s right,” he says, watching me with cautious eyes. “‘Let me guess. You’re the head cheerleader?”

  I smirk back at him, adding a scoff for good measure. “Try ‘the bitch who took the head cheerleader down.’ I’m the fucking Queen of this school. The cheerleaders are shit I walk in.”

  Aiden watches me for a long, drawn out moment. “You and I are going to get along just fine.”

  I study him in return. “We’ll see about that,” I tell him before holding my hand out. “Let me see your schedule.”

  Aiden rifles around in a stack of papers before pulling out his class schedule and handing it over. My eyes scan over the classes and rooms he’ll be attending before I start trying to remember where the hell each one is. “So, you’re related to Spencer,” I state, though from my tone it comes out more like an accusation.

  “Yeah, he’s my cousin,” he chuckles, still watching me. “Why do you sound so put off about that?”

  I grin to myself. “Let’s just say that I’m the reason for his broken jaw a few months ago.”

  “Ahhhh,” he says. “So, I’m assuming it was your boyfriend who hit him?”

  “Sure was”’ I say proudly. “Though, maybe he didn’t quite deserve the first one, but the second time; that he deserved.”

  “Yeah, he can be a bit of an asshole, but I swear, he’s not a bad guy. Just makes shitty decisions.”

  I stare blankly at him. “He told the whole school he was fucking me like I was some kind of prostitute.”

  Aiden scrunches up his face. “Well, shit. I guess he did deserve it.”

  “Damn straight.”

  “You can’t blame him, though. You’re fucking hot. What guy wouldn’t want to connect themselves with that?” he questions.

  “Only a guy with a death wish,” I murmur before turning on him. “Don’t tell me you’re a douchebag like your cousin, otherwise, this little arrangement isn’t going to work. I’m more than happy to leave you to the sharks.”

  He sucks in a breath. “And risk getting your two detentions back?”

  “Trust me, I’m no fucking stranger to a good detention. Besides, they’re useful for a good midday nap. I really don’t mind either way.”

  He considers me a moment. “Alright, I’ll quit playing, but for the record, I’m not a douchebag. I can be an ass, but I’m no douchebag.”

  “Good to know,” I tell him as the bell for first period sounds. “Now, get your ass up. I have to get you all the way to the opposite side of the school and back for my class before the second warning bell, otherwise, I’m toast. I have a test and I can’t be late for it.”

  “Sir, yes, sir,” he murmurs, sliding back out of his chair and giving me a salute.

  “Now, that’s more like it.”

  Just as I’d hoped, he keeps a good pace and I give him the ins and outs of Haven Falls Private as he shares a little about himself. Turns out the guy is a football player after all. He got a transfer after his mom complained for the millionth time about wanting to be closer to her sister, who is Spencer’s mom, and ta-da, now he’s here.

  By the time we reach his class, I decide that I’m going to adopt him. He seems like a pretty cool guy and maybe I’d misjudged him at first. He’s cool enough to hang out with us at lunch, but don’t be fooled, I’m not disrespecting pack rules. I have a firm line that nobody is going to cross, not even cool football players like Aiden. Besides, he’s Spencer’s cousin. I have a feeling Noah will be keeping this guy at arm’s length.

  I leave him to his class with a few directions on how to get to his calculus class afterward before hauling ass to my own.

  I make it just in time and step through the door moments before my teacher closes it and starts handing out tests. “Alright,” Mr. Watkins says, “phones away and get yourselves ready. This exam counts for twenty percent of your overall grade so I expect your full concentration. You have fifty minutes to complete it,” he adds, finishing off handing them out. He steps away and heads back to his desk before grabbing his timer. “Your time starts now.”

  By the time lunch comes around, I’m already exhausted. It’s been a big day and I can’t wait for it to end, only it’s not that easy anymore. Once the end of school bell sounds, I’ll be heading to Tully’s bedroom to work on my economics assignment. Lucky me. I just have to hope that Tully can get into it a little quicker this afternoon. Yesterday, I endured an hour and a half of her whining before she shut up and dug in. It was tricky with her sore arm, but luckily she’s left-handed so she’s still able to hold a pen.

  I stop by my locker to dump all my books in and replace them with my lunch when a heavy body falls into the locker beside me. “There you are,” Aiden says with a sigh. “This place is confusing me. You know, I just walked into the chicks’ bathroom by accident. Half of them squealed while the other half tried to maul me. I think Haven Falls Private was about to host their first senior orgy.”

  “Trust me,” I grumble. “It wouldn’t be the first. Probably not even the second or third.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “And don’t for one second,” I continue, ignoring his disbelief, “try to tell me that it was an ‘accident’.”

  “I swear,” Aiden laughs. “Watching chicks fawn over themselves and compare lip shades is not exactly my idea of fun. Besides, if I was going to purposefully walk in somewhere, then wouldn’t the chick’s locker room be better? At least I’d see some titties in there.”

  I roll my eyes. He has a good point. “Alright. I’ll believe you this once, but if it happens again, you’ll forever be labeled as a perve.”

  “Fine by me,” he laughs before trudging along beside me.

  I start making my way to the cafeteria, pointing out all the important things about the school such as the best supply closets to use for those times of desperation. “So, have you met the guys on the team yet?” I question, wondering why the hell he’s still hanging out with me when half the day has already gone.

  “Nope,” he says as we get closer to the cafeteria. “Meeting them after lunch.”

  “Ahhh, that explains it.”

  “Explains what”

  “Why you’re still hanging out with me.”

  “You don’t want me to?” he questions, raising a brow at me before continuing. "You’re a cool chick, Henley. A bit rough around the edges, but so far so good."

  I laugh out. “Is that a nice way of saying I’m a bitch but still alright to chill with?”

  “Yep, I mean, I’m assuming you didn’t take down the cheerleader by being a pushover.”

  I grin up at him. “And don’t you forget it.”

  Aiden rolls his eyes as we push our way through the doors of the cafeteria. “Alright,” I start, giving him the rundown. “Jocks sit over there,” I say pointing out the area which I’m sure he’ll be hanging out in tomorrow. “Be careful though. The swim team cannot sit with the football players, but don’t ask me why.” I move on to the other tables. “Cheerleaders. Stoners. Nerds. Cool nerds,” I turn to the opposite side of the room. “Science geeks. Mean girls. Whores, and of course, the hippies. Don’t get caught up there though, they’re big on their baked goods and they’re fucking strong. If you get caught with that shit you’ll be off the team in seconds.”

  “Right, good to know,” he says. "So, which table are you at?”

  I turn to the one table I haven’t pointed out and find Noah laughing with Jared. “There,” I say feasting my eyes upon my boyfriend and taking in the way his white shirt hugs his body and puts those magnificent tattoos on display. “That’s my boyfriend, Noah. The guy who runs shit around here.”

  Aiden takes him in and I watch him. It’s always interesting to see people noticing Noah for the first time. They’re usually instantly envious of him. His body, the way other chicks are drawn to him, the status, the whole freaking package. Envy, jealousy, and admiration are usually the reactions Noah gets; yet something is different here.

  It’s the same as when Aiden first laid eyes on me this morning. Something is different. Right now, the look in his eyes is one I’ve seen before only it’s not the one that I usually associate with other dude’s laying their eyes on my boyfriend, it’s the look I see from other women. Hunger.

  It all suddenly makes sense why he didn’t gawk over my body or why he hasn’t been hitting on me all morning. He didn’t even make comments about the chicks he saw in the bathroom. I mean, it’s possible that he’s just a good guy and isn’t interested in being a douche like that, but guys, especially guys on the football team, simply can’t help themselves. No, Aiden is different. He’s gay, and right now, he’s looking at my boyfriend like his next meal.

  “Woah, cowboy,” I call, yanking on his arm and drawing his attention to me. “That bad boy is taken. Feast your whorish eyes upon someone else’s man or I’ll be forced to kick your ass just like all the other skanks around here who think they’re entitled to a piece of his meat.”

  Aiden spins around, completely in shock as he stares at me wide-eyed. “Excuse me?” he stutters out. “What did you just say?”

  I cross my arms over my chest and raise a brow. “You heard me. He’s mine and I don’t share. You can’t have him, but if you want, I’ll point out the ones you can try your luck with. I’m sure a few of the guys around here are on the fence anyway.”

  He gapes down at me. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

  I narrow my eyes on him. There’s a lot of things I’m not sure about, but this isn’t one of them. “Alright, alright, I get it. You’ve locked yourself pretty damn tight in the closet, but quit stressing about it. I’m not going to announce it to the world.”

  Aiden glances around in a panic, realizing he’s unable to hide it from me. “Would you keep your mouth shut?” he demands with a low, urgent whisper. “How do you even know that?”

  “I mean…you’re looking at Noah like you’re about to cum in your pants and you haven’t even pretended to gawk at the girls around here.”

  “Fuck,” he curses with a grunt. “Is it that obvious? I’m not out of the closet and I can’t let people know. Not when I play ball. The guys on the team will beat the shit out of me if they knew.”

  My brows draw down. “These guys aren’t that bad.”

  “Trust me, no matter what team I’m on, they’re all the same.”

  I let out a sigh hating that he’s right. I mean, it’s the twenty-first century. Times have moved along, so you’d think humanity could move along too, but no matter where you go, there’s always going to be haters. “I’m sorry,” I cringe. “But don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me as long as you don’t plan on stealing my boyfriend and making him fall for your wicked ways.”

  Aiden smirks down at me before glancing over his shoulder and taking in Noah once again. “I can’t make any promises. That guy is fine. Those arms and those tats. Fuck.”

  I look over his shoulder, taking in the very sight that he is. “Yeah,” I sigh. “It’s pure perfection. But be warned, just because I’m happy to keep your secret and more than happy to perve on him with you, doesn’t mean that others aren’t. If you want to keep it quiet, especially around here, you need to work on your game face. It’s written all over you.”

  “Really?”

  “Uh huh,” I say, continuing to feast my eyes upon Noah. “I’m not surprised though; Noah could turn even the hardest man gay.”

  “Damn straight, he could,” Aiden murmurs.

  I grin up at him, reluctantly pulling my eyes away from Noah. “Wait until you see the eyes.”

  “Damn it,” he groans. “This is what I was trying to avoid.”

  “Huh?”

  “Hot guys,” he explains. “They’re the worst for me trying to keep my sexuality in the closet. I can’t help but stare, especially at guys like that,” he says, nodding towards Noah.

  I press my lips together, deep in thought. “You need a cover.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Just come around to Noah’s place after school,” I tell him.

  Aiden’s eyes narrow on mine. “Why? Thrusting that sex demon in my face isn’t going to help my urge to gawk at him day in and day out.”

  “Just trust me, ok? Noah’s into blonde hair and blue eyes. You’re like the boy version of me so believe me, the last thing I want is you around my boyfriend.”

  “Shit, I’d have fun turning a guy like him.”

  “Stay away,” I warn.

  As if sensing my eyes roaming over his skin, Noah looks up and takes me in. Realizing that I’m enjoying the view, a sexy smirk cuts across his face. “Oh, shit. Look at that,” Aiden murmurs beside me.

  I laugh and within the blink of an eye, Noah is studying Aiden, taking in his closeness and the way his body is leaned in towards mine. He stands.

  Shit. This is going to be interesting.

  I can’t help but grin. Do I tell him or do I not? After all, I did promise Aiden that his secret was safe with me. Besides, it’s not my secret to tell. With that decided, I prepare myself for a little entertainment, loving how jealously overtakes my boyfriend.

  A warm, masterpiece of an arm slides around my waist, pulling me in hard against a strong body and in the process, moving me a step away from Aiden. “What’s going on here?” Noah questions, his voice low in warning and his eyes already on Aiden like he’s some kind of threat.

  Little does he know that he’s a threat to me, not to Noah.

  Aiden’s hands fly up in innocence but the desire in his eyes is as clear as anything. Naturally, Noah mistakes the desire from his time with me, though to me, it’s obvious that Noah’s possessiveness and outright dominate alpha show is what’s doing it for Aiden. Hell, it’s doing it for me too. I might have to go and find one of those supply closets I was telling Aiden about.

  “Yo, man,” Aiden says, probably a little weak at having the full effect of Noah’s stare on him. “We’re just talking.”

  Noah scoffs and I can’t help but grin. That big old goofball. His fingers tighten on my waist and I find myself trying to calm him. Placing my hand over his on my waist, I lean into him. “No, really. It’s fine. I was assigned to be his tour guide for the day.”

  Noah looks down at me. “You sure?”

  “Yeah,” I smile.

  “Alright,” he says, though there’s a distinct tone in his voice that says he’s still not happy with this. Noah holds his hand out to Aiden. “I’m Noah.”