He shrugged. “Someone’s gotta stock that fridge, right?”
She frowned. “In slacks and a nice shirt?”
“Yeah, about that.” He folded the paper and set it down on the counter, then rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m inviting Katy over for dinner tonight.”
“Whoa.” She plopped down on the stool beside him, her stomach knotted up for an entirely different reason. “Isn’t this moving kind of fast?”
His brows dropped. “No. I’m a forty-year-old man, Flinty... I’m not some boy trying to flirt, and I’m pretty sure she knows that.”
Peeling the banana open slowly, Flint barely refrained from rolling her eyes, sick in her gut at the thought of some blond stand-in eating at their kitchen table tonight. No wonder he was going shopping. He’d never bothered to do it for her.
Resentment curled its claws in her as she ate the disgusting and overly ripe fruit. “Bananas don’t go in the fridge, Dad.”
He sighed. “Flint, it’s been a year. I’m not the type that can...” Swallowing hard, he pressed his lips together.
She took a sip of the juice and then scraped the stool back as she stood. “Look, I can’t stop you. What do you expect me to say?”
A hurt look flitted in his eyes. “Weren’t you the one telling me to get out and date? That’s what I’m trying to do.”
“No.” She jerked her book bag onto her shoulder. “I told you that it was time to stop drinking and grow up! Not move on to the first bimbo who bats her lashes at you.”
“Katy’s not like that.”
She rolled her eyes. “And how would you know, Dad? You’ve known her all of what? Two weeks?”
Then she heard the squeal of the school bus.
“I gotta go before I miss my bus.”
“She’s coming over, Flint.”
“I heard you the first time.”
She didn’t look back because she knew if she did, she’d start crying. Flint hadn’t expected it to hurt this bad. She was almost eighteen for crying out loud, all grown-up. Shouldn’t she be able to handle her dad moving on?
But as she boarded the bus, she had a sick feeling that this day was only going to get worse.
And it did.
She didn’t know why she’d expected Cain to suddenly change. Maybe because he’d driven her home last night. And because he’d been halfway nice by the time he’d dropped her off.
But the second she entered homeroom, she knew. This time, not only was he wearing his shades, but he also had on a pair of earbuds, and the tinny strain of rock music annoyed her all through class.
She kept glancing at Mr. Wickham, expecting him to take Cain to task like he’d done her on the first day of school. But no, completely oblivious.
And Cain... might as well have been a statue for all that he noticed her.
Feeling all sorts of stupid for wearing a dress, sure that he knew it was because of him, she wanted to kick herself. Really hard.
Of course he didn’t care. Why would he? Nothing had changed. He’d driven her home.
And as her anger mounted, so did her stupid. Before she had time to realize what she was doing, it was already done. She’d torn a sheet of paper out of her binder and crumpled it into a ball, then thrown it at his chest as hard as she could.
He glared down at the white ball in his lap like it offended him.
That seemed to get his attention. Turning, she felt his glare like scalding water.
“What?” he growled.
Annoyed with herself, hurt by her father, she said the first thing that popped into her head. “I really hate you.”
He smirked. “I think we already established that, princess.”
“And why do you wear so much cologne?” she said with a snarl. “It’s really distracting.”
He leaned forward, tugging the earbuds out of his ear. “What did you just say?”
She had to be going crazy, because she could swear that his voice just growled. Like animal growled, reverberating with the echo of something deep and throaty. She shivered, both hot and cold, heart banging hard against her ribs.
“Cain and Flint, why am I not surprised?” Mr. Wickham gave her a scathing look. “Anything you’d like to share with the class?”
“Yeah, Flint says she needs to go to the bathroom; she just started her period.”
The guys in class erupted in laughter, the girls look embarrassed for her, and Flint just wanted to run away or punch him. She clenched her fist, anger beating so hard in the back of her throat she could taste it.
“I didn’t—”
“Ms. DeLuca, go to the office. Cain, stay after class.”
“What!” She jumped to her feet. “How come I have to go to the office?”
Mr. Wickham planted his hands on his hips. “Because this is your third offense, and only Cain’s first. Now gather your things and go.”
Ears flaming candy-apple red, she shoved her books into her bag and yanked it over her shoulder. Cain simply grinned at her, but she refused to rise to the bait. Lifting her nose high in the air, she walked out of class, attempting to ignore the jeers of the class behind her.
She hated him.
She really, really did.
~*~
“Oh my God, Flint!” Janet and Rhiannon squealed in unison. “We heard about today.”
“Cain is such a jerk,” Janet growled.
Abel nodded. “Told you.” He shoveled a fistful of fries in his mouth.
“So what happened?” Rhi peered at Flint with worried blue eyes.
“Got detention for thirty minutes,” Flint grumbled, drawing with her french fry in the pile of ketchup on her plate before finally tossing the soggy thing down with a loud sigh.
“Forgot to tell you earlier.” Abel glanced at her. “You look really nice today.”
Janet laughed. “Abel!”
“What?” He frowned. “Flint’s having a bad day, only trying to be nice.”
Flint smiled. Wrong brother, but... “Thanks, Abel.”
Feeling like a total jackass and needing some space, she got up. “I’m gonna sit out on the bleachers until lunch is over. Have a trig test next period and I want to get some studying in.”
Abel looked like he wanted to pout. “You want company?”
“No, thanks.” She picked up her tray, walked over to the trash can, and dumped it. She felt Cain’s stare on her. Even from all the way across the room, she felt it like a brand. Hot and sticky. But she wouldn’t look.
Flint walked out the back door and took a deep breath of the flower-laden air. Every step away from him felt better.
Why had he done that to her? She’d thought in the car maybe he’d finally gotten over whatever weirdness he’d felt, but no... today had been worse than ever.
Not to mention the fact that she’d acted like an idiot with her father this morning. If he wanted to start dating, he had every right. Maybe it was time she followed her own advice and let go of the past. Mom would never have wanted this.
A hot ball of tears had gathered in her throat by the time she finally reached the bleachers and sat.
Pulling her trig book out, she opened it to chapter two but couldn’t make out the page as her eyes swam with tears.
Chapter 12
Cain watched her walk out. A tight frown screwed his forehead.
Why had he embarrassed her that way this morning?
He hadn’t meant to.
But she’d told him she could smell him.
She’d smelled him.
He clenched his jaw, stuffing half his sandwich in his mouth with one bite as a cold sweat broke out on his back.
Cain dropped his head, not used to feeling this out of sorts about anything. Why was this bothering him so much?
Seth elbowed him in the ribs. “Hive at four o’clock.”
Clenching his jaw at the mere mention, he looked as the group of hive at the farthest table got up and dumped their trays, then headed in single file out the same door Flint ha
d walked through a minute ago.
“Janet,” he barked, gesturing for her to come over.
“What?” she snarled.
And for a second he was shocked, not used to Janet acting like that with him. Of all the people who knew who he really was, she was one of the few he actually got along with.
Unless of course... she was taking Flint’s side.
“Come here,” he said, using his authority over her.
Her body went rigid. She hated when he used his right as master over her, but Janet was his kanlungan, which meant whether she liked it or not, she had to do what he said.
Reluctantly she walked up to him, each movement forced as her eyes gathered with the darkness that lurked in her soul. “What do you want?”
“I want you to tail Flint.”
“Excuse me, what?” She crossed her small arms over her neon-green shirt. “You mean the girl you humiliated in class today? She’s my friend, Cain.” Her eyes were almost fully black. She glanced at Seth and Eli. “I know she’s not hive,” she whispered. “Your goons already told me”—she ignored the twins when they huffed—“which means she’s safe.”
Her words were like a knife twisting in his heart. “Look, she’s important, okay. Hive wants her.”
That snapped the anger right out of her. Her eyes widened. “Why?”
Cain was very aware of Abel’s eyes on them—his brother was trying hard to hear what they were whispering about. Abel still didn’t have a clue about the world around them, and Cain meant to keep it that way for as long as he could.
“I’m not sure,” he said, remembering what the drone had said before he’d killed her. Did they think Flint was somehow the key to mastering him? The back of his skull ached with a low throb. “I want you to just stand outside and make sure they leave her alone.”
“Then why don’t you do it?” She twisted her lips, the defiance coming back.
Clenching his jaw, he gripped the edge of the table. “Just do what I told you to do, Kanlungan.”
She hissed, then whirled around, heading back to her table. But he knew her eyes would be normal again by the time Abel saw her.
“I’m gonna go outside and check on Flint,” she said woodenly. “Come on, Rhi.”
Rhiannon frowned but nodded. For once there wasn’t a snappy comeback from her.
“I’m coming,” Abel said, making to stand.
“No.” Janet tossed a dirty look back at Cain. “Just girl time. Finish your lunch.”
Then the girls were gone.
Abel glowered, swallowed his chocolate milk in one gulp, and then marched to Cain’s table, planting his hands on top. “What did you say to her?”
“None of your business.”
Abel shook his head, disgust and fury burning bright in his brown eyes, and for a split second Cain saw the vein in Abel’s left arm bulge. His heart sank. He’d protected Abel for years, never wanting this life for his baby brother. But he couldn’t stop genetics no matter how much he wished he could.
“You’re such a bastard, Cain.”
“Pretty sure Flint already started that fan club—you should join up.”
“Ugh.” Abel stormed off, leaving his table littered with half-eaten food.
Seth and Eli glanced at Cain.
“Dude, this thing is going to hell in a handbasket,” Eli mumbled. “Listen, I know you might not want to hear this—”
“Then don’t say it.” Cain lifted a brow.
Seth shook his head, taking over for his brother. “But maybe you should listen to Janet. Guard the girl yourself.”
“I can’t,” he ground out, picking at the crust of his second sandwich. Just thinking about her made his body burn with heat and adrenaline. Her scent, her smile. How she’d looked today in that teal dress. His heart had done a summersault in his chest when she’d walked into class.
It was too dangerous. For her. For him. For everyone.
And the last thing he needed was a princess getting in the way.
Eli quirked his blond brow. “Dude, you’re so obsessed with crying over a stupid girl...”
Cain growled.
“A girl,” Eli said, correcting himself, “that you’re missing the big picture.”
Cain smashed his fist on the table. “And just what is the big picture?”
Kids at the table nearest to them jumped, startled, casting the trio worried frowns. Cain settled down, taking a deep cleansing breath, wishing for a second—just one second—that he was normal. Not some freak with anger issues.
“We’ve been trying to find that queen all summer, man. We’ve prevented the workers from kidnapping more victims and making baby drones, but that’s small potatoes. We can’t stop the swarm unless we kill the queen. Without the queen, all of this is fruitless.”
“Don’t you think I know that?”
Eli opened his eyes wide, an are-you-stupid look on his face. “So if you keep an eye on her, you’ll have more access to hive out of school, which means a trail, which means...”
A slow smile curled his lips. “We might find someone who can lead us to the queen.”
Seth laughed. “Ding, ding, ding. We’ve got a winner.”
But the problem was that being around Flint fractured Cain’s precarious hold on his sanity.
“There’s got to be another way,” he mumbled.
The twins groaned.
“Well,” Seth said, “if you find one, let us know, because what we’re doing isn’t working out so well.”
They walked off, heading to gym class. Cain got slowly to his feet, gathered his brother’s leftovers, and dumped everyone’s trash.
Glancing outside, he saw her. She leaned her head against Janet’s shoulder while her own shook. Clenching his jaw against the tight flare in his chest, he headed to English, wishing he could redo the morning.
Chapter 13
“You really didn’t need to ride my bus home from school,” Flint said, looking at Janet who was busy peering out the window.
She turned to Flint with a distracted smile. “Actually, I kind of wanted to see where you live.”
“Really?”
Janet had never mentioned that, but then again, maybe she thought Flint was on her way to cracking after her meltdown on the field earlier. Flint picked at the math book in her lap, which had helped not at all on the test. She was pretty sure she’d failed, having been way too distracted to focus.
“I love Abel, but he’s a boy. I need girl time sometimes.” She grinned.
Flint laughed. “I guess.”
“Hey, what are you doing today?” Janet’s brown eyes were bright.
She sighed.
“Ohh, the dinner.” Janet grimaced. “Duh, forgot.”
Flint waved her hand. “Yeah, tonight’s a no go.”
“Okay. Well, what about tomorrow?”
She shrugged. “Don’t know. Dad has the day off, but I’m pretty sure he’s gonna want to spend it with her. Why?”
Janet waved her fingers. “Manicure.”
“I don’t have any polish at my place,” Flint said as the bus began to slow down, rolling up to the first stop.
The girls in the seat in front of them slipped out. Flint’s stop was the next one.
She didn’t live in the crappiest place in the world—in fact, these were the nicest apartments she’d ever lived in. The buildings were a soft tan color, and Flint was lucky enough to live in the apartment right across from the pool.
“What kind of a girl are you?” Janet rolled her eyes with a happy snort.
“A low-maintenance one.”
The bus pulled up to Flint’s stop.
“Fine,” Janet said, “I’ll bring a bucketful and some popcorn. Do you mind if I invite Rhi too?”
Now that the idea had been suggested, Flint smiled, looking forward to some girl time. It’d been forever since she’d done something like that. “Sure, sounds good.”
The bus stopped, opening its doors with a loud squeal.
“You coming?” Flint stood.
“Totally would, except I bet your dad only wants you there tonight.”
Her heart sank as she nodded her head. “Probably right. See you tomorrow.”
“Oh, and Flint...” Janet grabbed Flint’s hand as she started to scoot around her to get in the aisle. “I don’t think Cain really hates you.”
Biting down on her tongue at the mention of his name, she rolled her eyes, “Yeah, well... that doesn’t make two of us.” She waved and hurriedly jogged out before the bus driver got impatient and closed the door on her.
Not that she’d minded, but that’d been weird. Flint frowned, tugging her book bag tighter as she turned and headed to her apartment. After lunch, both Rhiannon and Janet had followed her everywhere. Through the halls, into the bathroom—if they could have gotten into her classes they probably would have done that too.
She must have looked really pathetic outside, crying like a baby over her and her dad’s fight that morning. She’d not mentioned anything about Cain and his idiot self, but that had stung worse. Being new sucked, being new and already the butt of jokes sucked even worse.
He’d avoided her like the plague the rest of the day. She only had chem with him in the morning, but she’d been intensely aware of him the rest of the day.
Which was weird, because usually she never saw him after chemistry, except for lunch where he ate at the table right behind her. But it seemed all day she kept bumping into him in the halls.
He wasn’t walking. Or talking. His big blond goons hadn’t been with him. He’d just been standing by the lockers, always conveniently close to her classes and only long enough for him to look at her.
And it hadn’t been a sideways glance either. The looks had been thorough. Hot. Pressing in on her and intense. Even through the glasses, it was obvious his eyes followed her. Tracking her movements between bells, watching her as she opened her locker for new books.
She’d grown so aware of it that her fingers had begun shaking, forcing her to redo the combination three times before her locker would open. Just when she’d get to the point of snapping, she’d turn around and he was gone.
Forbidden, Tempted Series (Book 1) Page 9
