Cash steps into the classroom, interrupting my rejection. “Hey, Miss Masters.” He frowns at Seth. “Mr. Bates, what are you doing in here?”
The science teacher clears his throat. “Just talking with Miss Masters.”
“About what?” Cash presses, sitting back against his desk and studying us. “You know she’s way out of your league, right?”
Seth rubs the back of his neck. “That’s not what is going on here.”
“Oh, good, because it would be awkward to be rejected by someone you have to see every day. Miss Masters, can you come check out my homework? I finished it early since I had nothing but time on my hands, being suspended and all.”
“Sure, Cash.” I offer Seth an apologetic smile and watch him leave my classroom.
Cash laughs under his breath. “You’re welcome. That guy is a creep.” He pauses and then adds, “I know my dad seems a little rough around the edges, but even he’d be a much better catch.”
I purse my lips. “I hope you’re not trying to set me up with your dad. You know that would be highly inappropriate.”
He shrugs, amusement dancing in his blue eyes. “Not like you both haven’t already gone there.”
Oh. My. God.
I decide to ignore that comment, but inside, I’m fuming. He told his son that we hooked up. What is wrong with that man?
I ignore Cash’s infuriating amusement as my eyes narrow. “I’m going to pretend you never said that. Did you actually do the homework?”
“Yep.” He grins, handing me the papers.
I give them a quick read. “This is really good, Cash. You’re super smart, you know that?”
He grins, flashing me his white teeth. “I know, but I’m going to be patching into the club next year, so none of this really helps me, you know?”
“I wouldn’t look at it like that. You could look at it as always having options. You could do anything you wanted to, Cash. Anything. You could be a lawyer… I’m sure that would help the club,” I say with a smirk. I know nothing about MCs except what I’ve seen on television, but Tegan did say they were criminals. I wonder if the small-town gossip is true in this instance.
Cash laughs, his blue eyes dancing with amusement. “You’re not wrong. Or an accountant.”
We both laugh at that. “I’m just saying, there are options. I’m sure you will do great things.”
He goes silent for a moment, his face sobering. “No teacher has ever said that to me before. They always think I’m going to end up in prison. One told me it’s a waste of space for me to be here.”
My jaw clenches. “That’s not true at all. Don’t listen to anyone who tries to put you down. Only you control your future.”
He nods once, a contemplative expression on his face. “You’ll be good for him,” he rasps, brow furrowing. “But I don’t know how good he will be for you.”
“Cash!”
Other students start piling in, so we can’t finish the conversation. He grins, knowing he got the last word in.
Throughout the class, I can’t help but think about his warning. Chance thinks we’re going out tonight, and even his own son thinks he’s going to break my heart.
We’ve passed the red flag and gone straight into the fucking carnival.
When Tegan asks me to go out with her to have a drink, I jump at the chance. When Chance shows up at my house this evening, I’m not going to be there. I told him I didn’t want to have dinner with him, and ever since Cash told me he knows about what happened between us, I’ve seen red.
Let’s be real, he didn’t even want dinner. He just wanted to butter me up so he could get me in bed again, to reassure his ego. He told me he wasn’t done with me, and I told him I was. I know that grated on him, and now he wants to get back in my pants again so he can have the last word.
I make sure to meet her at a different bar, because I’m not walking back into the scene of the crime, and when I step inside the dimly lit, modern, classy cocktail bar, she’s already sitting there waiting for me, two spicy margaritas in front of her.
“I could kiss you right now,” I say, hugging Tegan and taking the seat opposite her.
She smirks and takes a sip of her drink. “See, you need to get out more. I’ve been inviting you since you got here, and this is the first time you’ve said yes.”