Magnus touches my arm a few times—simple, casual touches that probably mean more to him than they do to me. But I know they’re harmless. He’s just trying to bring me back to focus. He knows my mind is wandering.
“Hey, you okay?” he finally asks when Bev finishes up. Kate asks her a question, which allows me to respond.
“Yeah, just a lot on my mind.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I swallow, knowing I should talk to someone, but I don’t want to do that here. Honestly, I don’t even want to face it.
He pats my leg and then leans over and presses a soft kiss on my cheek. “I’m here if you need me.”
“Thank you.”
I clench my thighs tightly to force myself not to wipe the feel of his lips from me. They feel wrong.
He feels wrong. And I know why.
Fuck.
Suddenly, two figures appear, looming and large. Bev and Kate’s eyes widen, and Magnus shrinks back slightly.
My heart thunders in my chest. I know who this is. I can smell him, even from here.
“Cut the shit, Mal. You’re scaring them,” I hear Caleb murmur, and I peer up at him from under my lashes.
Mal reaches out and smacks Caleb upside the head. He lets out a grunt and rubs the area, staring at me as he does it.
His muscles flex.
Tempting, delicious.
I shift in my seat.
“Hey, roomie.”
“Hello, Caleb.”
He tucks his hands in his pockets, and I force myself to blink.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“That so?”
I watch Mal move toward Magnus and crouch down. He stares at Magnus intently, and I know how uncomfortable Magnus is right now.
He has three brothers who act like assholes just because he’s smaller.
He doesn’t need someone at school bullying him, too. This should be a safe space.
“You’re frightening him,” I turn to Mal and say, unable to hold my tongue. I won’t stand for bullying.
When Mal doesn’t move or blink, I turn back to Caleb. “Call off your pet.”
“Mal’s not my pet. He is feral, though,” Caleb says, his eyes glued to mine. I see Mal gnash his teeth like a rabid dog, and Magnus leans toward me slightly.
I wish he’d find his footing and fight back.