Exposed

by Aster, Willow

  “I don’t want to talk about the trip. It was painful. Trust me, you don’t want to hear about it either. You know I want to travel the world, but Jorga is a place I can do without ever visiting again. It’s flat and humid and the people there are bitter.”

  “Bitter?” Luka asks.

  “Yes, like they know they need to get out of there but can’t.”

  “That does sound painful,” he says. “But wouldn’t you rather be there than going back to school? A new school at that?”

  “I can’t wait. It’s my senior year. I want to learn to surf…I’m with you guys. What could be better?”

  If Gentry were here too, I think, but I just smile at them and open the rest of the presents. We eat after that and I duck out of the party early to try to get back on Niaps time. I wish I could’ve been here at least a few weeks before school to adjust, but it just didn’t work out. I toss and turn and finally fall asleep to the thought of Gentry’s lips on mine.

  ***

  It makes Eden a nervous wreck, but I promise her for the dozenth time that I’ll be careful as I put on my helmet and hop on my scooter, backpack in place.

  The high school looks more like an old convent than a high school. I love old architecture and this is prime stuff. I whistle as I park my bike and take in the stone buildings built into the cliff overlooking the beach.

  “Only in Niaps,” I say, shaking my head.

  A girl turns to look at me and hurriedly turns away when she sees the tattoos on my arm.

  “I don’t bite,” I say just loud enough for her to hear.

  Her cheeks get pink and she walks faster to get away from me. I laugh, I can’t help it. I remember Mara being surprised I had tattoos already, but at home, it’s not that unusual for someone my age to have them. The full sleeve is, and I wish now that I’d worn my shortest black leather skirt to show off the flowers on my leg. I’ll show those off another day.

  I walk down the hall and find my locker, dumping my backpack inside and getting out the books I’ll need for the next three classes. I’m walking into my sociology class just as the bell is ringing. The door is closing and I grab it before it closes all the way. The person on the other side stops pushing the door and I step inside.

  “Ava?”

  His voice stops me and I look up, feeling that rush that comes with being near him.

  “Gentry! What are you—” I put my hand on his arm and squeeze, my teeth hurting from smiling so wide.

  He steps back and the smile he gives me is forced. “Miss Safrin, come in. Class is just getting started.”

  I look at him and then past him to the rest of the class sitting and watching our whole exchange. My heart catapults to the ground, the ceiling, and back to the ground again, when I glance at the board behind him and see MR. BARRINGTON written in large block letters.

  His face is pale when I look at him again and I move numbly to the empty desk, nearly tripping over someone’s backpack.

  Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

  The guy I’ve been obsessing over for months is my teacher.

  And by the sick look on his face, he wants nothing to do with me.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you so much to all of you who have given this series a chance! I know it’s not my typical, and I’m extra appreciative to those of you who have climbed onboard with me, no matter which direction I decide I need to go. THANK YOU. You’re my favorites. :)

  Thank you to my assistant and editor, Christine Estevez. I wouldn’t want to do any of this without you! Love you!

  Thank you to the betas who were part of Exposed: Jennifer Mirabelli, Darla Williams, Christine Bowden, Tosha Khoury, and Holly Ray. So grateful for your help! I love each and every one of you.

  Thank you to Hang Le, Wander Aguiar, and Florian for this cover magic.

  Thank you to my family (especially Nate, Greyley, and Indigo) and friends who keep me going each and every day. My community of people—you know who you are. You are my purpose.

  If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review. It helps immensely. Thank you.

  About the Author

  Willow Aster is a USA Today Bestselling author and host of Living in the Pages podcast. She lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband, kids, and rescue dog.

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  Also by Willow Aster

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  In the Fields

  Maybe Maby

  Lilith

  5,331 Miles

  Miles Ahead

  Downfall

  The End of Men Series with Tarryn Fisher:

  Folsom

  Jackal