by Ruby Vincent
We shared a small kiss. “Great. Knowing that we’re going to spend Christmas together will keep me from getting depressed when I get my rejection letter from Somerset.”
“Hey, don’t put that in the universe. I’m on edge waiting for December fifteenth. I should be on edge. You shouldn’t. You’re not getting rejected. You have a 3.9 and you’re a computer genius.”
“A computer genius that might as well have sent in used toilet paper as my essay. With everything that was going on, my head was wrecked when I wrote it and I know it wasn’t any good.”
“I bet it was better than you think.” I rose up and gently nipped his nose. “There’s no way you’d miss seeing me as a wide-eyed co-ed. That dorm you will be able to sneak into.”
While we talked, the rest of the class had gotten on the bus. We bounced as it rumbled to life and pulled away from the curb. As expected, everyone was too tired from the four a.m. wake-up to do much more than lean their heads against the window and fall asleep.
“Are you going to stay in the dorms?” Maverick asked.
“Well, no. I guess not. I’ll be home with Adam and commute to school.”
“About that...”
Something in his voice made me furrow my brow. He looked nervous all of a sudden. “What is it?”
“I was thinking that... you shouldn’t commute to Somerset.”
“But I have to. I’m not leaving Adam.”
“I know. What I meant is instead of driving back and forth, you could get an apartment near campus.” Maverick put his finger under my chin. “We could get an apartment near campus.”
“We?” I whispered.
“Yeah.” A hopeful smile played at his lips. “There is a great preschool minutes away from campus. You wouldn’t have to drive an hour back and forth every day. Adam could have his own room, and we could be together all the time.”
“You want to move in with us.” The idea was sticking in my mind as feelings I couldn’t name swirled within me.
“I do—even if I don’t get in.”
“You will.” There was no doubt in my mind about that. “I just... can’t believe you looked into preschools and apartments and—”
Maverick brushed a finger over my lips. “You can’t believe I would think about our future? Val, that’s all I’m thinking about. I love you.”
I wonder if you could actually burst from happiness. My heart was so full, I was sure I would find out. I curled my fingers around the hand under my chin.
“What do you think?” he asked. “Would you like to—”
“Yes,” I breathed. “Yes, of course.”
I surged forward and captured his lips. I poured everything into that kiss—all that I felt for him and the life I wanted us to have together. Kissing Maverick is what I imagined it was like to kiss the sun. My body burned with heat as he nipped at my lips, enticing gasps that allowed him to slip past and tangle with my tongue.
My emotions were on a roller coaster that was veering from warm and fuzzy to tantalizing desire. How I wished we weren’t on a bus full of people.
Maverick broke away, panting. “Wait. I have something for us.”
Confused, I held myself back from jumping him as he bent down and rifled through his bag. What could he possibly need in the middle of a kiss like this?
Maverick pulled and yanked out a blanket. He draped it over us, covering us up to our chins. “Now, where were we?”
I happily picked up where we left off, losing myself in the sensation as the hand on my hip slid beneath the hem of my shirt. Lazily his thumb glided over my skin, setting my nerve endings ablaze. I was so highly aware of that hand that I gasped when it slipped under the lining of my jeans.
“Maverick,” I whispered as my top button came undone. “We could get caught.”
“Everyone is sleeping,” he said against my lips. “No one will notice.”
His wink sent blood rushing to my cheeks. If you had asked who would try to get some with me under a blanket on a bus, I would have gone with Ezra. Underneath that perfect exterior was something else entirely. But my Maverick was the opposite. He was soft sheets, candles, and music, so that he was the one initiating this somehow made it even more exciting.
I stifled a giggle as I spread my legs to give him better access. “Don’t let me get too loud.”
“I like it when you’re loud.”
“Mav— Oh.”
I bit my lip hard as his fingers found their destination. His chuckle filled my ears and I knew he was enjoying this—watching me fight to keep control.
Two can play at this game.
I fumbled at his jeans as he played with me, lightly probing my core. A hiss escaped his lips when I wrapped around him. In the next breath, his lips crashed on mine and we kissed in a feverish battle as our hands did what they wanted.
No one stirred or peeked over the seats as Maverick and I enjoyed our five-hour bus ride to the bayou.
“OKAY, EVERYONE,” PATCHETT called. She stood on a mound of grass before the bus as it emptied out. The seniors formed a semicircle in front of her and Markham. Behind them, our hotel sat amid a charming flower garden and a raised porch. It was cuter than I was anticipating for a hotel out in the swamp—bigger too.
“We are stopping here to empty the bus, put our things away, and grab a quick meal before we start the day,” Patchett said. “You have two hours and then I want you all back here so we can head out to the bayou. Today we’ll take a tour, go over safety tips, and get acquainted with the area we’ll be working in.” She lowered her glasses to pin us with a stern look. “I expect you all to listen closely and be on your best behavior. They tend to stay out of the area we’ll be in, but there are alligators in this bayou so do not get it into your head to wander around or think you can ignore the safety instructions.”
“Umm, excuse me.” I didn’t need to look to know who was speaking. You couldn’t mistake that tone of superiority. “Did you say there were alligators in that swamp?” Isabella demanded. “You can’t expect us to go in there. My mother won’t—”
“I have taken students on this trip every year for eight years and we have not once seen an alligator in our designated areas. You have nothing to worry about, Miss Bruno, as long as you follow instructions.”
“But—”
Patchett clapped. “You have two hours, people. Get your things and go inside.”
The group broke apart, but I spotted Isabella stomping up to Patchett to complain some more. Shaking my head, I went over to the bus to get my bag. Everyone was crowded around, diving for their things so they could hurry inside. I stuck my head under the bus and reached for my pack when a hand crossed in front of my vision.
“I’ve got them, Val.”
I froze. Eric came in closer and grabbed a brown duffel bag.
“Right here. I’ve got the yearbooks.”
“Really? That’s perfect. Let me—”
“No.” He pulled it back when I reached for it. “It’ll look weird if you walk off with my bag,” he whispered. “This is what we do. When the trip is over and we get back to school, you’ll take this off the bus and into your car. Everyone else will be too caught up to notice.”
I frowned. “What? Why go through all of that? It’s just a yearbook.”
“Do you want to see them or not?” There was an edge to his voice that surprised me. I didn’t know why he was acting like this, but this may be my only chance to find out more about the one person I knew for sure was a Spade. I wanted that yearbook.
“Okay, Eric. I’ll wait until we get back to school.”
He nodded and then grabbed the duffel and another blue backpack. He backed out and walked off. I snagged my pack and wandered out of the fray. I hitched it onto my shoulder when a hard shove knocked me off-balance and sent it crashing to the ground.
I spun on Natalie with a snarl as she burst out laughing. “Oops. Sorry, Moon. Didn’t see you there.”
I surged forward, ready to knock her
on her ass, when over her shoulder I saw Markham turn in our direction, eyes peeled on us.
Swallowing my anger, I stepped back.
“Careful, Natalie.” Darren slinked to her side. “You don’t want to touch her or she’ll go around telling the school you’re a rapist.”
“I don’t want to touch her, period.” She smirked at me as they walked off. “Be careful in the swamp, Moon. We’d hate to see something take a bite out of your ass.”
They went off laughing as Sofia came over to me. She picked my bag off the ground. “I wonder if they’re dating. They’re the perfect match made in hell.”
I shivered. “Can you imagine the children they would spawn?”
“I don’t want to imagine that.”
We got the rest of our things and found our group. Together, we headed inside the hotel. I whistled. It was even more charming in here. The Rayonner Hotel had the look of a manor house and the interior kept with the old-world feel. A grand staircase led up to the top and creaky wooden floors lay beneath our feet.
A woman stepped out from behind the counter when we entered. “Good morning, Evergreen students. Welcome to the Rayonner Hotel.”
A few of us greeted her in return.
“After your school activities are complete, I hope you will make the most of your stay by enjoying the pool, having fun in the game room, or attending the movie screenings we hold every night in the main living room. I know you’ve had a long journey so grab your roommates, take a room key, and then come back down for tea, scones, and fresh fruit in the dining room.”
We didn’t need to be told twice. I hooked an arm through Sofia’s and ran up to get our key.
“Boys on the first floor and girls on the second,” Markham called after us.
I heeded her orders and claimed key 278. The two of us climbed the stairs and found our door at the end of a long hallway. The room we stepped into was cozy. Twin beds took up the back wall, but there was a nice sitting area with a small couch, coffee table, and a television.
“This is cute,” I said as we dumped our bags on the bed. “What do you think?”
Sofia stuck her head into the bathroom. “It’ll do.”
I rolled my eyes. There was just no pleasing my high-life-living best friend.
She came out and threw herself on her bed. “Val, I wanted to talk to you about winter break.”
“Please say you’re staying over.” I walked around my bed and climbed in next to her. “I have plans with Maverick on Christmas, but still, I want you to come. It wasn’t the same without you last year.”
“I can, but not until after Christmas. Mom is planning an event to launch our newest line and she wants me there with a smile plastered on my face. Then on Christmas we’ll be having the Thomases over.” She flipped over until we were face-to-face. “I think they’re finally accepting that Zane and I are for real. It was Dad’s idea to invite them.”
“Is he in the country now?”
“Dad flies back the day we return to school. He’s going to pick me up.”
“Okay. I’m glad you guys are going to spend time together. I’ll content myself with getting you after Christmas.”
She laughed. “You and your mom totally have split custody of me. Don’t tell my parents, but I’d go with you in the divorce.” She pecked my cheek before popping up. “Alright, let’s go. I heard scones.”
We finished putting our stuff away and then went down to the dining room. Zane claimed Sofia as soon as we walked in. I put two chocolate scones on my plate when Ryder loped over.
“I got a table in the back, Moon. Join me?”
“Since you asked so nicely.”
I picked up a carton of milk and followed him to a two-seater in the corner next to the fireplace. It was the perfect spot. The table rested next to the bay window and the morning light cast its glow over us. It was also far enough away from the rest that we could talk without being overheard.
“We aren’t supposed to have partners, but stick close, Val,” he said under his breath as we took a seat. “I don’t like the looks on Darren’s and Natalie’s faces.”
I peeked at them through my lashes. It was true. The two of them looked way too happy about something, and I doubted it was for the days of mucking through the swamp.
“I wish I could get Ace to talk to me,” I replied. “I’ve tried to provoke them into giving something away, but they refuse to answer.”
“Provoking them isn’t the best plan. That’s how you ended up with a knot on your head.”
My hand shook as I buttered the scone. I felt tight with frustration. “Waiting and wondering isn’t any better. Especially when you think of the fact that we could be surrounded by Spades who are pretending to be on our side.”
Ryder laid his hand over my arm, stilling me. “Nothing is going to happen to you, Val. I promise.”
Despite my tumultuous thoughts, the barest smile came to my lips. “I believe that coming from you.”
“Good, because it’s true.”
Ryder moved up my arm until he slipped the knife out and replaced it with his hand. Ryder and I were on a different level than the other boys. I was intimate with them in every way, but with Ryder, it was slower. I guess I knew it would have to be different with him, but while it got to me in the beginning, now I cherished every time he held my hand, touched me because he could, or shared a secret smile with me. Sex came easy for Ryder, but opening his heart to someone didn’t.
“Let’s change the subject,” I offered. “Will I get to see you over the break?”
He nodded. “Mom isn’t interested in traveling. Her friend is going to come over with her daughters on Christmas Eve, but otherwise we’ve got no plans.”
I was trying to listen to him but his thumb was stroking the inside of my palm in a way that was incredibly distracting.
“So I was thinking of dropping by your place over the break and whisking you away for my final labor.”
I blinked. “You were? So you were just going to show up on my doorstep again.”
“Yep,” he replied, grinning. “The last time I did, I surprised you in a towel so it works for me.”
I leaned in, lowering my voice. “You don’t have to go through all of that to see me in a towel.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Our flirting got more outrageous from there. I know I made up my mind to go at Ryder’s pace, but by the time we finished eating and tromped outside, it took everything in me not to drag him into a closet and have my way with him.
“Alright, everyone,” Patchett said. “Are you ready for a day of learning and adventure?”
She got a few mumbles in reply but it didn’t diminish her mood. It was like she had a complete personality flip from the woman who looked like she wanted to hop on the bus and ride away from this insane class, to the woman who stood before us in massive rubber overalls. She looked completely ridiculous, and when I looked down at the bins at her feet, I realized I’d be her twin.
“The overalls only come in three sizes so pick whichever fits comfortably. The water will come up to your knees and thighs, but the algae makes it slippery so you should still be covered if you trip.”
Kai raised his hand.
“Yes, Mr. Thomas?”
“Is not going into the muck-filled alligator trap an option?”
Patchett’s laughter rang out over the assembled students. There was a healthy pink to her cheeks that told me she was loving this too much to let anything get to her. “Come on, Mr. Thomas. Where is your sense of fun? This is life and science the way it’s meant to be experienced. Out of the classroom! No textbooks! Hands-on!”
She clapped, bouncing a little on her heels. “Come, everyone. Get your waders on. Mr. Clancy will be here in five minutes to start the tour of the bayou.”
We stepped forward and picked our overalls with much less enthusiasm than her. I went to the bin labeled small, but when I pulled the overalls on, I saw it was anything but. I was sw
imming in the thing. There was a gap big enough between my chest and the rubber overall that I bent my head and saw right down to my knees
“Baby.” I glanced up at Jaxson’s voice. He strutted over to me, decked out in blue rubber. “How do I look?”
“Jaxson, I once thought there was nothing that didn’t look sexy on you. Now, I know I’m wrong.”
“What was that?” He shot forward.
I squealed—and squeaked—as I tried to get away, but he caught me and pulled me to his chest. “I’ll make you take that back.”
“Oooh. Do it then.”
Grinning, we leaned in for a kiss.
“Slut.” The hiss made me freeze. “Even if the mark was fake, we were right about her being a whore. No wonder she ended up pregnant at like twelve.”
Jaxson’s eyes flashed. “What the fuck did you say?”
Penelope planted herself in front of us, hands on rubber hips. “You heard me, Van Zandt. What kind of slut sleeps around with four guys and broadcasts it? And don’t get me started on you and your boys. Do you share everything?”
I held Jaxson tighter as rage lit in his eyes. Markham and Patchett were waiting for one of us to give them a reason, I wouldn’t let Penelope provoke one.
Instead, I gave her a smile that made her smirk twitch. “Penelope, grow the hell up. You need to spend less time worrying about my relationships and more time sorting out your pathetic life.”
Her mouth fell open. “You— I—”
I grabbed Jaxson’s hand and marched off before the insults started. Professor Patchett was a bit away talking to an elderly man with a weathered face and matching overalls. We walked up to join them and Ryder, Maverick, and Ezra fell in beside us.
“Hello, all. My name is Fin Clancy. You can call me Clancy.” Clancy gestured behind him. “Soon as everyone is ready, we’ll head out. We’ll start the tour by exploring the area where you’ll be working. Afterward, we’ll come back, rid ourselves of the rubbers, and then take a drive to the wildlife center to learn more about the animals that call the bayou home and see the alligators. Any questions?”