Only two more classes before I get to meet up with Warner to get Huey. It’s been on my mind all day. In biology class, he took the wobbly desk again and stared at me the entire time. The way he chewed on that pencil, his eyes hooded. I can’t get those damn blue eyes out of my head. Every time we pass each other in the hall we both smile, everything in slow motion as we pass by with our eyes glued to one another through a sea of meaningless people.

My heart pounds with excitement thinking about hanging out with him tonight. My brows furrow at the thought of sex. No, I won’t have sex. It’s bad enough I had sex with him after knowing him only a couple of hours.

The girls hoot and holler, their voices echoing in the locker room dragging me from my thoughts. Pulling off my sweaty gym clothes, I shove them inside a black scratched up locker, the smell of mildew and perfume making me nauseous. Girls giggle behind me. I pop a glance over my shoulder, Kellie and her crew stop laughing and scowl in my direction as if I’m the reoccurring spider they keep trying to kill, and miss.

“It’s so… brave of you not to wear… panties,” Kellie says in an unapproving tone. Her squad all nodding behind her like they really commend me for not wearing underwear. Meanwhile, they all are wearing matching lace bras and thongs, their slender bodies sexy and appealing.

One of the girls behind Kellie has her left hand behind her back. My brows furrow, but she just smiles at me, eyeing me.

I could wear those things if I wanted to, but they’re uncomfortable and over the top. I can’t stand padded or underwire bras squeezing into my chest. I’m more of a bralette kind of girl, and I wear panties sometimes, I just hate how they leave lines in my clothes and cause me to sweat.

I don’t respond to their obvious faux compliment and turn around to grab my regular clothes and get dressed quickly. I hate that there are no private curtains in this damn locker room. They continue to giggle and whisper, and I try and keep my shit together.

Heading up the concrete stairs, away from the locker room and run smack into Warner.

“Shit, sorry!” I lift my chin, shoving the hair out of my face. His brows scrunch together, and he looks me over.

“You okay?”

Taking in a deep breath, I nod. “Yeah, fine.” I’m not fine though, Kellie has me so damn mad.

He looks over my shoulder, and a heat rushes up my spine.

“Hey Warner,” Kellie flirts. I grind my teeth and reposition my bag. “Coming to get me for another photo room session?” she winks, and I notice Warner’s shoulders tense. Nice.

The bell rings, and I give a tight-lipped smile to Warner. “I’d love to stay and talk about hooking up in closets, but that’s the bell.” I sneer.

“River, wait!” Warner tries to grab after me, but I jerk my arm just out of his reach. If he thinks I’m some girl who will hook up in the closet with him whenever his cock gets hard, he’s fucked up more than I thought.

The bell for my last class rings, but my eyes don’t move off Kellie. Coach can go off on me for being late, something is going on between River and Kellie.

Kellie whispers to one of her girls before sashaying over to me. Gripping her arm, I drag her out of the gym and into the photo room. It’s dark, photos hanging up from the class's latest project.

“What is going on with you and River?” I snap.

“I knew you couldn’t resist,” she giggles, wrapping her arms around my neck.

My nostrils flare, and I remove her arms, placing them by her side. The smell of her perfume once made my dick stiff, but next to River, it smells like a cheap hooker.

“I didn’t drag you in here to put you on your knees today. I want you to tell me what is going on between you and River.” I glare at her.

“You mean when I welcomed her to the class and she elbow checked me?” She purses her glossy lips, looking at me like I need to have her back but I don’t. I’ve seen Kellie target new kids. She’s fucking brutal.

“Stay away from her. For me.” I try and play whatever card I got. I don’t want her fucking shit up with River and me.

Her cheeks turn red, her face taking an ignorant look.

“Excuse me?” she hisses.

“I just, I know her and she’s –”

“Sure, I’ll look out for her.” Kellie smiles, and I swear horns just spiked through her blonde hair.

Biting my lip, I know I fucked up asking her to stay away.

“I mean it,” I warn, she gives a scout's honor salute and jerks the door open before walking out.

Waiting my two minutes, I think about warning River about Kellie, but maybe I should just stay the fuck out of it.

Stepping out of the room, Coach is walking out of the office.

“You!” he points at me, and I freeze. “You’re missing my class. Why?”

Shaking my head, I stride toward the locker room. Knowing I’m about to do laps.

After last class, I head to my locker finding Warner leaning against it waiting for me. His arms are crossed, and his legs are stretched out in front of him. He juts his head at everyone that passes by and you can tell just by looking at him he’s a big deal in this school, it confuses me why he’s so nice to me when everyone else in this town clearly doesn’t like me and my family.

“I see you found my locker.” I fumble with the combination, a playful smile tugging at my lips. The smell of his spicy body wash has me suddenly aware of everything touching my skin. My nipples ache, and my thighs squeeze together. That night in the tent tries to push to the front of my brain and I remember how hard his chest is, and his chiseled ass.

“I have my ways.” He turns where he stands, throwing his arm over the top of my locker.

Strands of my hair fall loose and I realize he’s running a finger over the headband I’m wearing. The one he gave back to me last night. My eyes flicker up to his in knowing and heat spreads across my face. I grab books I need for the night, and give him an annoyed look, trying to replace my desire with something else.

“Warner,” Kellie’s voice comes up behind me, and it’s like nails on a chalkboard. “The girls and I were going to get together tonight, any chance you and the boys will be out?” Her eyes snap to mine, and I can’t help but give her a sympathetic look. She seems so desperate.

“Sorry, got other things going on,” his tone bored. He looks behind him at the kids walking the hall. I can’t tell if he’s acting like he’s busy for my benefit or if he’s genuinely not interested in her.

“No worries, we are supposed to get bad weather anyway, maybe we’ll stay in.” She shrugs, batting her lashes. “See you around.” She waves before sashaying away.

“You don’t have to come with me to get Huey—”

“River, I hit your dog. Of course I’m coming with you.” His fierce blue eyes turn a shade darker, the vindication in his voice causing me to slow my movements.

“She your girlfriend, or ex-girlfriend?” I can’t help but ask. I need to know, I’m not a homewrecker.

He scoffs. “Neither. I’ve never had a girlfriend,” he says with a disgusted look, and I instantly get the impression he’s scared of commitment. Maybe I shouldn’t be so ecstatic he’s chasing me after all.

Reaching out, his finger trails down my cheek in a sentimental way, and my lips part to allow the sudden harsh breathing to escape. The simple touch making my cheek blaze with memories of the night we were connected, lost in each other in a tent.

“Yeah, I can see that.” My words coming out in a mere whisper. I want to be bold and independent, but when he looks at me like that, touches me like that. I melt like a chocolate bar in the middle of July. I’m an idiot.

The ride to pick up Huey was quiet with a lot of side looks from one another, and me trying to hide my hard cock. I can’t keep my eyes off her for some reason. The way she walks, talks, hell the way her throat moves when she swallows even. It all affects me in some way.

“His purple cast is so cute,” she laughs, rubbing her finger over the cast that claims Huey’s leg. I smile, but deep down I still feel like an asshole for running over her dog. The way Huey looks at me, he thinks I’m an asshole too.

River leans down reaching for something in her backpack. In her hand is a black marker. Pulling the cap off with her teeth she begins to draw on Huey’s cast. A cute little wrinkle forms between her eyebrows as she focuses on drawing. Moving her arm to the side, I spot a little flower outlined on the purple cast. But in true River fashion, it looks like something that would belong on a gypsy’s dress. The petals curl and the heart of the flower swirls delicately.

“You’re a really good artist,” I compliment.

Ivy eyes peer through black lashes as her hand still on the pen. Pushing the cap to the side of her mouth she says, “Thank you, I love anything artsy.” She glances back down and begins to shade the petals, getting lost in her work.

The way she bloomed with when I said how skilled she was, it’s almost as if nobody tells her how amazing she is at it. Makes me wonder if her family is as fucked up as mine.

Pulling up to her house, which is way bigger than my place, I turn the engine off and throw my arm over the back of the seat. I try and keep my distance though, I don’t want her to think I’m only after her for sex. I’m not. This… I don’t know. There’s just more to us than that.

Just as she puts the lid on the cap, I snatch the pen from her grip and lean over the middle seat to sign my name on Huey’s cast. I mean, I hit her dog. I should sign the cast, right?

“Nine?” River asks, observing my penmanship.

“Yeah, it’s my last name, and lucky number.”

River smiles, running the pad of her finger over my last name.

“Warner Nine,” she whispers my full name. “Why is it your lucky number?”

“Well, it’s my jersey number, locker number, how many tickets I’ve had, how many girls I’ve—”

Her eyes jerk to mine, and I clear my throat and glance anywhere but her way. Sweat builds on the nape of my neck, and I exhale a breath. Why the fuck did I just say that?

“Was I number nine?” she asks softly. My chest tightens, and my dick twitches from the memory of her silky thighs straddling my legs.

“Yeah.” My voice husky as those sultry eyes hit me where it hurts. She’s my lucky number nine.

“Hey, you want to go out - hang out or—?” River looks up at me and I second-guess myself when emerald eyes stare back at me so innocently. “I mean—” Fuck, why am I so nervous.

“Yeah, let me go put Huey inside and I’d love to hang out.” I relax a little, and smirk. “I mean, you did hit my dog, the least you could do is show me a good time.” She winks, and my dick twitches. I want to show her a good time alright, I’m just trying to be a good guy and not grab her by the hair and shut her feisty mouth up with mine like I’ve been dying to all day.