Page 45 of Cruel Abandon (Fallen Royals 5)
“A detective,” I say slowly, staring after her.
“Why was she talking to you?”
I can’t let one conversation rattle me. Turning to him, I grin. “You look like you’re hard at work.”
He rolls his eyes. “I think I need a coffee break. You want one?”
After my night and morning fiascos? “Yes.”
“Go get settled. You’ll see my bag. I’ll be right back.”
I take a step after him, then stop. I can’t keep letting him buy me coffee—not if I’m going to be making out with Liam in shady bar bathrooms… Speaking of Liam. He’s already in the library, in one of the back alcoves. The big guy who was with him yesterday sits across from him, head on his folded arms on the desk. He could very well be sleeping.
Liam’s head lifts. His movements are always so precise, and I know it’s no mistake that when he glances around the room, his gaze lands on me immediately.
I do what every rational girl would do in my situation.
I ignore him.
Mitch’s signature peacoat is easy to find, although my heart sinks a bit at the idea of being in the middle of the room. I’ve always preferred to be tucked out of the way.
Still, I drag out a chair and sit with as much grace as I can muster.
My phone buzzes almost immediately.
Liam: Your ass looks good in those jeans.
I scowl and set it back down.
It goes off again, then a third time. The buzzing draws some disgruntled stares.
Liam: Speaking of clothes, you gonna keep my sweatshirt?
Liam: Setting a new record. First girl to sleep over, first girl to successfully steal my favorite hoodie…
He’s verging on intolerable.
Me: So, you’re saying I’m special?
Liam: I didn’t say you weren’t. Why are you sitting over there?
I twist around and raise my eyebrows at him.
He smirks, setting down his phone and motioning for me to join him.
I very slowly shake my head no, then face forward again.
My new friendship with Mitch is fragile, but he seems like a nice guy. I can’t disrupt that by intentionally setting it on fire. And that would definitely happen if I sat with Liam and his friend.
“I always liked that rebellious side of you, Buckley,” Liam says over my shoulder. “Too bad, though. Resistance is futile.”
He gathers my notebook and book, my pen and backpack, even my damn water bottle, and walks away.
I stare at the table in front of me for a second, aghast. He took everything. Even my phone. In a matter of seconds, while I just… let it happen.
Why would I do that? He kisses me once and suddenly he can just… do whatever he wants? That isn’t going to fly.
And that’s when Mitch walks back in with two coffees.