Page 40 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

The lacrosse players chuckle and shake their heads at Stone’s threat, but before I can say anything to them, Stone’s hands are on my waist, and I’m lifted off the floor. He spins around and drops me down, all while refusing to meet my eye. He turns his back to meagain,and I want to scream.

“Get the fuck away from her.”

I want to bang my fists on Stone’s back, but I don’t. The lacrosse players walk past Stone, and one of them winks, but I keep my expression steady and poised. I wait until Stone takes a step in the opposite direction, but I’m not going to continue to ignore him like he wants.

“How dare you start a rumor like that about me?” I say, picking up my pace to match his stride. His jaw is as sharp as the knife in my back from the rumor he started. “What was your plan with that one? Are you trying to get me raped?”

Stone stops moving so abruptly I have to take a step back to stay beside him. He remains even-faced. I don’t even think he’s blinked. His chest is heaving, so I poke a little more.

“Are the nightmares that I’m having not enough for you? Wanted to add some more?”

His eye twitches, and I tighten my high pony with confidence. I said I was too exhausted to fight with him, but it’s addicting at this point, which is terrifying.

“What was it you said again?” I ask over my shoulder when I reach the door.

If I don’t hurry, I’ll be late for my shift, and that’s not an option. The more money I save, the sooner I can be in my own place without having to share a house with someone like him.

“You aren’t sure what poor girls like me would do to keep a roof over their head?” I snicker. “Maybe I will move in with them. Would be better than sharing a house with a self-centered asshole who can’t even apologize.”

I smile deviously, but it falls when his voice skims my back.

“Takes one to know one.”

My pony whips against my cheek when I turn. “Excuse me?”Self-centered?I am the very opposite of that. Years and years of saving my father from jail time, giving him all my money, and cooking drugs for him is far from self-centered. I gave up my morals for him. I gave up my sanity for him.

Stone keeps his dark and broody glare pinned above my head, and I almost lift my knee and ram him in the balls.

“You’re so self-centered you planted drugs in my truck to save your own ass, Sticks. So shut the fuck up about being self-centered.”

His eyes drop to mine unexpectedly, and my world stops for a second.

“And would someonesoself-centered sleep three feet from you every night in case you start screaming and wake the whole neighborhood?”

My throat closes.

I’m defeated.

Stone beat me, and I let him.

“No one is asking you to sleep outside my door,” I snap with hidden embarrassment.

I didn’t know he was sleeping out there. The few times I’ve left my room for water after a nightmare coated me with sweat, he was always near but never asleep.

I probably woke him.

My cheeks burn, and he notices.

“Tell me if those guys bother you again,” he demands, face etched with rage. He brushes past me, and the door flies open, allowing cool air to cover my heated skin.

I glance at the clock and curse because I’m going to be late for my shift.

And it’s all Stone’s fault.

CHAPTER16

STONE

I should’ve knownthat damn rumor was going to bite me in the ass. One little mention of Sticks moving into the hockey house, one tiny insinuation that she’s paying for the space in more creative ways… It didn’t seem to get a foothold, but suddenly it seems like every guy and their fucking father are looking at Wren like she’s walking around naked.