Page 7

A shadow catches my attention, and someone pauses in front of our table. He is wearing a bow tie and stands with a puffed-out chest.

Nigel, I’m assuming.

It’s hard to place Nigel. He’s not as unattractive as I thought he’d be, which makes me vain for even thinking it. He’s shorter in stature, which explains why he’s not athletic in comparison to the giants in this school. He’s well-groomed, with blonde hair that stands on end like a brick from how much hair gel he has in it.

Jade blushes as soon as he arrives, her nervous energy radiating off her.

“London, is it?” he asks me, taking a seat on the other side of Jade, closer to the window.

He exudes confidence, and I know I have to do my best to impress this guy. He will make or break me here. If he doesn’t give me a reference, there is no way in hell I’ll be getting into journalism school.

Jade introduces me, and I shake his hand from across the table. Luckily, a few others joined, and the conversation shifts to the upcoming school year and newspaper plans.

I only half listen.

The chatter in the room grows quiet when two guys walk in. By their swagger, I can immediately tell they were the guys from the beach. Even though I only saw their silhouettes, there is no mistaking their toned physiques. I didn’t see them in any of my classes this morning, and I try not to stare as they walk by, but the one in front is incredibly attractive. Probably the most attractive guy I’ve ever seen.

At least six-foot-two, strong and lean, with olive skin and dark hair styled just right, that the hair falls to the side and accentuates his high cheekbones.

My face heats as he walks by and his hard eyes connect with mine. His lips are pressed together in a scowl. He looks closer to twenty-five, just based on his height and muscle mass alone. Too old to be in high school.

My heart takes off beneath my chest, and I instantly want to pinch myself to snap out of it.

No guys, London.

That was a promise I made to myself before coming here. My lusting is what got me into this position in the first place.

His gaze is intense, so I dart my eyes away as a tightness fills my chest. He and his larger friend I saw on the beach head directly to the table where Naomi and Serena are sitting, of course.

The alpha.

His friend is even harder to forget, with his sheer size and muscle mass.

Jade leans over the table. “That’s Micah.”

She knows exactly which one I was looking at as I glance back at him as he sits across from Naomi and pulls out his laptop, ignoring everyone around him. His face is completely void of emotion, with not even a hint of a smile.

“And the bigger guy is Thomas,” Jade continues. “They are part of the hockey team.”

I gathered athletes just by the way they carried themselves.

Jade looks over at Nigel to make sure he isn’t listening. He’s busy talking to someone else and not even facing us. However, her deference to him doesn’t go unnoticed, like she doesn’t want Nigel to catch her looking, but I catch a lingering stare at Thomas.

I pull my attention away just as two more guys walk in the doors, catching my attention immediately.

I do a double take. One of them looks exactly like Micah. The hair, the eyes, the build—identical twins.

My heart pitter-patters.

God. There’s two of them.

“And that…” Jade says in a slight whisper, “is Maison, Micah’s twin brother.”

Unlike Micah, Maison looks friendly, and just as sexy as his brother, with the same swagger. Behind him is another taller guy, with a slimmer build, narrow nose, and angular face. The second guy looks as impressed to be here as Micah does.

“That’s Ezra behind him. They are both part of the hockey team, too,” Jade tells me.

I glance at Ezra, who glares at me with beady eyes. He’s attractive too, with a thin nose and blonde curly hockey hair that frames his narrow face. His skin looks like he had a generous summer, golden from the sun.