Facing the Thorpe Brothers

And I was right. Those familiar blue eyes locked with mine way before I even approached the table. His lips pulled in a smirk as I approached them.

“Well look who we have here,” He drawled, leaning back on the seat with a cocky smile. “Never thought I'd see the day you'd serve me, Jordan.”

My fingers dug into the basket handle until my knuckles turned white. Ten pairs of eyes pinned me in place, stripping me bare without a single touch.

It made me wonder if I should have just bought the beer and headed back home.

“You know her?” one of his team members asked.

“Not really. Just one broke ass I tend to run into quite often,” Atlas snickered and my eyes flickered to him.

I could feel the rage coursing through my veins as he uttered the words. My heart clenched so hard that I had to shut my eyes and will myself to stay calm because I was practically shaking with anger.

Their laughter cracked against me like a whip, each sound burning hotter than the last. Atlas has always been ashamed of me. He kept our relationship secret while fooling around with other girls in my presence. Even now, he had two of them draped over him.

Atlas had perfected the art of making me feel small, shrinking me until I was nothing more than a punchline to his private joke.

Thinking about it now, he must have come here knowing I work here, just to further humiliate me.

“What are you waiting for, Jordan? Serve us,” he said. “Or should I call your manager? I'm sure he'd be more than willing to help us out in your stead.”

Once I was done taking out the drinks form the basket, Lesley showed up and I didn't waste any more time in scurrying away before he humiliated me forward.

His actions tonight, however small, was enough to make me a target for his entire team.

As I stood by the counter, Lesley returned shortly. “They ordered more drinks but they want you to serve them this time,” she informed me.

Like hell I would!

Any more humiliation tonight and I would kiss my peace in Blackridge goodbye. It was better to forfeit this job and face my abusive mother.

“Actually, my mother just called. I have to go home,” I lied and headed towards the door.

“Hey, Tamine, wait up!” she called after me.

I didn't dare. I hurried to the storage room and changed back into my regular clothes. But the moment I opened the door, I was stunned to see Atlas waiting outside.

“Going somewhere, bunny?” The tauntingl nickname rolled off his tongue smoothly as he pushed off the wall, immediately towering me. I contemplated running back inside and locking the door but he caught my arm before I could even think about it and pushed me against the wall.

I gulped hard, my heart slamming heavily against my ribcage. “C-Can you let go…”

“Why should I, huh?” He lowered his face towards mine. My palms grew sweaty as my nerves went haywire. “You broke up with me for no reason.”

My initial panic morphed into a glare. “Did you just say no reason? You slept with Emilia Moore! My freaking best friend!”

A puzzled look crossed his face then those blue eyes lit with recognition. “So that's her name. I thought she looked familiar.”

Is he being serious right now?

My fists clenched hard. I just wanted to hit him with all the anger I had built inside.

“But you seemed fine when I messed around though? You should know it was nothing serious, just a fling. Besides, you wouldn't give yourself to me. Was I supposed to go celibate?” He arched a brow.

The second to last statement sent me into an instant flash back with Evans. Those big hands against my body, his punishing lips against mine as I moaned the name of another.

My face instantly grew hot and I kneed Atlas in the balls. As he toppled over in a groan, I pushed him away.

“Stay away from me, asshole!” I fired, running as fast as I could. I busted into the pub and muttered a quick apology to Shawn before running off.

My heart was racing wildly. Why the hell did I have to think of Evans at that moment? Why couldn't I get him out of my damn mind?!

I have only seen him once since that night and that when I realised he wasn't just a student of Blackridge and hockey captain but Atlas’ freaking half-brother. Since then, I avoided him like a plague. I was very certain he didn't even know who I was yet I always ended up thinking about him.

I woke up early the next day to prepare for school. My mother was still asleep so I made breakfast and hurried to catch the bus.

I arrived at exactly five minutes to first period and rushed down the half-empty hallway to class.

I was aiming for my usual quick, invisible entrance. Slip into my seat at the back, avoid eye contact, and survive another day without becoming the Thorpe brothers’ entertainment.

Except, the moment I stepped inside, I froze.

The place was packed. Every seat taken, extra chairs shoved in between rows, and a handful of people lounging along the back wall like they were here to watch a show.

Mrs. Carter was at her desk, flipping through a stack of graded tests like she couldn’t see the chaos in her classroom.

“Miss Jordan, kindly take your seat,” she said without looking up.

I slid into my seat, my pulse tightening. Everyone was way too awake for this early in the morning.

“As you all know, we’ll be returning your last test today,” Mrs. Carter began. “But before that…” She glanced toward the door, “...we have a new student joining this class for the rest of the semester. Apparently, someone at the office decided he needs to improve his grades in Literature if he plans to graduate.”

The door opened.

And in walked him.

Messy curly brown hair that fell over the white band in his hair down to his eyebrows, complimented by mesmerizing teal eyes that made him look like something out of a dream. His tall lean figure fitted perfectly in the all black outfit like he was some runway model.

Evans Thorpe.