Cruel Crush, page 15
part #1 of Hidden Falls High Series
“What?” he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
“What happened to the guy in the suit, the guy who was a tycoon, and walked around acting like he owned everything and everyone?”
“That would still be me,” Dante said. “But today’s different.”
“Come again? Why?” I asked.
“You’ll find out,” he said.
Ms. Morris called attendance and when she called River’s name, everyone looked around as though he would be anywhere else in the classroom besides at his own desk. “Anyone knows where River could be?” Ms. Morris asked.
Principal Lee walked in the door just then and said, “Oh, River Millions had a family emergency. His grandfather had a heart attack and is at the hospital.”
“Oh no,” I said. “Poor River.”
“Are they close?” Dante whispered to me across the aisle.
“Yes. River’s parents died when he was really young so his grandfather raised him.”
“Want to visit him at the hospital?” Dante asked. “Later today?”
I looked at Dante to see if he was serious. “I thought you didn’t like River.”
“What gave you that idea?” Dante asked.
“Yesterday you two were like squaring off or something. I felt like I was watching the human version of an animal documentary from Animal Planet.”
“We’re both competitive alpha males,” Dante said. “Guys like us tend to jostle and square away to become the top guy…isn’t that what alpha males do in the animal kingdom?” His eyes were crinkling at the corners.
“You’re joking, right?” I asked.
“It’s a guy thing,” Dante said. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t see River for what he is. A worthy opponent.”
“Yeah,” I said. “He’s pretty much all testosterone.”
Dante stopped smiling then. “Hey, class is starting.”
Ms. Morris smiled and said, “Now that attendance is over, I’d like to introduce you to a new classmate. Who happens to be Hidden Falls Academy’s new trustee too. Dante Black.”
Dante didn’t have to stand up to be noticed. Everyone turned around to look at him seated in his seat next to me. He nodded at everyone. Cool as a cucumber.
Principal Lee was still in class, and she walked to the front and said, “Thanks to Dante’s generous donation to the school, many families were able to still attend HFA. Because of that, we’re having a celebration in honor of him at this school. Dante suggested it himself.”
Dante smiled as everyone turned to look at him again, but with complete awe. No student had ever in the history of HFA been given the honor of a celebration day.
“Why don’t you tell everyone here first?” Principal Lee said. “Then we’ll send out a bulletin to the rest of the students right afterwards.”
“Sure,” Dante said. He stood up and walked easily, confidently up to the front of the class, looking like the President, no, a male model.
The girls were already whispering to each other how handsome he was.
“It’s called Free Day,” Dante said. “You’ll get credit for school, but you can be off-campus. Anywhere. A museum, at the beach, at the mall, at a baseball game…you get the drift. The catch is you get credit for attendance only if you write about the place you visited or stayed at, and how that experience affected you, other people, the economy, the community, etc. etc. Real world experience is a valuable thing besides books and lectures,” Dante said. “Everything you see around you. Everything you touch, eat, do…comes from somewhere and from someone’s vision, hard work, and follow through. So, that’s why instead of some so-called celebration of me, just make the day a school attendance day but off campus. Free Day. Free to choose. Free to go out and discover what’s out there in the world.”
When he was finished, everyone had stood up and was clapping. Including me.
I was mesmerized. With his natural charisma. Leadership and charm.
Dante smiled and walked up the aisle, high-fiving everyone who reached out a hand, before he reached me, refusing to high-five me. He stood in front of me and grabbed my hand in his, instead, before he bent down to kiss my knuckles.
I almost swoon.
His lips felt warm and sensual against my skin.
“When is it due and how long has the paper have to be?” Timothy, a straight-laced no nonsense junior asked.
“Due in a week,” Dante said, “and it will be handed to Principal Lee’s office. You can make it as long as you want. Up to you.”
“Great!” Timothy said.
“Well,” Principal Lee said, “Free Day will be tomorrow. You guys have a week afterwards to hand me your papers. Got it?”
“Got it!” the class said.
The rest of the day, Dante actually attended his classes, and I didn’t see him at all. During lunch, when I entered the cafeteria, he was already at the table full of football players and cheerleaders.
No surprise, the cheerleaders, especially Head Cheerleader Megan Connors was all over him, while Jason Seaborn, the next best star player after Nat Donovan, was sitting across from Dante, intently listening to what Dante was saying. Since Nat left, Jason had assumed the Captain position of the football team.
I filled my tray and was about to walk over to the “jock and cheer table” as that table was known for, when a hand took my elbow to steer me over towards the Student Council and Knights table.
“Lincoln,” I said. “What are you doing?”
“Making sure you don’t sit in the wrong table, Summer. I’m just looking out for you.”
He walked with me to the corner table where River, Nat, and Lincoln always sat at. Then I did after the bullying was lifted off of me. I had earned my right to sit with them, after winning River and Lincoln’s respect.
We walked by the “Jock and Cheer Table”, and Dante looked up at me. Megan had her hand on his thigh, and was leaned in so close to him that her boobs were touching his chest.
I couldn’t even look at him. It was shameless what Megan was doing, almost in his lap like she was going to ride him. Dante didn’t seem to mind, either.
So, he was just pretending to be affected by that kiss? Was he flirting with me the entire time until he could become the most popular guy in school now?
I walked quickly passed him with Lincoln walking besides me.
“Looks like you’ve got competition, Summer,” Lincoln said, glancing back at Dante when we sat down.
“There’s no competition,” I said. “Because there’s no Dante and me. We’re not together.”
“Well, then, hello!” Lincoln got up to slip next to me, really close until he looked like he was going to climb into my lap.
He put his arm over my shoulders while he tried to feed me with his free hand. “I have to take care of you, Summer, since neither Nat nor River are here. That means, I’m going to feed you.”
“Lincoln, I could eat pretty well on my own,” I said.
“Okay, suit yourself,” Lincoln said. “But you’re the only girl allowed at this table. You’re the only one who is one of us.”
“Lincoln,” I said. “That’s because of Nat.”
“Not true. River said you’re sitting here from now on. He still intends on having you as his girl, you know.”
“I know,” I said.
“So give in to him, Summer,” Lincoln said. “Why not? Every girl wants him, why not you?”
“Are you going to see River at the hospital?” I asked.
“No,” Lincoln said.
“No?” my eyes widen. “You’re his best friend, but you’re not going to visit his grandfather?”
“No because he’s not there. Max Millions don’t just stay at any hospital. He has them come to him.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it’s a matter of security and privacy, Summer,” Lincoln said. “He’s a billionaire, you know. That makes him a target anytime, especially when he’s vulnerable. Like now.”
“So, it’s not a good idea to go visit him right now?” I asked.
“It’s not a good idea. He’s got security all over the place. And now that he’s in that state where you don’t know if he’s going to make it or not, River will probably need protection.”
“Because River is the heir to Max Millions’ empire,” I said.
“Bingo,” Lincoln grinned. “Smart girl.”
“River must be having a tough time right now,” I said. “I mean, his grandfather is his only living relative, isn’t he?”
“Yup!” Lincoln said. “River is going to have to catch up with everything his grandfather would want him to know about his empire right now. He needs to spend some time with him alone.”
“Okay,” I said.
Lincoln reached out to touch my hand with his, covering it. “Don’t worry, Summer, River is pretty strong. If he needs you, he’ll reach out to you.”
I looked at Lincoln. He was being so sweet and understanding. “He’s lucky to have a good friend like you.”
Lincoln smiled. “See, you could even see how great of a friend I am. How I put up with some of his shit just because we’re friends. But then again, he’s put up a lot of shit from me, too.”
“True. That’s how it works, right? Friendship, that is,” I said.
“Yeah,” Lincoln said.
“I’ll call River, then.”
“You do that,” Lincoln said. “I tried earlier, but he was busy.”
“You know where he is, though, don’t you?” I asked.
“Actually,” Lincoln looked pissed. “I don’t. And he wouldn’t tell me.”
“Oh,” I said.
“Security’s that tight.”
“Yup,” Lincoln said. “And it’s going to get even tighter.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Lincoln leaned in to whisper in my ears, “Act like I’m making a pass at you, Summer. It’s believable for me to act like a total playboy.”
I started laughing, feeling Lincoln’s breath tickle my ears. “Lincoln…” I laughed. “I’m ticklish there.”
“You are?” Lincoln licked my ear and leaned in again. “River thinks his grandfather was poisoned. They’re covering it up as a heart attack.” Lincoln started nibbling on my ear.
“No, that’s serious.”
Lincoln licked the back of my ear, and I nearly jumped.
“Oh you like that, don’t you, Summer?” Lincoln asked. “You taste good, Summer. You really do. Just as good as you smell…” He began getting into it, kissing my nape.
His tongue licked my neck up and down until I was almost moaning.
“Hmm, I’m missing out on trying to get you for myself,” Lincoln said. “First Nat. Now River. I should be next.”
“Is this guy bothering you again, Summer?” a familiar voice asked.
I opened my eyes to see Dante standing in front of my table, his hand on his hips.
Lincoln kept kissing my neck, ignoring Dante. And I went along with it. “Oh that feels so good, Lincoln,” I opened my mouth to bit down on my lower lips, while I closed my eyes like I was having an orgasm. “Yeah, that’s it.”
“Summer?” Dante’s voice was deeper, with an edge of anger to it.
I opened my eyes to look at him while Lincoln’s tongue swirl around my pulse point along my neck and collarbone.
“Is he bothering you?” Dante asked.
I half-closed my eyes looking up at him but displaying the pleasure I felt from Lincoln’s kisses. “Does it look like he is or does it look like I’m enjoying it?”
Dante stood there just glaring at me.
“Oh,” I let out as Lincoln moved up my neck to plant his full lips on mine. I watched Dante turn around to walk away while I kissed Lincoln back.
“Fuck this play-acting shit,” Lincoln breathed against me. “You’re so hot, I want this for real.”
The lunch bell sounded, and the cafeteria emptied out. Lincoln looked at me woefully when he pulled back. “How about you and me together, Summer?” he asked. “You’re not really with River, and not even with new guy, and the chemistry between us is scorching.”
“Um, Lincoln, I don’t know.”
“You’re fucking hot, Summer. I know you let River please you, I can guess that the way River is all possessive of you.” He lifted his finger to run it down my cheeks. “I can please you in ways you’ve never even dreamed of, Summer. I know all the tricks. I grew up on it. And it would be my dream to play it out on you…all your fantasies, I’ll fulfill for you.”
I gulped. “Lincoln…”
“Better get a move on,” the school monitor came over. “Lunchtime’s over.” She peered at Lincoln. “You, Mr. Blaine. You’ve skipped a few classes, I noticed. If you skip one more, you’re going to the Principal’s office.”
Lincoln jumped up from where he was sitting, his hands all over me. “Right,” he said. “I’ll see you later, Summer.” He hightailed it out of the cafeteria while I emptied my tray and placed it on the used dishes pile.
“Sorry about lingering. You see, our friend River Millions had a family emergency so Lincoln and I was just figuring out how to get his classwork to him and stuff. We lost track of time.”
The monitor smiled and said, “That’s fine. You’ve got such a clean record at school, Summer, you’re fine. It’s Lincoln who I was trying to get a move on.”
“Thanks!” I waved, walking out the cafeteria and past a figure standing outside, leaned up against the wall.
Dante.
Chapter 11
Dante
Finally, Summer made her way out the cafeteria sans Lincoln hanging all over her. The jerk. His friend River is gone for the day on a family emergency, so Lincoln moves in on Summer.
Hanging all over her like a cheap suit.
Some best friend Lincoln was to River.
“Summer!” I said.
“Hi Dante,” Summer said, looking at me warily.
Why was she so cold to me all of the sudden? Was she really that affected by me sitting with the cheerleaders and jocks? Did she care that the cheerleaders were coming on to me?
I smiled to myself. She seemed jealous.
That meant she may have feelings for me.
Like me wanting to punch Lincoln for having his hands on her, his lips on hers, and his tongue licking her neck.
Great. Just great. After all the work I’ve done to try to win her over. All the planning, all the execution of the great plans…like becoming Trustee of this school, providing a grant for her Aunt Sookie’s school, declaring Free Day, and even sitting at that no-brain table filled with the most fakey fakey girls on the planet…all of it was shot down by Lincoln jumping right in, even when River had to leave school for God knows how long.
“Summer,” I said. “Do you want to make plans to go see River together? I got Principal Lee to let you and I leave campus right now so we can go.”
“Really?” Summer’s eyes opened with excitement.
“Yes, but I don’t know where he is. Do you?”
“Let me get my backpack out from my locker,” Summer said.
“I’ll walk with you,” I said. We walked to the row of lockers along a wall where Summer stopped. She opened the combo locker and quickly grabbed her backpack.
“I’ll have to call River,” she said. “I think he may be at a hospital, but I’m not sure.”
She took out her phone and began calling.
“We can take my car. I’ll drive,” I said.
“Okay,” she smiled. “I was about to tell you Aunt Sookie dropped me off, so I didn’t have a car to get home.”
“That’ll be fine, Summer. I can pick you up in the mornings for school and drive you back after school, if you’d like. I know River was doing that before. But if he’s off on his family emergency, I can fill in for him there.”
“Wow, Dante,” Summer said. “That’s so sweet.”
She spoke into her phone, “River, I’m so sorry to hear about your grandfather. I’m here for you. Whenever you need me. If you need me to visit you and your grandfather right now, I can come over. Take care of yourself, River. I’m worried about you. I want to be there for you. Love Summer.”
Love, Summer? Did she really love him?
