Rich Kid Prep: Book 1 Page 8

  He is so freaking sneaky.

  Logan doesn’t play fair.

  “I’ve been warned by many girls that I should stay clear of Logan,” I tell them. “He’s a real heartbreaker on campus.”

  Lucy giggles.

  Diana shakes her head, barely containing a grin. “Well, you’re the first girl he’s ever brought home. That says a lot to me.”

  Logan already told me that, but hearing it from his mom solidifies it.

  Maybe he really does like me. Or, it’s possible that he knows it’s going to take bigger gestures to win my heart. If he’s the player everybody says he is, I imagine he knows exactly what it takes to sweet talk a girl. And him bringing me home? That goes a long way in my book.

  Why do I feel so conflicted about Logan? Is it because of Dastian? Because I’m so wrapped up in a guy that I can’t have?

  Dastian has a girlfriend. Logan is single. And, sure, maybe he’s a player. But maybe he’s also completely misunderstood. So maybe I should give the guy a chance. What could it hurt?

  As we finish lunch, Diana, Lucy, and Paul ask me a ton of questions about my life in New York. They ask me a little about my mom, but then Logan lets them know my mom passed away recently, so they quickly change the subject. I want to talk about my mom to somebody, but I’m just not ready yet. It’s still too hard.

  I offer to help clean up after eating. Diana just laughs and says ‘Ashley will do it.’ I then find out that Ashley is their maid and I feel stupid for even offering.

  Of course they have a maid. Why wouldn’t they?

  Logan leads me toward a separate house in their backyard—as if their one house isn’t big enough, they also have a pool house. On the bottom, there is another two car garage with, what I expect to be, an apartment on the top floor. He doesn’t take me upstairs, though. Instead, he leads me toward an ATV in the garage.

  “Want to go ride?” he asks.

  I nod, unable to stop the grin. “I’ve always wanted to ride one of these.”

  He chuckles. “Wow. You really are a city girl.”

  My cheeks grow warm.

  Maybe I should dial back the excitement a little bit.

  Logan steps closer to me, pushing a piece of hair behind my ear. “It’s not a bad thing, Hensley.”

  I chew on the side of my lip. “I guess I’m just waiting for everybody to see me for the phony I am. This world is so... different. I don’t fit in.”

  He gently cups my cheeks. “You fit in no matter where you are. Don’t ever doubt that.”

  My heart races.

  I’m not supposed to feel this way about Logan.

  Actually, screw that. I’m not supposed to feel the way I do about Dastian. It’s okay for me to feel this way about Logan. Who cares what anybody else thinks? It’s my opinion that matters anyway.

  “I don’t want to scare you away, but I really like you,” Logan says.

  “Don’t say it unless you mean it.” My voice comes out more breathy than I intend. “I swear, you better not break my heart after everybody warned me about you.”

  He chuckles. “Hey, no promises, remember?”

  True.

  He backs away. “This is just us having fun. No expectations.”

  I raise an eyebrow. “So you’re not going to kiss me then?”

  His grin widens. “Not today.”

  Not today? He went through the trouble of inviting me to hang out with his family and I’m basically offering to kiss him and he’s saying ‘not today?’ That doesn’t seem like a very player thing to do.

  “Your first kiss should be special,” Logan climbs into the side by side, so I get on beside him.

  I chew on my lip, wondering if I should tell Logan about Dastian.

  He starts the ATV, and I quickly decide against it.

  Today, I don’t want to think about Dastian or the kiss we shared. I’d rather enjoy my day with Logan. It doesn’t matter if I date him or not, I think we could end up becoming good friends. I just have to keep myself from falling for him.

  Easier said than done.

  I’m not a cheater.

  Logan Griffin isn’t the guy I thought he was. He also isn’t the guy who everybody says he is. He’s... really sweet. I wasn’t expecting it.

  After lunch, Logan took me for a ride on his side by side and he showed me the land that his parents own. After living in the city my whole life, it’s kind of nice to be outside. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much green before. I’ll be sad when winter gets here and everything turns brown.

  I really like Logan’s family. His little sister is cute and his mom and dad are nice. Despite the fact that Logan didn’t even warn them that I was coming, they just accepted me. I didn’t expect them to like me, but as we’re leaving, Diana tells me I can come back anytime I want to, even if Logan doesn’t come with me.

  Logan has a huge smile on his face as we head back to Lockwood Academy.

  “What?” I ask, unable to stop my own smile. His is contagious. I wish everybody at school could see the side of Logan I’ve seen today. If they did, they couldn’t help but adore him.

  “Just... you. You fit into my family well.”

  “I love your family,” I tell him, wishing we weren’t going back to campus yet.

  We stayed longer than we intended to. It’s already starting to get dark. We ended up eating dinner with them too, just because neither one of us wanted to leave.

  “They love you too.” He shakes his head. “I think they like you more than me.”

  I roll my eyes at that.

  I can see how much Logan’s family loves him. His mom and dad are so proud of him and his little sister looks up to him. He’s very wrong about the way they feel about him.

  “Maybe we can go back sometime.” Maybe I shouldn’t invite myself, but I actually want to go back there.

  “You want to?” His eyebrows raise like he’s surprised I suggested it.

  I chew on the side of my lip, nodding. “Uh, yes.”

  “I’ll have to take you when the leaves start changing colors. The property is gorgeous around mid to late October,” he says.

  I imagine it is. Just thinking about all the trees being yellow, orange, and red has me excited about the prospect.

  “Plus, I don’t think my mom or little sister will stop harassing me unless I bring you back soon.” He smiles, revealing his dimples. “I probably shouldn’t have brought you. I just... I didn’t want you to think of me as the player everybody says I am.”

  “I don’t care what anybody says. I’m going to make up my own mind about you,” I promise him. “I’m sorry that I even listened to them in the first place, but I am happy you took me to your house.”

  His blue eyes brighten. “Hensley, I don’t really do the whole girlfriend thing, but if I were going to break my rules and date somebody, you’d be the girl I chose.”

  My heart swells. “I’m glad you’re not asking me because I’d have to say no. But... I don’t think it would take a whole lot to convince me.”

  He keeps his eyes on the road, but I can see the smirk forming on his lips.

  Logan actually likes me. The strange part is, I think he’s surprised about the fact that he likes me. I don’t quite know what to make of his good mood as we approach the security gates of the school.

  I sigh, hanging my ID over so Logan can show the guy at the gate.

  Today is over and it’s back to reality. I try to ignore the panic that settles in as I realize that tomorrow is Monday, which means classes start. I’m so not ready for that yet.

  “Why can’t we just stay at your parents’ house? We really don’t need to go back to school.” I take my ID from him.

  He chuckles. “It’s tempting to keep you all to myself.”

  My cheeks grow warm. “That isn’t what I meant.”

  “Oh, I know.” He sighs. “I’m not ready to be back here either. Here, I have to share you.”

  “Share me?” I raise an eyebrow. “What do yo
u mean?”

  “Dastian.”

  My heart stops at the mention of his name. “What about Dastian?”

  “I know you like him too.” He parks the car in front of my dorms, but neither of us move to get out.

  “Dastian has a girlfriend.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “You don’t need to worry about him. I’m not going to date him. Missy is my friend. I’d never do that.”

  He frowns. “If you knew the kind of relationship Missy and Dastian had, you’d probably change your mind. They’re so hot and cold. They’re constantly breaking up and getting back together. They were together all summer, so I imagine a break up is coming. They’ll be apart for a few weeks, a month tops, and they’ll date other people. Then they’ll get back together. It’s just them.”

  My heart hurts at the thought.

  Dastian doesn’t really like me. The kiss we shared didn’t mean nearly as much to him as it did to me.

  Today was nice. I was able to forget about my crush on him. But now, it’s back to reality.

  Logan turns in his seat so that he’s facing me. “Just do me a favor, Hensley.”

  “Anything,” I whisper.

  “Don’t date Dastian Graham,” he says. “Even if he breaks up with Missy and claims he’s in love with you, he’s going to break your heart.”

  I grin. “You know, he said the same thing about you. That you’ll break my heart.”

  He shrugs. “Maybe. Or maybe you’ll break mine. But if we do, it won’t be because we’ve been in a five year relationship that we can’t get over.”

  Right.

  Missy.

  He’s in love with her.

  “I’m not going to go for Dastian,” I promise him.

  “Good.”

  He gets out of the car, so I get out too. He surprises me by grabbing my hand and holding onto it as we approach the front of the dorms together. Part of me is wondering if he’s going to kiss me goodnight, but then I remember his earlier promise. He’s not going to kiss me today. Something tells me I could change his mind if I really wanted, but maybe it’s better to wait until next time.

  As we get closer to the door, somebody steps out from the shadows. My heart races as I recognize Dastian.

  Of course he’s here. Because tonight couldn’t end on a perfect note.

  He was probably coming to see Missy. Her room is on the second floor of the building. It just sucks that he happened to be coming out at the same time we’re coming in.

  “Wow. It’s like you have a stalker.” Logan is looking at Dastian with hard eyes. “Were you waiting here long for her?”

  Dastian shrugs. “Maybe an hour.”

  What?

  He was waiting for me?

  “Don’t you have some other girl to try and seduce?” Dastian narrows his eyes at Logan. “She’s too good for you.”

  Logan shrugs. “I won’t deny that, but she’s too good for you too.”

  I have no idea what to do or say, so I just stand there, looking between the two boys.

  “I should go.” Logan turns to me. “I had fun today, and I promise to take you back soon.”

  I nod. “Okay. Thank you.”

  He smiles at me, shoots a glare at Dastian, then turns and walks back to his car with his hands in the front pocket of his jeans.

  I hate that Logan looks so defeated. After today, I want to protect him, even if it is from Dastian.

  “You don’t have to be so rude to him.” I turn to glare at Dastian.

  He glares right back. “I thought I told you to stay away from him.”

  “Yeah, well….” I lick my lips, which are suddenly dry. “I was going to, but then I realized I don’t want to be a cheater. So I went with Logan.”

  He frowns. “I shouldn’t have done what I did, but I am not going to apologize. I don’t regret it.”

  The front door opens up and a girl walks out, pausing when she sees us. She doesn’t say anything as she passes by, but she does look curiously our way.

  “We should talk. Inside,” Dastian says.

  “So your girlfriend won’t see?” I smart off, but I still head inside.

  Truthfully, I don’t want Missy to see us either.

  Despite my better judgment, I allow Dastian to lead me inside and I take him to my dorm room.

  Chapter Seven

  Just not my type.

  As I follow Dastian to my room, I feel my stomach start to tighten with dread.

  I don’t want to talk to him. I had a really good day with Logan, and I feel like I want to leave my day off on a huge high.

  But...

  I can’t stay away from Dastian, and I hate myself for it.

  He has a girlfriend. The thought has been consuming my brain since I first met Missy. I tried to ignore my feelings for him, but then he kissed me. And I don’t know how to deal with it. I’ve never been in this situation before. Part of me wishes I could call my mom and ask her for advice. She always knew what to do. But then I remember, my mom cheated too. Isn’t that how I’m alive now? And I hate myself for thinking of my mom that way.

  Dastian and I stop outside my door and he waits for me to open it. Still worried about getting caught by Missy, I open the door quickly, motioning for him to walk inside first. As soon as the door opens, I’m hit by a pungent smell.

  “What is that?” I wrinkle my nose as I flick on the light. That’s when I see something dark staining my comforter.

  Dastian looks at me, then makes his way toward the bed. I walk behind him slightly, wondering how somebody got into my room. It’s been locked all day.

  My stomach churns when I see the mess on my bed.

  There are dead mice lying across my bed, with blood splattered everywhere. In the center of the blood, there is a single piece of paper. I don’t pick it up, not wanting to touch the dead mice, but I do get closer so I can read the words that are written in a black marker.

  ‘Go back to where you came from, Cinderella.’

  I look at Dastian, trying to gauge his reaction, but he is just as shocked and horrified as me.

  “Who would do this?” Dastian shakes his head back and forth in disbelief.

  I shrug. “I don’t know. I didn’t think I had been here long enough to make enemies.”

  Other than Braelynn, everybody has been nice. But I hardly think Braelynn counts because she hates every single female on campus, at least according to Missy and Lily.

  “What do I do?” I ask Dastian, suddenly thankful he’s here with me. I wouldn’t have any clue what to do if I were by myself right now.

  “Grab some clothes to wear to class tomorrow. You’ll come stay with me. I’ll contact your father and have him take care of this,” Dastian says.

  My eyes widen. “Stay with you? Like, in your dorm?”

  “Yeah,” he says.

  “But...”

  “Don’t look so scandalized. I’ll take the couch. You can have my bed.” He pulls his phone from his pocket. “And hurry up. It smells in here.”

  Right.

  Dastian acts like him inviting me to his room is completely normal—it’s not. This is a lot.

  “Won’t your girlfriend care?” I ask, still not moving toward my closet.

  “If you don’t hurry, I’m going to pack for you, Vixen.”

  That gets me moving. But only because I think Dastian would follow through on his threat to pack for me. I grab the clothes that I need for class the next day, neatly folding them into a duffle bag.

  “Won’t I get in trouble for staying in your dorm?” I ask.

  He smirks. “I’m going to help you sneak through the window.”

  That causes my heart to race.

  I’m not good at sneaking. I could never hide anything from my mom and she would always catch me in a lie. But things are different now. I’m not Hensley Smith anymore. I’m Hensley Lockwood. At prep school, I sneak out of my dorm room, and I kiss boys who are vastly out of my league.

  Boys who have girlfriends.
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  I try to ignore the guilt as stuff my toiletry items into my bag and zip it up.

  “I’ll be at your window in about thirty seconds,” Dastian informs me.

  Which means he’s leaving me in a room with a bunch of dead mice. I try not to be grossed out. I just turn to the window, refusing to look toward my bed. Still, as I hear him walk out of the door, I feel sick to my stomach.

  Somebody broke into my dorm room tonight. And, sure, it was probably some girl trying to make me jealous, but the fact that they’re willing to sink to these kinds of lows worries me a little bit. I’m not cut out for this kind of hostility. I hate to say it, but I’m too nice.

  I jump when I hear the knock on my window, feeling stupid for being caught off guard. I hand Dastian my bag and he takes it as I sit down on my window ledge, swinging my legs over.

  “Move,” I tell him, so I can jump. I pray I don’t get a sprained ankle.

  “I’ll catch you,” he says.

  This reminds me of the first time I snuck out of my window. It was the first time I met Logan. He caught me with ease.

  “Are you sure?” I ask, not wanting to just go for it.

  “Would you hurry up?” He looks around, then back at me. “Stop being a chicken.”

  I roll my eyes at him and then jump. Dastian has no problems catching me.

  What I shouldn’t be thinking about is how good it feels to have his arms around me, but I don’t see how I can help it. I clear my throat, taking a step back. I don’t want to back away, but I have to.

  “Thanks.” I go to grab my duffle bag from him, but he clutches it tighter.

  “I’ve got it,” he says.

  My heart is racing too fast as we walk toward his dorm. Because of it, I feel out of breath. We walk a good ways away from my dorm and eventually stop at the back of another building.

  “You wait here.” He points toward a window. “I’m going to go in and help you inside.”

  I can’t believe I’m sneaking into a boy’s dorm. This is so… unlike me. To be fair, I wouldn’t be sneaking in if it weren’t for what happened back in my room.

  Why would somebody put dead mice on my bed? It’s so weird. Like something a serial killer does when they’re a kid, only this is somebody’s way of bullying me.