The Third Strike - Wendi Wilson Page 0,1

regular, not to mention multiple, orgasms I’m worried about.”

Josh laughed, a real laugh that warmed my heart with its joy. Last year had been hard on us all, and Josh’s bouts with depression were a constant worry.

The last three months had been a dream. We were like spies, sneaking away to meet up in random, unexpected places. Acting like children at a water park three hours away. Romantic dates in Carsenville or Cypress Pointe, where no one from Everly Prep would see us. Midnight playdates at my house, because Atticus Kincaid was an old romantic and would never hang us out to dry with the Bellamys. All while dodging the persistent calls and texts from Charlotte, Isla, and Amelia.

But now that school was back in session, The Rogues were expected to fall back into old patterns with the Roguettes. Mason’s parents had sat them down and explained that they were done letting the boys slide. Mason, Seth, and Theo were ordered to reignite and maintain their relationships with the girls, and at any indication that they were slacking in their duties, Stella would pay the price.

So we had to be careful. That meant no contact at school, and only seeing each other when we were absolutely sure we wouldn’t be caught.

I felt eyes on me, the small hairs on the back of my neck standing on end, making my whole body shiver despite the warmth of the dining hall. Pretending to look out the window, I let my gaze drift to Mason, who was staring at me with fire banked in the bright blue depths of his eyes.

I snuck a quick glance at Charlotte, who had her head together with Amelia’s as they stared at something on her phone. My eyes snapped back to Mason. I flicked my tongue out to wet my lips, then sucked the bottom one in and clenched it between my teeth. Even from where I sat, I saw his nostrils flare.

After making sure none of the Roguettes were watching, I licked my lips again, this time slowly. Mason’s cheeks grew ruddy with color, and I shot him a wink before turning back to Josh…who was shaking his head at me.

“You are devious,” he muttered, looking as if he wasn’t sure if he should be impressed or appalled on Mason’s behalf.

“You know it,” I said, smirking and holding up a fist for him to bump.

“I’ll give it to you,” he said, bumping his fist against mine, “but only because I fear for your survival once he gets his hands on you. You might be laid up in bed for days after he pays you back for teasing him like that.”

“A girl can only hope,” I sighed, laying the back of my hand against my forehead in a mock-swoon.

“Scandalous,” Josh teased, grabbing a tater tot from his tray and tossing it at me.

It bounced off my cheek and landed on my own tray. I picked it up with a shrug and popped it in my mouth, chewing thoughtfully.

“It’s kind of weird that they serve tater tots for lunch at a posh school like this. You’d think such common fare would be below their rigid standards.”

Josh nodded, then launched into a monologue about The Great Food Debate, describing how the student council petitioned the school board, asking them to include some basic, junk food choices because, after all, rich kids were still kids.

I was only half-listening, my mind focusing on the fact that Josh looked and sounded like his old self. It gave me hope that in a few months, when high school was over, we’d recover from all this bullshit and be able to live normal, happy lives.

We only had to make it nine more months. Easy, right?

2

“How is it possible that none of you are in any of my classes?”

That was my greeting as I opened the door for Mason and Stella. It was nearly eleven p.m., but I’d take what I could get. The twins had to wait until their parents’ nightly doses of muscle relaxers—chased by tumblers of scotch—kicked in, and they passed out for the night.

Seth shoved me out of the way to get to Stella, and when I raised my fist to slug him in the back, Mason caught it and spun me around. His lips were on mine before I could protest, and all thoughts of punishing Seth flew right out of my head.

Once I melted in his arms, Mason pulled back and whispered, “Hi.”

“Hi,” I parroted lamely.

“And to answer your