Boy’s got so much to learn.

I look from his eyes to his tight set mouth, and back.

And instead of arguing or pushing or anything else he clearly expected ... I wink, then face forward.

If it were possible, I’d swear I heard him smirk.

“We’re going to the grove.”

“Good for you.” I drop my paper in the basket and shuffle out of class, Royce right behind me.

“Oh, sorry,” he chuckles. “Guess that did sound a lot like a comment, huh?”

With a glare, I spin to face him, and he grins wide.

“Let me try that again. We are going to the grove. Meaning so are you.”

“Right.”

“Damn right.” He flings an arm over my shoulder.

“Okay, I’ll bite.” I shift my grin to Royce while shrugging his arm off. “What the hell is ‘the grove?’”

“Circle of cabins surrounding a man-made lake ‘bout three hours north. Tons of sex, lotta alcohol, and more fun.”

“Sounds like a blast.”

“Fuck yeah it is. We go several times a year, party, get fucked up. It’s a three-day weekend. Tradition.”

“Because I’m privileged like you and yours and can take off for three days,” I mock.

He glares and I pop a shoulder. It’s true.

“Look, a three-day weekend with you guys isn’t worth the trouble that being labeled a runaway would bring, and I’m not looking to trade the bed I’ve got for a cot worse than what I sleep on at home.”

“Like that’s... wait.” Royce frowns. “What do you sleep on at home?”

“This isn’t Q and A time!”

“Right.” He nods. “What were we talking about again?”

“You guys leaving, me staying.” I stop next to the girl’s bathroom and he steps beside me.

“Nah, you’re going. Let us worry about Maybell.”

A laugh bubbles out of me. “Yeah, no. No way is that happening. Don’t cause unnecessary issues.”

“Don’t worry, RaeRae.”

I walk into the bathroom with an eye-roll. When I stop inside the door to pull off my backpack, Royce stumbles against me.

The girls in the bathroom shriek and I turn to glare at him.

“Royce. Go away.”

“Nope.” He crosses his arms, widening his stance. “Not ‘til you agree.”

I shake my head with a sigh. “You’re gonna do whatever you want as it is. I don’t know why I even talk or why you’re pretending to care what I said.”

“Aww,” he coos, and I’d swear it’s genuine, damn child. “You’re catching on.”

“And you’re pissing me off.” I cross my arms to match his. “Get out.”

“Hey, Royce,” comes from behind me and I turn to glare and the girl who just came out of the stall.

“Seriously? In the bathroom?”

The girl at least has the dignity to blush.

Idiot.

“Just do your business. I’ll wait.”

My fingers find my temple and I blow out a deep breath. “For fuck’s sake, forget it.”

I push past him, back out the door and he follows, but my feet slow when I spot Maddoc and Captain standing not three feet away, talking with each other.

Both their gazes snap to mine right as Royce’s chest plows into my back again, causing me to stumble forward. His arm shoots out, quickly wrapping around my middle to keep me from face-planting onto the marble floors.

Maddoc’s stare slices to Royce’s hand fixed on my abdomen.

“Damn, RaeRae,” Royce pretends to complain, but his natural flirty fire is easily heard. “Quit stopping right in front of me.”

I pull away from him. “How about stay off my heels or maybe watch where you’re going, or better yet, go away!”

Royce laughs and looks to his boys, nodding his chin their way.

“He tell you about this weekend, Raven?” Captain asks, an annoyingly cautious stare sliding between us.

I cross my arms and frown. “Did he tell me I don’t get a say and have to allow you guys to convince Maybell to let me go, even though it’ll cause problems for me at the house when all the girls see what they’re sure to consider special treatment – because it is?”

“Yeah, all that.” Captain nods and Royce grins, throwing his arm around my shoulder again.

“Sure did.”

I look to Maddoc, but he doesn’t say a word, his mask is in place, empty eyes and all as he studies me.

I hate how one look from him has me on edge.

“We’re leaving now.”

My eyes fly to Captain. “Now.”

“Now.”

“It’s not even lunch.”

“Quit fucking complaining,” Royce chastises me. “And don’t worry about Perkins busting you. It’s handled. Maybell too.”

When my eyes narrow, Captain looks away and Royce grins. “So—”

“Yes, fuck me, we did it behind your back, you were the last to know, you didn’t get to choose, blah blah blah. Get used to it already.”

“You boys are ... forget it. Fine, whatever.” I sigh. “I hate school anyway.”

“Our shit’s ready. We’ll give you ten minutes tops.”

I glare at Maddoc. “I could pack everything I own in ten minutes. Think I can be ready for a weekend in two.”

“Bring a swimsuit.”

I frown. “It’s November.”

“And there are hot tub parties.” Royce grins.

“Well, I don’t have one.”

Captain looks to Maddoc who nods his chin.

“Don’t worry about it, let’s go.”

With a sigh, I throw my hands out, motioning for them to lead the fucking way.

Once we climb in Maddoc’s truck, I tell them, “If I get kicked out, one of you bastards are driving me all the way back home. I’m not getting stuck in a juvenile hall where I won’t know anyone.”

Captain’s lip twitches but it’s Royce who says, “Deal.” Big man says nothing and then we’re off.

“What is taking them so long?” I drop my head back on the seat.

“Stop whining, it’s been ten minutes.” Captain shakes his head.

“Ten minutes of sitting here. We’ve been in the car for two fucking hours.”

“It’s called a road trip.”

I look out the window with a frown.

Captain turns in his seat. “Never been on a road trip?”

I roll my head across the seat to look back his way. “You’d have to have a car to go on a road trip.”

He studies me. “Your mom never had a car?”

“Once. For about a week.”

“What happened to it?”

“Clientele was low, she ran out of cash and needed a fix.”

He nods, but no judgment shows in his light eyes. “None of your friends back home had cars either?”

Friends. Yeah, people never liked me much.

My face must giveaway my thought because Captain licks his lips and looks off.

“Dated a guy with a car once.” I smirk and Captain’s stare comes back to mine. He lifts an eyebrow. “Didn’t take any trips, but we spent a lot of time in that car.”