+25\u00a0Bonus<\/p>\n
I\u00a0frowned\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0nickname;\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0trying\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0listen,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0myself.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0fucking\u00a0beast,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0classmate\u00a0agreed.\u00a0\u201cAt\u00a0least\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0over\u00a0now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were\u00a0amazing!\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said\u00a0after\u00a0we\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0gym\u00a0once\u00a0the\u00a0final\u00a0was\u00a0complete.\u00a0I\u00a0smiled\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0quick\u00a0and\u00a0sweat\u2013coated\u00a0side\u00a0hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0mean\u00a0to\u00a0intimidate\u00a0anyone.\u00a0But\u00a0it\u00a0seems\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0all\u00a0afraid\u00a0of\u00a0me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rightfully\u00a0so,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said,\u00a0nudging\u00a0me\u00a0with a\u00a0smirk.\u00a0\u201cYou\u00a0kick\u00a0ass,\u00a0Judy.\u00a0You\u00a0deserve\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0feared\u00a0for\u00a0once\u00a0in\u00a0your\u00a0life\u00a0you\u00a0badass\u00a0warrior\u00a0bitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
Naughed,\u00a0letting\u00a0myself\u00a0feel\u00a0good\u00a0for\u00a0once.\u00a0The\u00a0finals\u00a0were\u00a0complete,\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0felt\u00a0amazing.\u00a0I\u00a0think\u00a0I\u00a0actually\u00a0aced\u00a0each\u00a0and\u00a0every\u00a0one\u00a0of\u00a0them,\u00a0despite\u00a0my\u00a0clouded\u00a0brain.\u00a0Though\u00a0I\u00a0feared\u00a0that\u00a0now\u00a0that\u00a0my\u00a0finals\u00a0were\u00a0over\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0could\u00a0finally\u00a0relax,\u00a0the\u00a0weight\u00a0of\u00a0worries\u00a0would\u00a0bury\u00a0me\u00a0alive.\u00a0Now\u00a0all\u00a0I\u00a0had left\u00a0was\u00a0to\u00a0think\u00a0about\u00a0Gavin\u00a0and\u00a0why\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard\u00a0from him\u00a0all\u00a0week\u00a0after\u00a0our\u00a0night\u00a0together.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0last\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0heard,\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0with\u00a0Rachel\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0hospital,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard\u00a0anything\u00a0more\u00a0about\u00a0it.\u00a0It\u00a0was\u00a0also\u00a0no\u00a0longer\u00a0Taylor\u00a0picking\u00a0me\u00a0up\u00a0from\u00a0school\u00a0and\u00a0bringing\u00a0me\u00a0home;\u00a0this\u00a0entire\u00a0week,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0Gamma\u00a0Erik.\u00a0When\u00a0I\u00a0asked\u00a0where\u00a0Taylor\u00a0was,\u00a0Erik\u00a0told\u00a0me\u00a0that\u00a0he\u00a0was\u00a0on\u00a0a\u00a0special\u00a0assignment\u00a0and\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0have\u00a0much\u00a0more\u00a0information\u00a0for\u00a0me.<\/p>\n
It\u00a0left\u00a0me with\u00a0an\u00a0unsettled\u00a0feeling,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0hoping\u00a0the\u00a0answers\u00a0will\u00a0come\u00a0to\u00a0light\u00a0soon\u00a0enough.\u00a0I\u00a0should\u00a0be\u00a0returning\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0tutoring\u00a0job\u00a0next\u00a0week,\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0be\u00a0able\u00a0to\u00a0see\u00a0Gavin\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0Villa.\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0get\u00a0the\u00a0truth\u00a0out\u00a0of\u00a0him\u00a0one\u00a0way\u00a0or another.<\/p>\n
Except\u00a0it\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0work\u00a0out\u00a0as\u00a0planned.\u00a0For whatever\u00a0reason,\u00a0the\u00a0tutoring\u00a0sessions\u00a0had\u00a0been\u00a0moved\u00a0back\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0house\u00a0instead\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0villa.\u00a0Erik\u00a0would\u00a0pick\u00a0me\u00a0up\u00a0with\u00a0Matt\u00a0tucked\u00a0away\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0back\u00a0seat\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0take\u00a0us\u00a0to\u00a0my\u00a0house.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0understand\u00a0why\u00a0we\u00a0are\u00a0doing\u00a0tutoring\u00a0sessions\u00a0here\u00a0again,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0murmured\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0pulled\u00a0up\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0large\u00a0building.\u00a0It\u00a0broke\u00a0my\u00a0heart\u00a0knowing\u00a0that\u00a0Gavin\u00a0was\u00a0pushing\u00a0me\u00a0away\u00a0again\u00a0and\u00a0I\u00a0didn\u2019t understand\u00a0why.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour\u00a0guess\u00a0is\u00a0as\u00a0good\u00a0as\u00a0mine,\u201d\u00a0Erik\u00a0said\u00a0with a\u00a0shrug.\u00a0\u201cThey\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0tell\u00a0me\u00a0anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy\u00a0dad\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0really\u00a0busy\u00a0lately,\u201d\u00a0Matt\u00a0said\u00a0as\u00a0we\u00a0walked\u00a0through\u00a0the\u00a0front\u00a0doors\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0house.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0barely\u00a0saw\u00a0him\u00a0all\u00a0last\u00a0week.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cReally?\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0asked,\u00a0raising\u00a0my\u00a0brows.\u00a0\u201cWhat\u2019s\u00a0he\u00a0been\u00a0up\u00a0to?\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt\u00a0shrugged.<\/p>\n
www.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u00a0knows?\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0all\u00a0very secretive,\u00a0though.\u00a0They\u00a0stop\u00a0talking\u00a0when\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0nearby\u00a0and he\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0hanging\u00a0out\u00a0with\u00a0Rachel\u00a0a\u00a0lot,\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0muttered,\u00a0his\u00a0eyes\u00a0rolling\u00a0as\u00a0he\u00a0spoke.<\/p>\n
\u201cJudy,\u00a0is\u00a0that\u00a0you?\u201d\u00a0My\u00a0mother\u00a0asked\u00a0as\u00a0she\u00a0came\u00a0around\u00a0the\u00a0her\u00a0face.\u00a0\u201cOh,\u00a0hello\u00a0Matthew,\u201d\u00a0she\u00a0said\u00a0politely.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0l<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0starving,\u201d\u00a0Matthew\u00a0said\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0grin.\u00a0\u201cThank\u00a0you,\u00a0Mr.<\/p>\n
She\u00a0paused\u00a0when\u00a0she\u00a0saw\u00a0us\u00a0standing\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0living\u00a0room\u00a0and\u00a0then\u00a0a small\u00a0smile\u00a0spread\u00a0across<\/p>\n
you\u2019d\u00a0be\u00a0this\u00a0evening.\u00a0Are\u00a0you\u00a0hungry?\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0just\u00a0about\u00a0to\u00a0make\u00a0dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u00a0sweetie,\u00a0you\u00a0can\u00a0call\u00a0me\u00a0Shelly.\u00a0We\u00a0are\u00a0practically\u00a0family\u00a0at\u00a0this<\/p>\n
He\u00a0smiled\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0words\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0small\u00a0nod.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill\u00a0you\u00a0be\u00a0doing\u00a0your\u00a0tutoring\u00a0sessions\u00a0here\u00a0again?\u201d\u00a0My\u00a0mother\u00a0asked.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u00a0i\u00a0guess\u00a0for\u00a0the\u00a0time\u00a0being.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything\u00a0okay\u00a0with\u00a0Alpha\u00a0Landry?\u201d\u00a0She\u00a0asked,\u00a0her\u00a0lips\u00a0turned\u00a0downward,\u00a0and\u00a0her\u00a0eyes\u00a0filled\u00a0with\u00a0concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m\u00a0not\u00a0entirely\u00a0sure,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0admitted.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0heard\u00a0from\u00a0him\u00a0for\u00a0a\u00a0bit.\u00a0Matt\u00a0says\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0been\u00a0busy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matt\u00a0nodded,\u00a0confirming\u00a0my\u00a0words.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u00a0see,\u201d\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u00a0said,\u00a0eyeing\u00a0me\u00a0carefully.\u00a0\u201cDid you\u00a0get\u00a0your\u00a0final\u00a0grades\u00a0back\u00a0yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
I\u00a0shook\u00a0my\u00a0head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot\u00a0yet,\u00a0but\u00a0hopefully\u00a0soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKeep\u00a0me\u00a0posted.\u00a0In\u00a0the\u00a0meantime,\u00a0I\u2019ll\u00a0start\u00a0making\u00a0dinner.\u00a0Your\u00a0father should be\u00a0home\u00a0soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
With\u00a0that,\u00a0she\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0room\u00a0and\u00a0went\u00a0into\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen.<\/p>\n
As\u00a0I\u00a0studied\u00a0with\u00a0Matt\u00a0and\u00a0helped him\u00a0with\u00a0his\u00a0homework,\u00a0the\u00a0living\u00a0room\u00a0filled\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0delicious\u00a0scent\u00a0of\u00a0my\u00a0mother\u2019s\u00a0cooking.\u00a0She\u00a0was\u00a0an\u00a0incredible\u00a0cook,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0stomach\u00a0growled\u00a0with\u00a0anticipation\u00a0for\u00a0her\u00a0food.\u00a0Matt\u2019s\u00a0mouth\u00a0was\u00a0practically\u00a0watering\u00a0as\u00a0dinner\u00a0time\u00a0neared.<\/p>\n
My\u00a0father\u00a0came\u00a0home,\u00a0looking\u00a0exhausted\u00a0from\u00a0a\u00a0long\u00a0day\u00a0of\u00a0work.\u00a0He\u00a0greeted\u00a0Matt\u00a0before\u00a0retreating\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0kitchen.<\/p>\n
Just\u00a0then,\u00a0my\u00a0phone\u00a0went\u00a0off.<\/p>\n
I\u00a0glanced\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0screen\u00a0and\u00a0saw\u00a0that\u00a0the\u00a0school\u00a0had\u00a0sent\u00a0me\u00a0a\u00a0text.\u00a0When I\u00a0opened\u00a0the\u00a0text,\u00a0there\u00a0was\u00a0a\u00a0link.\u00a0I\u00a0clicked\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0link,\u00a0and\u00a0my\u00a0eyes\u00a0grew\u00a0wide.<\/p>\n
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland\u2019s breathtaking cold.<\/p>\n
We Built a Kingdom From Ashes That Still Remembered Love by Aila Frost 557 +25\u00a0Bonus I\u00a0frowned\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0nickname;\u00a0I\u00a0was\u00a0trying\u00a0not\u00a0to\u00a0listen,\u00a0but\u00a0I\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0help\u00a0myself. \u201cShe\u2019s\u00a0a\u00a0fucking\u00a0beast,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0classmate\u00a0agreed.\u00a0\u201cAt\u00a0least\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0over\u00a0now.\u201d \u201cYou were\u00a0amazing!\u201d\u00a0Nan\u00a0said\u00a0after\u00a0we\u00a0left\u00a0the\u00a0gym\u00a0once\u00a0the\u00a0final\u00a0was\u00a0complete.\u00a0I\u00a0smiled\u00a0at\u00a0her\u00a0and\u00a0gave\u00a0her\u00a0a\u00a0quick\u00a0and\u00a0sweat\u2013coated\u00a0side\u00a0hug. \u201cThanks,\u201d\u00a0I\u00a0told\u00a0her.\u00a0\u201cI\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0mean\u00a0to\u00a0intimidate\u00a0anyone.\u00a0But\u00a0it\u00a0seems\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0all\u00a0afraid\u00a0of\u00a0me.\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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