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My eyes narrowed as I glared at Caiden. At this point the girl, Portia, had her arms clasped around his neck, and she was kissing his cheek as he sat, an amused, slightly mocking expression on his face as he watched me growing angrier and angrier. I tore my eyes away, and I saw salvation.
Or more accurately, I saw James Granville.
Flying out of my chair before any of the Four could react, I made a beeline for his table.
“James.”
“Winter.” He smiled up at me, a genuine, pleased smile, and I felt like crying. At least there was one man here who was normal, who didn’t want to play games with me or make my life miserable.
“Winter? What’s wrong?” He stood up and tugged me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him, letting his comforting embrace soothe me.
“Nothing. It’s just nice to see a friendly face, that’s all.”
He stepped back, looking down at me with concern. “First-day nerves?”
“Something like that,” I muttered.
“It’ll get better. You’re bound to find it tough coming in a year later than everyone else, when friendships have already been established. Stick it out, though. Things will improve.”
“I hope so,” I sighed, glancing back over to the table I’d left. The Four were all staring at me, with varying levels of hostility. Kinslee was staring between them and me, her expression helpless. As I watched, Caiden shot me another icy glare, then lowered his head deliberately to the girl on his lap, nuzzling her neck. A tiny, frustrated sigh escaped before I could stop it. Why was I so affected by him?
“Cavendish, huh?” James looked at me with a mix of resentment and sympathy in his expression. “I wouldn’t waste your time with him. He’ll discard you once he’s had his way.”
“Caiden doesn’t like me. And I don’t like him. And you know what? Fu
James laughed. “I bet he did. The difference between me and Cavendish is I treat women with respect. I like to stay friends with anyone I sleep with, and if we’re both lucky enough, maybe we’ll take things further again.” He winked at me, and I laughed.
“I’d better get back. I don’t want to leave Kinslee alone for too long.”
As I turned to walk away, he called me back. “Winter? I think you’re wrong about him not liking you. He looked at me like he wanted to take me down a dark alley and beat the shit out of me when we were talking just now.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s all part of his game. He has it in for me, and I don’t know why. To be honest, you’re better off not being friends with me. Apparently, he’s declared I’m ‘off limits’”—I accompanied my words with another eye roll—“and I don’t want to give him a reason to cause trouble with you.”
“I’m not worried,” he assured me, and I raised a brow at him, unconvinced.
“If you say so. Anyway. Thanks for…being there, I guess. See you around?”
“You can count on it.” He smiled, sitting back down, and I made my way back to the table to join the others.
As I reached the table, the Four stood, Caiden unceremoniously dumping Portia from his lap. She squealed in protest, and I couldn’t help sniggering under my breath.
“See ya,” Cassius said, the others acting like I wasn’t even there, and they sauntered out, a wall of sexy, tattooed, muscular testosterone, all eyes on them as they left.
“I get the feeling my life is going to become a lot more interesting with you in it,” Kinslee murmured as I flopped into my chair.
“You and me both,” I sighed.