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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Again?
Max gave me look which I interpreted as this is your fault and broke his silence.
You know, Finn, you could have nipped this in the bud earlier if you d committed to
this assignment and disciplined him the first time. I need you to back me up to keep this
kid safe.
Hemmi paled.
I ground my teeth at Max. So much for playing grab ass on the quad earlier. Do
not tell me how to do my job.
I m sorry, Finn. Hemmi interrupted. Can I have a Dr. Pepper?
Normally I would have rolled my eyes at the combination of remorseful teen and
persistent sweet tooth, but at this moment I was struggling to keep my anger in check. I
wasn t going to defend myself in front of a student.
All right, Hemmi, start talking.
Cover Me
He hedged. I snuck out.
You ve said. Where were you?
I was online with Laura. She said she d meet me behind the dining hall and she d
sneak me into the dorm. She was still upset that we can t hang out unless Mr. D is with
us.
Hemmi, you were on line with her for three hours. You hung out.
I know. I just wanted to see her. I snuck down the back stairs and went into the
courtyard, and Mr. Douglas came out of nowhere. Here his tone changed. It was
heavy with awe and a healthy note of respect. He sheepishly ducked his head. He
grabbed me by the collar and scared the crap out of me.
Where s Laura? I reached for the phone.
We walked over to the dining hall and found her. Then we brought her back to
Goodhouse. Mr. Douglas dropped her off at Bastioni s apartment. Mrs. B was not
happy.
Max had the foresight to see the girl back to the dorm. That was good news and
unsurprising.
Hemmi, you can t sneak out and you cannot be caught in Goodhouse after hours.
You understand this is an automatic disciplinary action if I report you? Six weeks
detention. You have got to take this possible threat to your safety seriously, as unreal or
as unlikely as it may seem. It s imperative that you work with Mr. Douglas, not against
him. This is the second time today. Once was enough. Do not make his job difficult, do
you understand me? Because if you do, I m going to make your life very unpleasant.
Are we clear?
Yes Finn. To Max he offered, Sorry, Mr. Douglas.
Nothing from that quarter but flared nostrils and crossed arms.
I added another dose of reality. If Max and your dad feel that you require a
bodyguard, Hemmi, then you do. That s not up for debate. I m equally at fault for not
explaining this more fully and impressing on you that you need to tow the line. You
need to be aware of your surroundings. You need to tell Laura that you can t sneak out
at night because I ll nail your ass to a tree if you do it again. Max kept his eye on me
L.B. Gregg
throughout my tirade. You have breakfast dish duty for two weeks. I don t want to
hear a single word of complaint about it. Agreed?
Yes sir.
Do not for a second take your safety or that of your friends for granted. We have
rules for a reason. You put Laura in danger, Hemmi. That s not cool. If you care about
that girl, then man up.
He nodded, his chin firm and his eyes wide. I rarely came down on kids making
it all the more startling and twice as effective when I did so.
Don t do it again. It s getting old. Now, go to bed and take your soda with you.
Yeah, all right. I won t sneak out again or ditch Mr. D. Thanks Finn. I m sorry. It s
just I can t believe that anyone would want to hurt me. I mean no one even knows who
I am, and we re way out here in the middle of freaking nowhere while my dad is in LA.
I m not complaining or anything; I know he s on a shoot. But really no one would think
that I m even his son. It s not common knowledge.
There was pain in that denial. Max piped up, Hemmi. Everyone knows you re his
kid. You re the spitting image of him in his younger years. He certainly played the
right card with Hemmi, though I m sure Sam would have called his doc for a shot of
Botox.
Hemmi nodded. I guess. He s got intense fans. The paparazzi follow him when
we re in California, but we ve never had a problem here. Except that someone will get
our number and call the house and hang up.
If that happens here, you are to tell me.
Hemmi nodded to Max. How did you know I was sneaking out? I was quiet. Finn
slept through it. I had almost earned a bit of respect from Max not that it mattered
but it was amazing how easily my pride was stung in his presence. Did I want him to
value me? Of course.
I m a former Marine, Hemmi. I heard you because I m supposed to. I m your
bodyguard. If I can t follow you, I need a new line of work.
Hemmi s eyes shone with admiration. I admired Max as well, but for all the wrong
reasons.
Cover Me
I was too cranky to continue this impromptu disciplinary session. Great. This
love-fest is over. Everyone leave. I need to sleep. I also needed to get Max the hell out
of my apartment and off campus so my life could return to normal.
Okay, Finn. We re cool though? I m really sorry.
I know. You ll be sorrier tomorrow morning when you re washing all those
dishes.
Hemmi slunk out, tossing one last worshipping glance at Max. Later. He
disappeared into the hall. The door closed with a click.
Max didn t move. I pointed to the door. You, too. Out.
That was good. You were good with him. A little too easy, but I think you got
through. Maybe. He certainly respects you.
Too easy?
This is Hemmi, Max. It s not worth it to play the hard ass. Next time, if there is a
next time, he ll get a disciplinary warning. Thanks for bringing Laura back. These girls
are ridiculously insecure and needy and the boys are worse. Max, I have to sleep. You
have no idea how much. I m not a night person. This was no lie. I required eight hours
to function.
Max pushed away from the wall. Warily I tensed, expecting a replay of that scene
from last night, but he ambled by me, his shoulders square. The scent of cool night air
and sleep and hot Max tickled my nose.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plcs-sysunia.htw.pl
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