I legit did not have the energy to even worry about him or his attitude. I was supposed to meet Aubrey for lunch, but I needed time. Time to just shut down and reset. I sent her a text then went to find where my next class was. I sat down on the floor, hugged my book bag to my chest and closed my eyes.

I’d taken longer naps in worse places. Thirty minutes of shuteye and then I’d be ready to deal with the afternoon.

Today wasn’t so bad. Nope. Not so bad at all.

Something hit my foot hard, and I jerked my eyes open to stare into the most devastating pair of green eyes. They were like a haunted forest, shrouded in mysteries and shadows. All I wanted to do was be that girl and plunge into them to see— everything.

“You do know that this isn’t a park bench, right?” A cutting, feminine voice dragged my attention away from those gorgeous eyes to stare at the perfect girl standing next to him. Dark hair, stunning amber-colored eyes, perfect tan, and her cosmetics absolutely on point. She was as stunning as a model, but lusher with generous curves. Her lips, however bright red they were, twisted into a superior smirk.

“This is a school,” she continued, enunciating each word clearly, “not the back row of your low-rent concerts. You don’t just go to sleep out here. That’s what your room is for. Idiot.”

My sleepy brain reacted to the verbal slap with a curled lip. “Bitch, our concerts have never been low-rent. I guarantee you the tickets cost more than that red whore lipstick you’re sporting.”

Right, I shouldn’t have lost my temper. I knew better. Say nothing. Respond to nothing. Don’t let them make you sweat. I caught the phone from the corner of my eye. Yeah, the little light told me they were filming. Great.

Something wet splashed against me. “Oops,” one of the other girls with them said. The wet and sticky clung to my jacket and spilled onto my white shirt. Fuck, it was red. Which just spread the stain out.

The dark-haired girl laughed, and nothing humorous or kind existed in that laugh. “Remind me to call the janitors next time,” she said to the green-eyed guy at her side who watched me with narrowed eyes and an almost unreadable smile that did nothing to lighten the rest of his expression. “They know better than to let the trash just lay in the halls…”

Wiping the expression from my face, I gave her a perfectly bland smile as I rose and peeled the jacket off. I was going to have to do something about the shirt. “You really should be kinder to yourself. Calling yourself trash is a negative affirmation, no matter how accurate…”

Shock registered in her smug eyes, but a sound echoed down the hall: the chime indicating time to go to class. The door to the classroom I’d been resting outside of opened.

“Good afternoon,” the teacher said, then glanced down at me. “Are you all right, Miss Crosse?”

Fake it until you make it. “I’m great,” I told him with a smile I definitely didn’t feel. “Just need to get cleaned up.”

I ignored my audience and the phone still pointed right at me.

“Excellent. Miss Webber,” the teacher said. “You know better than to film on campus. Let’s see it…”

It was too late though; there was a sucking sound that happened when an upload completed, followed by the little ding. Yep, that footage was out there. But it was nice of the teacher to try. Since my audience didn’t seem to be moving on their own, I pushed between them and went toward the bathrooms, aware of a set of green eyes that tracked every move I made.

I was three for three with the good-looking jerks so far.
Heather Long. Problem Child (Kindle Locations 771-799).

At this point we’ve met three jerks, Hot Shot, Ramsey the TA and Green-eyes. There will be one redeeming soul RJ but for some reason I don’t trust him like KC seems to.

There’s plenty going on and a family emergency pulls KC from school for a bit. That leads to some interesting press as well as some interesting mail for KC.

I love the way this first year progresses, with one thing after another. Plus, I did not see that ending coming. Just Wow!

I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

5 Contented Purrs for Heather!

Heather Long

I love books. Not just a little bit, but a lot. Books were my best friends when I was growing up. Books didn’t care if I was new to a town or to a class. They were always there, my trustiest of companions. Until they turned on me and said I had to write them.

I can tell you that my own personal happily ever after included writing books. I’ve always said that an HEA is a work in progress. It’s true in my marriage, my friendships, and in my career. I am constantly nurturing my muse as we dive into new tales, new tropes, new characters and more.

After seventeen years back in Texas, we relocated to the Pacific Northwest in search of seasons, new experiences, and new geography. I can’t wait to discover what life (and my muse) have in store for me.

Maybe writing was always my destiny and romance my fate. After all, my grandmother wasn’t a fan of picture books and used to read me her Harlequin Romance novels.

Friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, friends to enemies to lovers, you name it, I love them and love to write them. I started with Earth Witches Aren’t Easy, the first in the Chance Monroe trilogy, but my characters and I have traveled a long way since I created that urban fantasy world.

One of the series I hear my readers recommend the most is the Untouchable series followed in quick succession by the Vandals, and that just delights me. No lie, whenever one of my readers brings up my wolves, I do a little a fist pump.

I’m active on social media, and I love hearing from readers. Feel free to tag me with a question about any of my books, or just say hi!