Ex-Factor (Diamond Girls) by Elisa Dane Read Free Book Online Page B

house fifteen minutes before the late bell rang. We lived across town and hit every red light possible. The universe, it seemed, was out to get me once again.
    Fate, or maybe my father—God, I missed him—had been looking down on me, and I skidded into first period mere seconds before the bell sounded, much to Keltar’s chagrin. The old man eyed me with contempt and the thought crossed my mind that a part of him wanted me to be late so he could chastise me in front of the class again. From what I could tell, Keltar was one of those people who derived pleasure from other people’s pain. Jerk!
    Erin smiled at me from our table at the back of the room and motioned for me to hurry.
    I grimaced, the two aspirin I’d taken doing little to alleviate my discomfort. I’d get to my chair when I got there, and not a minute before.
    Bodie sat quietly in his seat, swarthy, beautiful, and angry, the grim expression I’d come to expect from him both present and accounted for. A twinge of disappointment struck me as I avoided his heated glare. It bothered me that he didn’t like me, and I wasn’t sure what to do with that. I’d never been so preoccupied over a guy before. Especially one I didn’t like.
    Where Bodie regarded me with disgust, Eli eyed me like a starving kid eager to dive into a snack cake. The flirtation I’d read as playful yesterday seemed different today, more intense.  He raised a brow and mouthed a silent “looking good” as I slid into my seat beside Erin. I ignored his lusty stare and flirty wink, and wondered again how Erin didn’t notice his inappropriate behavior. Maybe that old cliché about love being blind held some truth.
    Eli leaned over and whispered something to Tommy just as the bell rang. I wouldn’t have thought anything of it except for the fact that they both glanced at me and laughed. Heat burned beneath my skin, and I made a show of stashing my bag under my seat to hide my irritation. I knew they were talking about me, but I wasn’t going to let them know it bothered me.
    Erin stopped fiddling with her cell phone, shoved it into her bag, and leaned in close. “So how did it go? How are you feeling today?” Her shiny blond hair fell in gentle waves down her back and arms. Her deep red halter-top accentuated her ivory skin and looked lovely paired with a pair of jet black Miss Me jeans.
    “Sore,” I whispered. “But good. I—”
    “Quiet in the back, please!” Keltar’s voice resembled a sonic boom, the volume and tone deafening as it carried across the small room. “Today’s culinary experience involves the very tasty and versatile potato.” He paused, as if he were waiting for the class to break out into applause. When that didn’t happen, he continued with a frown. “There will be no lecture. Today’s lesson is practical. Please head to your stations and begin scrubbing your spuds. Twice baked potatoes are simple enough to make, but take a bit of finessing.”
    I held back and waited for the rest of my table to reach the station first, not wanting to make the same mistake I had yesterday. Until I knew where everything was, I’d hang back and let everyone else lead.
    Meg, who hadn’t said two words or acknowledged anyone’s presence, pulled the aprons from the cupboard and tossed one to each of us, while Tommy retrieved a small sack of potatoes from the pantry at the front of the room. Impatient, he tore the plastic bag open instead of untying the metal twisty at the top, sending a waterfall of brown, dirt-crusted spuds bouncing across the floor.
    Laughing, we all dove for the wayward potatoes, and crowded around the small sink waiting our respective turn to wash our produce.
    Hot breath warmed my ear, Eli’s deep, masculine voice tickling my senses. “Wanna scrub my spud for me?” There was nothing playful or flirty about his suggestion, and I whipped around and faced him, frowning.
    “What? What did you just say?” I was no idiot. Jerk Face had been referring to