Shark Out of Water (Grab Your Pole, #3) by Jenn Cooksey

close enough to them to eavesdrop. Actually, I was more than tempted. I took maybe two steps in their direction, but stopped cold and turned my back to them when Jillian skewered me with her eyes from all the way across the quad. It was like she fuckin’ knew what I was attempting. I’ll admit that she makes me more than a little fuckin’ nervous and I don’t trust her too much either, but that conversation this morning combined with Pete’s ominous behavior Saturday night was what prompted Katy and me to hang back after fifth period when Camie stopped Tristan just outside the classroom before lunch so we could try to listen in to what they were saying.
    I know I was, but I’m pretty sure Katy and Camie were surprised as well when Tristan actually flinched like Camie had burned him when she barely touched his arm to get his attention and asked if she could talk to him for a minute. She didn’t exactly jerk her hand away, but it seemed like she got burned, too, because her eyes automatically flew to his face and I watched as she dropped her hand to her side and subconsciously shook it a little and then smoothed her fingers on the side of her thigh, almost like they had something on them and she was trying to get whatever it was off. I tried to place Tristan’s initial expression before he turned it into his typical mask of blatant arrogance because I know I’ve seen it at least once before, but I just couldn’t remember when or what was going on the last time he looked like that.
    I pushed it to the back of my mind, though, and just listened when Tristan leaned back against the wall in the hallway and folded his arms across his chest waiting for Camie to start, which she did by directing her first question to the floor.
    “Did she talk to you?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Will you do it?”
    “Yep.” Come on, asswipe, these one word answers fuckin’ grate…
    Camie’s head snapped up again and although her back was to me, I could practically see the surprise on her face from the tone of her response. “ Really? I—I didn’t think you would, you know, aft—”
    “She can be persuasive.” Okay, that’s better…“she” has to be Jillian.
    “Is she blackmailing you, is that why you’re agreeing?” Ha! Definitely Jillian.
    “Not exactly. Is she blackmailing you?” Not exactly? What does that mean? And what the fuck is with his smug expression?
    “Um, no…not really, but she didn’t really leave me much choice either.” So in other words, Camie, yes, you’re being blackmailed.
    “There’s always choice, Camie, it’s just that some choices are harder to live with than others.” Huh. From how he said it, I’m getting the feeling he’s not talking about what she thinks they’re talking about anymore…
    “Well, be that as it may, I think it’ll be easier on both of us if I’m not there when you are…he gets home early now and I still have cheer practice after school, so mayb—”
    “Whatever you want, dear .” Ooh, I don’t know what the hell they’re talking about, but that was some major sarcasm so I’m guessing he’s not thrilled with how she wants to play it.
    “Tristan, this wasn’t my idea you know.” Yeah, here it comes…Camie’s getting her fur ruffled.
    “Obviously.” After months of listening and watching the two of them, I can safely say he’s provoking her on purpose now but I’m just not sure why.
    “Jesus, you’re such an asshole.” Not bad, although I wish she’d have put more umph behind her statement. It would’ve given it just that little extra something that we spectators always appreciate.
    “Careful, Camie…if you’re a bitch again tomorrow that’ll make three days in a row and then you’ll be stuck with your alter ego running the show. You know, like Beetlejuice.” He followed that up with a teasing grin so it couldn’t really be taken as an insult. It was very well done so I couldn’t help it, I chuckled to myself. That was when I realized he’s