Free Spring Knight: Young Adult Romance Novella (A Seasons of Change Standalone) by Mia Hoddell Page A

pulling himself up to his full height as he pierced him with a fixing stare. He seemed to have overheard more than she thought.
    “No, we’re cool, aren’t we, Kayleigh? You understand what I was saying?”
    Kayleigh was fuming. Blood pounded in her ears because she refused to respond. Her silence and angry glare were enough of an answer.
    “I don’t think you are really.” Aiden moved quicker than a snake striking. One minute his arm was at his side, and the next his hand was clutching at the neck of Adam’s shirt, scrunching it up as he pressed him into the wall.
    “Aiden, careful,” Kayleigh murmured, but she was too scared to get involved. She also thought Adam deserved it.
    “You think you know me, Adam? You’ve heard all of the rumours around campus and that automatically means you know everything about my life?”
    Adam didn’t answer.
    “I asked you a question.” Aiden’s voice dropped to a deadly tone.
    “Everyone knows who you are and of your reputation, but still sluts like her chase you thinking they can be the one to change you.” Adam jerked his chin in Kayleigh’s direction and she saw Aiden’s grip tighten. People were starting to gather, watching the scene with intrigue.
    “What did you just call Kayleigh?” Aiden hissed.
    “You heard me.”
    “Not so brave a second time, eh? Go on, what did you call her.” Adam was pressed harder into the wall, rising up on to his toes.
    “I’ve seen the way she looks at you, there’s more than acting going on there. She thinks she’s special, that she can break the player Aiden Hanson, but you don’t do serious. Hell, she’s probably already slept with you so you’ll be on to your next conquest by tomorrow. She’s a sl—”
    “I would not finish that sentence if I were you. You don’t know shit about what’s between me and Kayleigh, and you have been wrong on every count. So let me put you straight. Kayleigh
is
special, and if there was a girl I was going to change for, it would be her. She has never thrown herself at me once in all of the years I’ve known her, nor have we slept together. I might have a reputation, but Kayleigh does not deserve your shit, she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. If I ever hear you threatening her or insulting her in any way, I will do a lot worse than pin you to a wall. Got it?”
    Adam’s face had blanched. Despite all of the bravado and acting lessons, fear still wasn’t a reaction he could control. His eyes were wide, but stubbornly, he remained silent.
    “I asked you a question.”
    “Yes, I understand.”
    “Good. Now apologise to Kayleigh.” Aiden loosened the pressure at Adams throat so he could turn his head. He was scared, but there was also anger in his eyes.
    “Aiden, he really doesn’t have to. It’s fine. I’ve had worse,” Kayleigh said, just wanting the scene to be over.
    “It’s not fine, Kay. He can’t treat you like that. He can’t treat anyone like that.” He turned his attention back to Adam, his gaze hardening. “Now, apologise.”
    “I’m sorry, Kayleigh.”
    “Good boy,” Aiden said patronisingly, a smug grin on his face as he let go of his shirt and pushed him out of the way. Then, throwing his arm around Kayleigh’s shoulder, he led her from the room.
    Not knowing what to say—especially when still in earshot of everyone else—she let him. Yet, once the doors had shut behind them, the shock wore off slightly and allowed her to speak. “What the hell was that? I thought we were trying
not
to cause a scene.”
    Aiden squeezed her closer to him as they walked around campus. Kayleigh ignored the glares of other women when their eyes found Aiden’s arm around her shoulders. She could see in their expressions they were both jealous and disgusted, but she chose not to focus on them.
    “He shouldn’t have called you that. I’m not going to stand by and let him ruin things for you all because you’re friends with me.”
    She couldn’t really argue with that.