Chapter Thirty-Three

Dean

“I’m sorry to say,” I said, glancing at Amber from the passenger seat of her car. “But you’ll likely never top the last time you surprised me.”

She smirked from behind the wheel. “Want to bet?”

“How much?”

“How about a deadmau5 shirt?” she teased.

“How about a kiss?”

She rolled her eyes. “Like you need a bet to get one of those out of me.”

Heat churned deep in my stomach, a craving I’d never satisfy. I could never get enough of my Pixie.

It had been two months to the day since the mandatory assembly where I turned the tables on Tanner—exposing him instead of him laying Amber out for the wolves. Her identity was still safe, and Ask Me Anything had been resurrected in a new corner of the dark web, Amber taking more precautions and leaning on her dad’s profession more to answer the still-incoming questions.

Ms. Howard was now Principal Howard of Wilmont Academy and finished out the school year, helping to ensure our MIT acceptance letters came as expected.

Tanner had “resigned” for his own reasons, but everyone knew that was bull. Rumor had it he was petitioning the city council for a shot at mayor. I prayed my leaked viral video would be enough to save the city from that.

The days had passed by in a blissful haze where I spent every single moment trying to make it up to Amber, regardless of her saying I already had ten times over. She and Tessa had grown close, spending almost as much time together as we had. Hannah and Amber had folded Tessa into this protective trifecta of powerful girls, and it kind of terrified me—not that I’d ever tell them that.

My parents—after the initial shock—had rallied to support Tessa’s decision to keep the baby. I’d held Tessa’s hand as she’d come clean to them, and I’d never loved my parents more than in the moment they hugged Tessa. I didn’t know why I’d been afraid they’d react rashly…like I had.

“I love you,” I said, just because I could.

“Love you,” she answered. “But still not telling you.”

“Damn.” She’d picked me up this morning and refused to tell me where we were going. “Do I at least get to spend the night with you in a fun hotel again?” I asked, the tease full and present in my voice. It didn’t matter how many times I’d had her, I always wanted more. My pixie made each moment with her that much sweeter.

“As much as I would love being in a room with you without worrying about one of our parents hearing us,” she said, “and I would really, really love that… No.”

“Damn again.” I groaned.

“But,” she said. “I wouldn’t say no if you wanted to surprise me with that.” She cleared her throat. “When you get back.”

“When I get back?”

She pulled into a packed parking lot in front of a massive glass building. I hadn’t caught the sign, and I tilted my head at her when she parked. An excited giggle left her lips as she hopped out of the car and popped the trunk. I hurried to follow her.

“Pixie,” I chided. “What is my duffel doing in there?” I pointed to the fully stuffed bag in her trunk. “And my gear?” I moved my finger to the laptop bag sitting next to it.

“Sean helped me,” she said. “I figured he’d be a better source to pack for you than Tessa.”

My eyes widened.

“Don’t worry,” Amber said. “I checked the bags earlier. It’s all your stuff.”

I sighed, thankful she’d made sure he hadn’t packed me a bag full of Tessa’s extra-small shirts. “Okay,” I said, still not understanding. “Is this like a prison sentence or something? It looks like there are enough clothes in there for a month.”

“Six weeks, actually,” she corrected me.

“What?” I snapped.

She handed me an envelope before I could press further. “Open it.”

I obeyed, pulling out a badge with my name and picture on it. The title underneath…

“Holy shit,” I blurted, snapping my eyes to her.

Her smile stretched wide.

“No,” I said, and her grin faded. “I can’t take this from you. This is yours.” I shoved the badge at her.

“Uh, pretty sure that’s your picture.” She refused to take the badge. “I transferred my ticket,” she said. “It was an easy sell. I think the boot camp managers were more excited to have you than me.”

“Not possible,” I said. “I can’t take this, Amber.”

“You can. And you will,” she said, stepping so close to me her chest brushed mine. “You gave up the TOC for me. I know how much that meant to you. This boot camp is my way of paying you back.”

“But—”

“No buts,” she cut me off. “You deserve this, Dean. I’m not as gung-ho as you about getting a job the second we’re at MIT. This will streamline your process. There will be other boot camps for me later.”

“How did I get so lucky?” I asked, pocketing the badge and envelope.

She wrapped her arms around my neck. “You’re a good hacker.”

I gaped at her. “And if I wasn’t?”

She shrugged. “Wouldn’t even be on my radar,” she teased.

“Oh,” I said. “You will pay for that remark.”

“Bring it.” She nipped at my bottom lip, eliciting a growl from me. “I love a challenge.”

“Nope,” I said, swiping my tongue over her lip. “No more challenges for us.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm,” I mumbled, leaning closer to her mouth.

“What if I were to say…” She rolled her eyes up, plotting. “That if you bring home a medal we can…” She pushed up on her tiptoes and whispered the most exciting, terrifying, and wonderful thing in my ear. It sent warm shivers along my skin, firing up that deep craving in my blood.

I gasped, popping back to catch the wild gaze in her eyes.

“You better hurry,” she said, closing my mouth with the tip of her finger and planting me with a kiss. “You don’t want to be late on your first day.”

I grabbed my bags, shaking my head as I backed away a few spaces, certain if I touched her again after that comment, I would spontaneously combust. “DC,” I said, continuing to back up toward the building.

She opened her car door, that smooth, confident grin shaping the mouth I couldn’t get out of my head. “DC,” she said, one leg in the car. “Oh, NightLocker?” she asked before I could turn around.

“Yeah?” I asked, pausing.

“Everyone gets a medal.” She winked at me before sinking into the car, and driving away.

My heart skipped a beat and it took me a few seconds to remember I had a place to be. I walked toward the building, a wide smile on my face.

Six weeks was a long time to be away from her.

But she was worth every second.

My fierce hacker of a girl.

The one I thought I’d never be able to catch.

My pixie.