Read Online Privilege 4 - Sweet Deceit by Kate Brian - Free Book Online Page B

raised their glasses as well.

    " To Lily and Ana!" they all chorused loudly, earning curious glances from students throughout the dining hall.

    Ariana and Kaitlynn grinned as their friends swigged their juice and coffee in their honor. Tahira and Allison both shifted moodily in their seats, clearly annoyed at having been left out of the fun.

    "Um, have I mentioned thank you?" Kaitlynn whispered, leaning across the table toward Ariana as she placed her juice glass down amid the many plates and bowls and cups.

    "You don't have to thank me," Ariana replied happily.

    Kaitlynn grinned back, and for the first time Ariana was truly certain that Kaitlynn was starting to believe in her friendship. She couldn't stop smiling as she speared a piece of scrambled egg with her fork and popped it into her mouth. Then, from the corner of her eye, she saw Palmer get up and walk around the table toward her. She glanced over at Lexa, her heart pounding, but for the moment Lexa was deep in conversation with Conrad and April.

    "Hey, Ana," Palmer said, arriving at the end of the table. "Can I talk to you?"

    Ariana felt Kaitlynn staring and her neck started to heat up. "Sure."

    She pushed herself up from her chair, and she and Palmer shuffled over toward the wall.

    "What're you doing?" Ariana whispered, glancing over her shoulder at their table.

    "I just had to tell you . . . this whole prank thing has really upped your stock with the members," Palmer said, pride gleaming in his eyes.

    Ariana's heart fluttered with excitement. "Wait, so are you telling me . . . ?"

    Palmer grinned mischievously.

    "You are. You're actually telling me straight-out that you're in--"

    "Y I'm telling you straight out that I'm in," he replied flatly. "Which you already figured out, so really I'm not telling you anything you didn't already

    es, know."

    Ariana pressed her lips together, overwhelmed with happiness that Palmer was trusting her with such a huge secret.

    "After all this, you and Lily are practically shoo-ins," he told her, dropping his voice to a whisper as a couple of tweed-clad faculty members strolled by.

    Ariana couldn't wait to tell Kaitlynn. "Really?"

    "Really."

    Palmer reached out and took her hand, holding it down by her side, where it was out of view of their table.

    "Listen. I want to take you out somewhere," he whispered, his voice sending pleasant tingles down the backs of her legs. "Like on a real date."

    Her eyes instinctively darted to Lexa. She and Conrad were whispering to one another, their heads bent close together. "Palmer--"

    "I know. I know. Y don't want to hurt Lexa," Palmer said. "But she's been going out with Connie for weeks already, and I'm getting tired of

    ou sneaking around."

    "I kind of like the sneaking around," Ariana said.

    Palmer grinned. "I like it too. But still. Don't you want to be able to do this"--he squeezed her hand--"without feeling like it's somehow wrong? Don't you want to be my actual girlfriend?"

    Ariana's whole body responded to the question. "Of course I do. It's just . . ."

    She glanced over at the table once more and this time her heart skipped a wild beat. Conrad had turned to talk to Christian, and Lexa was watching them, her eyes filled with anger. Ariana had never seen her look that way before. The second Lexa's gaze met Ariana's, she looked away, but the damage was done. Ariana slipped her hand out of Palmer's and took a step back. The fact remained that Ariana wanted-- needed--to get into Stone and Grave, and Lexa was a member. Most likely a powerful member. If there was even the remotest chance that Lexa could block her membership, that she might blackball Ariana for the offense of going after Lexa's ex, then she had to be careful.

    "Can I think about it?" she asked.

    "Sure," Palmer said, standing up straight and taking a step back as well. He smoothed his APH tie. She could tell he was upset over being put off yet again. "Just don't keep me waiting too long."

    As the tone