Series: Lords of Rathe Series by Meagan Brandy
Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93354 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“What is it?” I pop a brow. “You guys want to gloat? Maybe rub it in that I, the female, was the desperate one? I was drunk, and if you want to get real here, the kiss was purely a game piece that I needed to get someone off my back.”
“Yeah, because that was it…” he answers blandly. “What’s your name?”
A scoffed laugh leaves me, but when his glare only sharpens, I clear my throat, and this time, when I try to shoulder past him, he lets me.
A little more rattled than I’d like to admit, I grab my phone and wallet, heading out the front door to wait for Justice. Fuck those guys. No matter how hot he is…
No matter how hot they all are.
The doors open again and I stand up straighter, expecting to see them walk out, but Justice is running his hand through his hair, the wrinkle lines between his eyes deep. “I’ve gotta go back to work. I’ll walk you back to campus if you want?”
“I can walk, Jus. Everything okay?”
He stays on his phone, the worry lines getting deeper. “Not really. Hey!” He shoves it into his pocket, his demeanor changing. Bringing me in closer, he presses his lips to my forehead. “I’ll call you, okay?”
“Sure!” I watch as he walks the opposite way, running across the road and looking over his shoulder every two seconds.
As if someone was chasing him.
Or stalking him…
Starved since we didn’t get to eat after all, I drag my cranky ass back to campus.
When I get home, I kick the front door closed, unbutton my jacket, and toss it onto the small table in the lounge when a small envelope falls out. Our room is one of the smaller ones offered here on campus, but it was the only one available in the coed dorms. We weren’t about to complain. There was no way in hell Ben and I would be separated again, even if it was only by a few hundred feet or so. We’re all each other has.
I lean down and pick up the envelope, tossing it onto the table and kicking off my shoes. I fall down onto the sofa, resting my head against the edge when my phone starts blaring in my pocket. I swipe to answer it when I see Ben’s name flash over the screen and the first selfie we took with each other. His pierced tongue is out, his dimples sinking into each side of his cheeks, and his honey brown eyes glistening with mischief.
“Yes?”
“Did Justice tell you about his party?”
“He did.” I stand, making my way to my bedroom to gather everything for a shower. Fatigue has long since poisoned my muscles, and as every second passes, I feel myself fading. Damn . “Are we going?”
“Definitely.” That’s code for he has found someone to get with while he’s there.
“Mmmm. And what’s her name?” I ask, picking up my belongings and making my way out our door to the showers. We could have lived off campus, but neither of us could really afford it right now, which is another reason we settled for a two-bedroom dorm. It’s nice enough to call home.
“Ahhh, you will have to wait until the weekend because she’s coming with us.”
I drop my shit on the counter and shuffle out of my clothes. “Fine. Are you finished? I need to shower.”
“No! What do you want for dinner? That’s why I called. It’s my turn to cook, but I can’t be fucked.”
“Anything. I’m not that hungry tonight. More tired.”
“Oh?” he asks, and I know I’m not getting rid of him anytime soon, so I switch ears and make my way to the showers.
“It’s no big…it’s just—” Do I tell him? My best friend who can read me like the fucking alphabet? He’s going to see my lies all over my face when he digs, so maybe I can give him a ploy for now. I don’t think I’m ready to admit that a certain someone is occupying all my damn time. “—nothing. I’m due for my period, so I’m being extra sensitive.”
“Oh!” he brushes me off. “Need some tampons or some shit?”
“Ben…”
“Maybe some ice cream?”
My Ben, always trying to take care of me.
My smile softens. “Okay, I’m leaving you now.”
“I know, vodka and ice—” I hang up on him, chuckling while tossing my phone onto the counter with my clothes. I rush through the shower, scrubbing up in half the time before stepping out and into my shower slippers. I scroll through Instagram on my way back, flipping through Ben’s story. He’s a ho. A different girl every week will have his attention, but does he ever talk about them with me? No. So who is this one and what makes her different? Maybe he’ll finally settle down. God can only hope.