Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Alright,” the professor says toward the end of the lecture, walking from one side of the room to the other. “Check your emails and you’ll find your first assignment for the semester.”
He waits a moment, watching as we all fish our phones out of our bags or pockets before bringing up his email. I have just a few seconds to skim through it before he launches into a detailed explanation that has me feeling pretty damn confident, a million ideas already circling my brain. “You have three weeks to complete this assignment,” Professor Macintosh continues, earning a few groans from around the room, but the timeframe doesn’t bother me. I’m a dedicated student and will most likely have it done with plenty of time to spare.
He shushes everyone as he walks to his desk and picks up a clipboard. “I’m sure you would have all noticed by now that this is a partnered project,” he starts, making everyone burst into chatter as they begin deciding who to pair up with. “Your peers within this room one day may very well be your colleagues, and I know I don’t need to go into the importance of developing the skills to communicate appropriately with those who are not considered one of your BFFs,” he says, rolling his eyes at the ridiculous saying. “So, with that in mind, your partner has already been chosen for you. Stand up as I read your name, so your partner can see who you are. You should make arrangements following class to meet up and collect each other’s contact details.”
Professor Macintosh gets straight into it, ignoring the groans coming from around the room. It doesn’t take long before I hear a familiar name. “Bobby Lucas.” A smile spreads across my face. I hadn’t realized he was in this class, and I find myself spinning around to seek him out. “You’ll be paired with Cassandra Waters. Please stand.”
Relief blooms through my chest, realizing I have a partner who has his head screwed on properly, and I quickly stand with a big cheesy grin on my face. Bobby stands up the back, grinning right back at me and he gives me a stupid salute before dropping his hand back to his side. My gaze follows the movement and my heart comes to a stop the second I see the person sitting beside him. The very person who looks like he’s seen a ghost.
My eyes lock on his, and I lose my breath, my whole world burning to ashes at my feet.
Shit.
My stomach drops, and the smile is wiped from my face. Dropping back into my seat, I face the front of the class, waiting for the professor to hurry up and finish pairing off the rest of the class. My eyes remain focused on my desk as my heart threatens to beat right out of my chest. My hands shake, his face the only thing in my mind as I hastily begin shoving things back in my bag, ready to haul ass out of here the moment we’re dismissed.
I hear his name called, but I don’t have the guts to turn around or to even figure out who his assignment partner is. I feel his eyes drilling into me, like some sort of intense laser beam.
The clock counts down. One minute to go and I’m out of here. I’ll make my escape before he has the chance to catch up to me, and then I can figure out what the hell to do. Maybe I could transfer to a different class or drop the subject altogether?
Thirty seconds to go.
My stare is heavily focused on the clock, and I grab my bag off the floor.
Ten seconds. Five. Four. Three. Two.
Panic tears at me and I go to push up out of my chair when two strong arms come down around me, landing on either side of my desk and caging me in as his body leans over me, leaving no room for escape. His heavenly, familiar scent wraps around me and breaks me in two.
Jaxon. My whole fucking world.
Three years. Three long-ass years since I’ve smelled him or felt him so damn close, and all I can do is breathe him in. Words escape me as with every new breath, a million heartbreaking memories come right back with it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see his head hanging close by mine, his eyes closed as he tries to control his breathing. His hands on my desk turn into fists, and I can practically feel the rapid rate of his heartbeat.
Jax doesn’t say a word, just hovers over me as the class empties out around us.
A sob desperately wants to break free from my throat, but I hold it in. “Cass,” he breathes my name ever so quietly, his tone filled with everything he’s refusing to say. The sound of his pained voice and the subtle brush of his sweet breath against my neck has a single tear falling from my eye. It spills down my cheek and onto the desk beside his clenched fist. I watch with bated breath as his thumb strikes out, wiping my tear off the table. He always hated it when I cried, and always said it broke him more than it broke me.