Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Before she can nail down a different date, I take off.
“Hey, where are you going?” Colby calls out. “I thought we were grabbing something to eat?”
I raise my hand. “I’ll catch you later. There’s something I need to take care of.”
And then I’m slipping through the doors and into the building. A few groups of students loiter in the hallway. I glance up and down the corridor, wondering if I’m too late.
That’s all it takes for me to hesitate and wonder what the fuck I’m doing. It’s not like I’m actually going to strike up a convo with this girl. As close as we once were, that’s not something that will ever happen.
Not after all this time.
Fuck.
We’re coming up on five years.
That thought is like a punch to the gut that nearly robs the air from my lungs.
There’s never been a single day that’s gone by that I don’t think about him.
Or her.
Just as I drag a hand through my short strands, people shift, and I catch a glimpse of her dark head turning the corner at the far end of the hall. Without thinking, I’m on the move again. It’s as if there’s an invisible string binding us together. Whether she’s aware of it or not, we’re still connected. There will never be a day when that’s not true.
I glance at the sign on the wall that points in the same direction.
Student services.
When there was a problem with my tuition bill last year, this is where I met with an advisor to straighten it out.
As I come to another corner, I pause, peeking cautiously around it. Fallyn is standing outside the office as she glances down at her phone. A few people loiter in the vicinity as well.
From here, I watch as she straightens her shoulders before sucking in a deep breath and walking into the office. A look of determination settles over her features. Even though we’re no longer in each other’s lives, I know her well enough to recognize that she’s gearing up for a fight.
My brows draw together.
What could be the issue?
Her parents are loaded.
I give it a minute or two before skulking closer.
I almost snort at the mental image that conjures. I’ve never been the skulking sort. In fact, most people take one look at me and steer clear.
Which is exactly the way I prefer it.
A couple of guys exit the office before heading in my direction. They glance at me as we pass by one another, their eyes widening before lighting up with recognition.
“Hey, Westerville!” the closest one says before holding out his knuckles for a fist bump.
I shoot a quick glance past him to make sure Fallyn hasn’t stepped back out into the corridor. That’s the last thing I need when trying to fly under the radar.
“Dude, that game last week was sweet. You were totally on fire!”
“Thanks.”
The other guy shakes his head. “How many saves did you have? Wasn’t it a career record or something like that?”
“Twenty-five.” Not the most I’ve had, but still impressive.
“Fuck, dude. That’s amazing.”
“Thanks.” My gaze bounces to the office door again. “I gotta get going, but it was good talking to you.”
“See ya around, Wolf!”
With a wave, I take off. It’s only when I’m close enough to peek inside that I stop and scan the reception area. It doesn’t take long to find her. She’s in line at the counter, waiting her turn. She stares at her phone, all the while shifting from one foot to another.
Fallyn never did have a lot of patience.
The corner of one lip hitches as a million memories flood my brain. I can’t help but drink in the sight of her.
Her beauty is like a gut punch.
Then again, there’s nothing new about that.
Even though the smart thing to do would be to get on with my day and pretend I never saw her, there’s no way I’m taking off until I figure out what’s going on.
Chapter 3
Fallyn
I glance up from my phone when the girl in front of me snaps, “What am I supposed to do? Sell my virginity to pay my tuition this semester?”
My eyes widen as my mouth tumbles open at her audacity.
The woman sitting behind the counter wears a matching expression.
We’re both shocked by the outburst.
I peek at the girl again, taking a better look. Since I’ve stepped foot inside the student aid office, I’ve been glued to my phone, scrolling through job postings.
Big surprise—there aren’t many. Most students who wanted part-time work filled out apps in August and early September. They didn’t wait around until January.
So, it’s slim pickings.
Which only adds to my frustration.
At the moment, nothing seems to be going my way.
In fact, it’s all gone straight down the tubes.
“I’m pretty sure that ship sailed back in high school,” the blonde standing next to her mutters. “Sophomore year, if I’m not mistaken.”