The Jock Read online J.L. Beck, Cassandra Hallman (North Woods University #6)

Categories Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance Tags Authors: , Series: North Woods University Series by J.L. Beck
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Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74103 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
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“Maybe, I could want that, if his ego wasn’t so big.” I look out the window for a brief second. Did I seriously just admit that? Gah, Cage’s crassness must be rubbing off on me. Turning back to Mia, I continue, “You know how I am with guys like that. I hate them. I could never be with someone like him. Their favorite thing to do is manipulate. It’s always the same in the beginning. Nice and charming. They tell you everything you want to hear, and then, bam, you’re falling for them, and you’re on your back. Months later, you realize that they never really cared at all, all they wanted was a warm spot to put their cock. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.”

There is a beat of silence, and then another. My heart feels heavy in my chest. The weight of my admission and the truth of it weighs me down.

“Blair, you know you’re not your mom, right?” Mia reaches across the seat and takes my hand in hers, squeezing it gently.

“Not yet,” I reply, feeling full of shame.

I never want to be like my mother, chasing men who don’t care about her. When I find my person, I want them to love me like I love them. I want them to want me and only me, to be faithful and dedicated. I don’t want to be a notch on anyone’s bedpost.

“You will never be like your mom. Trust me on that.”

We’ll see. Swallowing thickly, I decide we need a topic change. I didn’t come all this way to sulk or complain about my life.

Smiling, I shove everything threatening to swallow me whole down. Turning the spotlight on Mia is what I need to do.

“Enough about me, tell me about Blackthorn. How’s the school? Have you made a lot of new friends?”

“Ugh, no. I don’t really fit in at this school. All of the other students grew up rich. I’m the odd one out, and it’s painfully obvious. I have like two friends, but you are my favorite for sure.” She winks at me. “We’re here,” says before I can ask her more questions.

We pull up to a fancy looking apartment complex that really has more of a hotel feel to it than anything else. Zeke parks up front and gets out of the car to open the back door for us.

“Thank you,” I say as we climb out of the car.

“You’re welcome. Here, let me get your bag,” he says, already grabbing it from my hand. Zeke is a big guy. He’s massive, thick with muscles. Even though I know for a fact he’s older than us, he’s still young-looking. His gunmetal grey eyes flash to mine, and I know there must be a past hidden in their depths. I’m curious about him and want to know more about his connection with Mia.

Mia tugs me inside, and the moment snaps away. Once we’re over the threshold, we are greeted by a man behind a large reception desk, the kind you see at hotels.

“Good evening, Miss Lawrence. Is this your guest?”

“Yes, Humphry. This is my friend, Blair. She will be staying with me this weekend.”

“Perfect. I’ll have her added to the guest list.”

As we walk away, I lean into Mia’s side, and whisper, “Who was that?”

“Humphry, our doorman.” Mia loops her arm around mine while pulling me toward the elevator. Zeke, of course, rides up with us, most likely seeing us to the door.

The elevator doors open, and I expect to step into a hallway. Except, it’s not a hallway at all. The elevator leads straight into an apartment. A beautiful, large apartment. I’m a bit flabbergasted, and it takes me a moment before I can get my brain and mouth to connect.

“Oh my god! Is this your place?”

“Yup, pretty fancy-schmancy, huh?” Mia downplays it. I can tell she’s still not used to this kind of life, the endless supply of money, being able to buy and do things whenever she wants.

“It’s amazing and huge. You have the whole floor to yourself?” The place is clean, sleek, and modern. It’s got a homey feel to it as well, even though there’s no personal decor.

“Yeah, well, kind of. Ah…” She looks past me.

Turning my head, I look over my shoulder to where Zeke is standing. He’s so quiet, I almost forgot he was even here. My cheeks burn as I openly gawk at him, and I give him a smile to lessen the awkwardness, but he just gives me a nod. What’s up with him?

When I turn back to Mia, I put one and one together. “Wait, Zeke lives here with you?”

“Yeah,” she admits, kicking her booted foot against the marble floor. “My dad didn’t want me to live on my own. Something about it being dangerous and troublesome, so he got me a place big enough where Zeke and I can live together. It’s kind of separate. I mean everything except the kitchen. There is only one.”


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