Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 237(@300wpm)
Lex looks only a smidge annoyed. “We talked about this already, you need to stay with me, so I can keep you safe.”
I blink up at him. “I can keep myself safe.”
“You can’t. The scars on your back prove that.”
That was a low blow.
Remorse flicks across his face as soon as he says the words, and he opens his mouth again, probably to apologize, but I don’t want his lame apology.
“I hate you. You know nothing.” I try to tug my wrist out of his hold, but he just grips it harder, not bruising but restricting.
Leaning forward, he speaks right into my face. “You’re right, I don’t know anything, but only because you won’t tell me.”
His woodsy scent surrounds me, and I do my best to pretend it doesn’t affect me. Who knows what would happen if he knew how much his presence knocked me off my axis?
I lower my head, finding a spot on the sidewalk to look at. I don’t want to see his green eyes. I don’t want him to look straight through me and see what I don’t want to tell him.
Why can’t he just let this go? For a moment, I think about what my options are. I could go to campus security, but I doubt they would do anything since he’s the dean’s brother.
My other option is to go with him until he is tired of trying to help me. He can’t possibly stay interested in me for much longer. We only had sex the one time, and I doubt some promise made in the dark can live through the light. He’s proven that he doesn’t intend to hurt me, but that doesn’t mean I should trust him.
“I need to go to the dorms and pick up some stuff,” I finally say, knowing he won’t stop until I agree.
“We can do that.”
I start walking toward the dorms, trying to ignore Lex, who is walking beside me, the best I can, but it’s really hard when he is twice my size, and everyone that passes by gawks at us.
“It’s an all-female dorm, you can’t come up,” I lie.
Of course, he could come in, and judging by the grin on his face, he knows it too.
“I’ll wait down here for you then,” he agrees, letting me have this small victory.
Rushing upstairs, I almost fall over my own feet as I take the steps two at a time. I don’t know why I’m even in a hurry. I should take all the time in the world, make him wait. Slowing down, I stroll down the hallway until I’m at my room.
Just before I unlock it, I swear I could hear someone talking inside, but that can’t be since I don’t have a roommate. Shaking my head, I turn the key and push the door open.
“Eeeeee!” A shriek so loud it hurts my eardrum, pierces through the air, making me drop the key so I can cover my ears with my hands. The noise comes from a girl standing in the center of my room. She, herself, dropped a stack of papers she was holding in her hand before clutching her chest like she is in the middle of a cardiac arrest.
For a long moment, we just stand there staring at each other with wide eyes, trying to catch our breath. The unknown girl looks even more scared than I am, which tells me I’m not in any danger here. Still, I would like to know why she is in my locked room.
“Hi, you must be, Jude. I’m Blair,” she introduces herself. “Your new roommate,” she adds, helping me figure out what’s going on.
Roommate?
“Oh…” Only then do I take a look around my room… our room, I guess. I find the side that had been empty before, filled with stuff. The bare mattress now has a light blue comforter, the white walls are now covered in pictures and posters, and the once vacant desk now seems to be occupied.
“Oh,” I repeat. “Good, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. They told me the dorms didn’t fill up this semester, so I would be on my own.”
“Yeah, I’m starting classes late. I’m sorry I scared you, well, scared us both.” She giggles, using her index finger to push her black glasses up onto her nose. I do my best not to stare or drag my gaze over her. Blair is petite, as short as me, her hair a fiery red, her eyes green, which stand out starkly against her almost albino complexion. She’s pretty in an effortless way, and I’m a little jealous of that.
“It’s okay. Not your fault.” I pick up my key and then help her pick up the papers she dropped.
“I have to make up for the work I missed the first two weeks of classes. That was the only way I could still get in,” she explains.