“I noticed yours, too, but did I make as much of a deal about it?” The clock face, surrounded by clouds and trees, took up the inner part of his left forearm, clearly noticeable from the way he rested it on the desk. “How would you feel if I did the same to you?”
His face softened to an easy smirk, one that I recognized well. “I wouldn’t mind.” One of his eyebrows lifted.
I dropped my head back and looked up at the ceiling, giving myself a second or five, so I wouldn’t snap at him further. “Okay, then. What if a guy you didn’t know did that to you? Would you still not mind?”
His face fell, and for a split-second, I felt shitty for taking off on him. My issues weren’t his fault. “Hey, I meant no harm, Kinsley. We’re art majors—I was admiring the artwork. I didn’t mean anything by it.” He continued to watch me, but with less intensity, his eyes scanning up and down my profile.
I blew out a breath, reached behind me, and slipped on my shirt, covering myself. “It’s fine,” I muttered. I’d gotten my tattoo when I was eighteen, a gift from my dad. People only ever saw the part on the back of my shoulder.
I grabbed my camera, hooked it up to the computer, and opened my recent photographs. While Mr. Spiers, the art professor, showed the class some digital manipulation techniques, color adjustments, and effects, I applied them to an image of an orange Asiatic lily. I brought the focus of the petals’ details to the forefront by carefully adding a blur to the background.
“Great work, Miss. Jensen,” he said, pointing to my screen. “I particularly like the use of vignette. It certainly draws the eye to the vibrancy of the petals, as well as the dusty pollen on the long stamen.”
I smiled my thanks as he walked away, his focus staying on my work for a while longer until he got to my neighbor’s desk. I stopped listening when I got lost in my work, all other noises drowning out until I was alone in my own world of creation. Right where I was happiest.
Quinn
Josh shook his head after studying my face. “Jesus, Quinn, you look like shit.” He looked around, then closed the gap between us, making sure nobody could eavesdrop. “You’re also wound tighter than usual. I don’t think you should go to the beach. Layton and I can make excuses for you.”
My brows furrowed. “I don’t need an excuse, Josh. I just say no, like I am doing. I don’t have a problem with that.” I smirked. “You know these things piss me off, but it’s not because I don’t like having a few drinks with you guys. It’s the constant ‘oh hey, Quinn. Great fight, Quinn. I bet on you, Quinn.’ I don’t want that shit when I’m trying to relax.”
Josh snorted, then his eyes left mine, trailing after a girl, no doubt. “Considering you’ll do anything to avoid attention, you still manage to find yourself in the middle of it.”
“Don’t I fucking know it.” I sighed.
“And the girls sitting right on your lap before your ass has even touched the seat.”
I groaned internally. That was the reason I started keeping out of the way. “What do I have to do to get people to stay out of my face? It’s fucking tiring, man.” I hated the exaggerated interest, and them draping themselves all over me. If I was just an Instagram like to them or a boost to their ego, I fucking let them know it wasn’t happening. And I didn’t mind dudes wanting to shoot the shit, even about fighting as long as it wasn’t about the circle.
His brows shot up, and he visibly flinched at my reaction. “I seriously think you need to sit this one out—you’re fucking exhausted.” When I opened my mouth again, he cut me off. “Look, you know I’ve got your back when keeping the ass kissers at bay—not even a question—but I can see you’re not doing so good right now. Have you looked in the mirror lately?”
I had, and he was right—it wasn’t pretty. The bruises had faded to a dull yellow, and the split in my lip had healed. Just in time for another fight organized for the next weekend. But that wasn’t it. I’d been staying out all night, riding my motorcycle until early hours, clearing my head from the everyday bullshit, amongst other things I wasn’t going to drag him in to.
“Late nights and early mornings don’t look good on you, dude.”
“Hey, you don’t look too pretty yourself,” I fired back, gesturing to the dark circles under his eyes. They weren’t just the accessories gained from going to college; Josh had been busy, too.
He grinned. “Yeah, but mine is for a good reason.” He fixed his dark blue backpack and pumped his brows. “I was taking full advantage of your groupie situation after the fight.” He nodded slowly with a shit-eating grin, and when I dropped my head down, shaking it, I let out a quiet chuckle. “I gotta say, being your brother from another mother has its perks.”
“So, you’re just using me to get pussy?” I asked, raising my brow and snorting a laugh, teasing him. “That’s so sad, Josh.” I placed my hand over my heart, feigning pity. “I thought you were better than that.” I didn’t give a shit. If he was happy keeping them off my back, then he could stick his dick wherever he wanted.
He socked me in the shoulder. “No, Quinn. No, I am not. Besides,” he looked around, “they forget who you are once they’ve taken a ride with me.”
I laughed louder than I’d intended, causing a lot more faces than I’d liked to turn in our direction. “I’m glad to be of service.” I moved around him, edging away from the students hovering near us, just waiting for a break to slide in and join our conversation. “I gotta train tonight, so I’ll be in the basement until late.”
His expression shifted, his mouth pursing, and his eyes hardening. “Need me there?”
I shook my head again. “Just some bag work.” It wasn’t just that, but I wasn’t about to mention it when Josh never did. I liked that. My personal shit was my own.
“You need to hit something before the weekend.” He knew me so well, the ass, and could tell when I needed a release that didn’t involve beating another person for cash.
I nodded, then blew out a long breath. “Fuck this shit, Josh.” I massaged my fists, the urge to ram them into something growing with every passing second. “If I didn’t need to be here right now…” I’d fuck off someplace else. Somewhere that would calm me the fuck down right away. The one place I didn’t wear my mask.
Josh turned his backpack around and pulled some papers out. “How many classes have you missed?” He handed me the notes that another student had given him. “It’s only this one for me. Did you get what you needed?”
“Three,” I replied, running my hand down my face. “I had to allow time for the extra shit.” So much for not slipping up. I might as well just sprayed water at it, stripped down, and took a long fucking run and jump. I was a slip and slide away from falling behind. But, it was necessary to pull off what we’d planned.
“Hey.” Josh jerked his chin toward the crowded hall. There were a lot of eyes on us, their owners chatting with their heads close together. “Let’s get to class, okay? We’ve got some catching up to do, superstar.”