“Yes, he did.” There wasn’t much more to say than that.
The next morning, Beth and I were the first ones in the classroom for Composition. We took our normal seats in the back, and my heart began racing.
Aidan
I’d waited by my phone all night for Emma to text me back, but I got nothing. I deserved it, but damn. She was probably with him. God knew what they were doing… All the possibilities made me want to vomit.
I grabbed my bag and headed out the door, slamming it shut. Luckily, I’d gotten a room to myself. My roommate hadn’t shown at the last second, which was for the best.
Normally, I’d head to get breakfast, but I wasn’t hungry. I was just so angry. At her, but not at her. It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t like she’d chosen our connection, but dammit, I was going crazy, and she could’ve at least texted me something back.
That was it. I had to stop being friendly. We were playing a dangerous game. I needed to let my anger and pain fuel me from here on out.
Emma
“You’d better be careful,” Beth said, pointing to my hand. It shook as I brought my coffee cup to my lips. “You’re going to spill it all over you.”
“He shouldn’t be affecting me like this.” I didn’t like it.
She patted my back. “Remember you have a fine-ass man and don’t need him.”
“Doesn’t need who?” The deep voice sent chills down my arms. He stepped into the room, wearing a sexy grin on his face.
If he thought I was going to answer him, he was wrong. I decided to pretend he wasn’t there. That’s how mature women handled such situations.
Beth snorted as she watched our interaction.
He moved his head to the side and took the seat right next to me.
“I’m surprised Lover Boy isn’t hovering over you.” He waved his hand toward my bag. “I mean, Lord forbid you have to carry your own things to class.”
He used to do this shit when we were younger. He’d say something to piss me off, usually about my pack and acting out. He’d do this when he was having some sort of family problems. I’d always thought it was because he felt safe with me. What a fucking joke.
I kept my eyes forward and ignored the buzzing of my skin.
“You should take the hint.” Beth shook her head as she glanced from him to me.
“I’m thinking you should butt out.” He didn’t even bother acknowledging her. His eyes stayed on me. “Or can Angel not fight her own battles?”
That was the nickname he’d started calling me right around the time my feelings for him had begun to change. He’d said I was too sweet to be from this realm. It hurt so damn much to hear it again. But he wanted a reaction, and he was used to getting what he wanted.
“Aw, I guess she can’t.” He let out a dark laugh. “Why am I not surprised?”
“You’ve really become one huge son of a bitch.” The sweet boy from my memories wasn’t here anymore. “But what else could I expect from a Murphy.”
“How typical of you to bring up my pack.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “You guys are the abominations.”
Beth snorted. “You weren’t kidding about your packs being rivals.”
“Ahh, she was talking about me?” A huge smirk filled his face.
It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. The arrogant ass. “It wasn’t about you. Just about back home.”
“So naturally, my pack would come up.” He arched an eyebrow. “Bullshit.”
When had he become such an asshole? “Believe what you want. I don’t care.”
“You sure about that?” He leaned toward me, and his scent grew stronger. “Did you get my text yesterday?” He leaned even closer, invading my senses.
My body responded to him, and I hated it. He knew he still influenced me.
Students filled the classroom, oblivious to our conversation.
“Why don’t you leave her alone?” Beth’s voice took on an edge as she side-eyed him. “It’s obvious she’s not interested.”
I appreciated her helping me out, but I already knew what his response would be.
“That’s not what her smell is telling me,” he said low, barely loud enough for me to hear, but the words also seemed to scream at me.
The professor came into the class and blissfully started the lecture.
I didn’t bother rushing from class to Precalculus. I picked up my backpack and slung it over my shoulder.
Beth stood beside me, and the two of us headed toward the door.
“Will you be okay?” she asked, looking worried.
I hated it. She hadn’t known me for long, and she was already concerned. I was that friend: the one who didn’t have her shit together so others felt obligated to care. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
As soon as we hit the first floor, Beth waved and headed to her class in the other building.
Aidan
All class, I felt like I was bipolar. One minute, I wanted to be friendly, and the next, I wanted to strike out in anger. Both emotions were driven by my need to be with her. It was a lose-lose situation. Either way, we just kept hurting each other.
I had to accept that she wouldn’t be in my life long term. Our being together wouldn’t work anyway. She deserved a full life and a chance to be happy even if it wasn’t with me, which just pissed me off all over again.
This was my last chance to learn what she’d been up to these past four years.
Emma
“Emma,” Aidan called out, but I pressed on.
I hurried into the classroom and sat in the same seat as yesterday.
“You do realize I have the same class.” He slid into the seat next to mine. “How are things?”
“Really?” I asked. He acted like we were old friends.
“Yeah, it’s been a while.” He shrugged and winced a little. “I figured you’d have a long-ass story to tell me, like old times.”
If humans hadn’t been in the room with us, I would have slapped him across the face. He had some nerve. “Yeah, someone who suddenly disappeared in my life has popped back up and is acting like nothing strange ever happened.” I was tired of people pushing me around.
He coughed and nodded. “I deserved that.” He ran his hands through his hair. “You’re not as big of a pushover…”
“Any longer?” So that’s how he viewed me. Good to know.
“Sure… we’ll go with that.” He blew out a breath.
I faced the front of the class and stiffened. “Thanks for…” There wasn’t a good way to end this sentence. “… nothing.”
He leaned back in his seat and pulled out his book.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you as happy as after these past two Dance classes.” Jacob was once again standing outside my locker room, waiting on me.
“Yeah, they’ve been great.” I walked over and smiled. “It’s fun again. When I was involved in all of that cheerleading stuff, it was so stringent and focused more on cheering than dance. That’s why I wanted to go back to what made me the happiest.”