I’d probably have to take out another loan. Which meant I’d have to call my mom because I would definitely need a cosigner at this point. I could just hear her voice saying, “Zoey, I know you don’t think so, but maybe a city college would be better.”
The loud church bells rang throughout campus, signaling the end of class. I bent over to pack up my bag as the professor dismissed us.
Normally, I sat in the front and was able to dash away quickly, avoiding the chaos that ensued as everyone jockeyed to beat each other out the door in order to make it to their next class. Campus sprawled across five miles of lush green hills, but the hike could be tough if you didn’t plan accordingly.
I kept my head down, hoping the students pushing past would go around me. I set my laptop aside to move some books around so I could fit everything in my bag.
My gaze shot up to the noise of my laptop crashing to the ground.
“Shit, sorry,” a guy in a plaid shirt grumbled, though he kept moving.
My eyes bulged as I picked it up and opened the top. Tiny fragments of the screen rained down over the keyboard.
My stomach bottomed out, and I fell back into my chair, looking up toward the sky. “Okay, now you’re just being cruel.”
“No one’s up there to blame. And if they are, I guess they just didn’t want you job hunting in class anymore.” The low, melodic voice again from behind me had the audacity to throw out a joke right then.
I whipped around. “Guess they want me to drop out of this damn university too.” My own words hit me like a freight train. I gasped for a breath as tears sprang to my eyes. Slapping a hand over my mouth to keep the gut-wrenching sob from breaking loose, I focused back on the mess in front of me. My broken laptop crunched, the shards of the screen crumbling further as I closed it and shoved it into my bag.
Hearing Cole stutter behind me didn’t stop me from stalking away from him, from the class, and from the university as quickly as my boots would let me. I reached the exit door ready to whip it open, but Cole caught up and slammed his hand on it to stop me.
“Shit, woman. Give me a second to recover and respond,” he breathed next to my ear.
He was close enough to smell his aftershave and the leather jacket he wore. I sidestepped, peering back to see if anyone was still here.
Everyone had already rushed out, and of course the energy efficient power down of the room kicked in, killing the lights right at that moment.
I gulped down the fear that turned my blood cold as the darkness fell over us. “Get your hand off the door, Cole.”
He studied my face like he was confused. I could never hide my fear of being alone with a guy well. My heart beat faster, my breathing picked up. Worst of all, I started to shake. He must have seen it because those murky green eyes flared suddenly. He ripped his hand away from the door as if it’d burned him. “I’d never … I’m not into you. At all. Even if I was … fuck, no.”
He meant to squelch the fear running through me, and he did. Instantly. With it, though, was a tiny zing of disappointment. He’d so quickly made it clear that I wasn’t appealing to him at all.
Which was fine because he didn’t appeal to me either.
Even if he oozed sex appeal. Even if his deep voice caused goose bumps to pop up on my skin. Even if I’d stared at how broad his shoulders were under his leather jacket more than once when he wasn’t looking.
That was all just good genes. He was beautiful, and most women on campus could attest to that. His personality was a whole other factor.
“Well, great. See you never again.” I reached for the handle and pulled only for the door to slam back into Cole’s hand.
My eyes bulged as I turned my head toward him again. This time, I held a palm up theatrically at his antics.
His crooked smile practically glowed in the dark classroom. “So, we established I’m not here to hold you hostage.”
“Words are just words. Actions on the other hand, Cole …” I shrugged and glanced around. The rows of old chairs folded up without students in them and the dark lecture hall seemed to hollow out without the vibrance of student life.
“You know my name, which means you probably know I’m harmless.” He stared out at the empty auditorium with me.
I rubbed my gloss-coated lips together. Something about standing in a quiet area with another person somehow pulled me into their sphere. My body felt a gravitational pull toward him suddenly, like we’d shared something in that silence that no one else could in a crowded room. “I used to believe that,” I blurted out, trying to cut our connection. “But I’ve learned it’s the most harmless ones you have to watch out for.”
He cracked his knuckles and folded his arms across his massive chest. The leather of his brown jacket strained over his muscles, and I found myself wondering just how big his arms were. “You need a job, little ladybug.”
“Lady—?” I glanced down. Freaking black polka dots on red, I should have known this shirt looked ridiculous, but it’d been a quick choice after waking up late and having to rush out the door. I held up a finger, trying to get our conversation back on track. “First of all, my name is Zoey. Also, this shirt was on sale and red is the color of love, which is beside the point. I don’t need anything. I mean, I did. Now, though, the laptop was the last straw. I just need to unenroll.”
Before I could do that, I’d need to find a computer to unenroll. The add/drop deadline was soon, and if I wanted to get some of my tuition back, I’d need to file quickly.
“I need a waitress.” He tilted his head as if asking me when I could start.
“Not happening.” I turned back toward the door and pointed. “Hands off, Cole.”
“My hands will be off, woman. I promise. Do me a solid and work a couple shifts. I helped you with the quiz.”
“I didn’t need help,” I threw back at him and stomped my foot. Why did I continue to argue with him?
“Sure you didn’t.” The freaking wink again. “Look, you’ve been searching for jobs. Why not come and see how you like it? We had a waitress quit and I need a fill-in. I guarantee you’ll make more than at any of those other jobs.”
There was no arguing that. I’d seen the throngs of men and women outside Heathen’s Bar waiting to get in. The place was between my apartment and campus too. I made a conscious effort to walk down the quieter alley on nights I knew the bar would be busy.
“Sorry. Not my scene.” I yanked on the door, and this time he let it swing open. I burst out into the hall, away from him. The air in the auditorium had been stale, and the crisp spring breeze blowing in from open windows hit me immediately as I hurried toward the entrance of the building.
“I’ll fix your laptop on your first shift,” Cole announced loudly. I turned to tell him no and saw two women already on each of his arms. He let them hang there but stared down the hallway at me.
“I’ve never waitressed before. What if I’m no good?”
He licked his lips, and I could swear his eyes darkened from green to brown in that moment. “I have a feeling you’ll be real good, Ladybug.”
His empty compliment had my cheeks heating. I took two more steps toward the entrance, but my gaze was locked with his. I threw out one last-ditch effort. “I could quit after one shift, you know.”