Never. That’s not true, though, is it? I’d be interested in something serious, but only with Jude, though, I’m not going to tell my brother that.
“Nevermind, it’s not a big deal. I just wanted to know if you knew anything. Clearly, you don’t, so I’m going to go.”
He leans back in his chair, eyeing me with caution like I might blow up or something. “You’re almost as bad as Remington, only calling when he needs something.”
“That’s right, little brother, gotta use your job to our benefit.” I grin, getting up from the couch and walking over to the door. “I’ll see you for dinner on Sunday.”
“Sure, sure.” Seb cracks his knuckles and sinks deeper into his chair. It’s strange how well put together he looks. Slicked back hair, perfect suit that doesn’t even have a wrinkle in it. He’s happily married and has an adorable little girl named Maggie. He’s going places while I’m standing in the same spot. Same with my brother, Remington. Both of my younger brothers are doing something with their lives, and I’m working at the Iron Fist.
“Don’t work too hard,” I taunt from the door, pushing the sour thoughts away.
“I won’t.” He grins, plucking the pen up off the desk and getting back to work.
Walking out the door, I close it quietly behind me. Sighing, I realize I need to find something else to do. I’m not leaving here without Jude. I made her a promise, and I’m going to keep it, even if she so clearly doesn’t want me to.
6
Jude
I spend all three classes trying to concentrate enough to at least take notes for later. I knew as soon as we pulled up, that nothing the professors said today would sink into my brain. My thoughts are too jumbled, my mind overloaded with everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours.
After my last class for the day is dismissed, I gather up my stuff and head out, I have every intention of hiding out in the library for the rest of the day. But when I step out of the classroom, I immediately find Lex leaning against the wall. He’s gorgeous, of course, and gathers the attention of a group of girls who skirt by him.
“You can’t be here. You’re not a student,” I say extra loudly, hoping someone else will hear. Lex isn’t old per se, he’s handsome in a much more mature way than most of the guys I’ve seen here.
Completely unaffected by my statement, Lex smiles, showing off his dazzling smile. “My brother is the dean of this school. I think it’s okay for me to be here.”
Well, crap.
“Fine, be here, but leave me alone. I have studying I need to do.” I try to walk past him, but he reaches out and grabs my wrist, tugging me forward, causing me to bump into his chest. I hate how close we are and how the heat of his body rushes into mine, and how my stupid treacherous heart beats a little faster at his touch. I wonder if he feels my pulse at my wrist.
“You can study at my place.” That thick voice of his is low, and it makes my belly feel all kinds of funny.
“I’m not coming with you. I’m going home.” I raise my chin and steel my spine. I won’t be pushed around. I took orders for years, cooked and cleaned, and became a slave to a man. I won’t be a slave for anyone ever again.
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.