Page 24 of Veil of Lies

Ignoring Quinn’s curious gaze, I pulled my shit together. The laptop probably needed binning, but I could hardly toss it in the nearest garbage can. I didn’t think electrical devices were classed as recyclable items, unlike soda cans and paper cups. The librarian would have a shit fit if she found it later.

“I have a spare laptop if you need one in the short term?”

I froze. Had he guessed I had no money?

“It’s OK, I can—”

“Stella, it’s fine. I have several. I don’t mind lending you one. It gives you a chance to look for one you want rather than buying the first pile of crap you find on Amazon.”

He chewed his lip thoughtfully while waiting for my reply. I watched as his tongue flicked out and played with his lip ring. I was so hypnotized by it that I completely forgot to acknowledge his offer.

“I can drop it off at your room, or you can stop by ours to pick it up?”

That broke the paralysis. No way was I going to his dorm room. It was too dangerous. I was already having problems keeping my distance from Harley and Brax. The last thing I needed was further temptation. Knowing my luck, I’d arrive at the same time the pair of them were half-naked or something. Although, if I thought about it a bit too much, was that so terrible? Yeah…NO. Calm the fuck down!

“Thank you, that would be great. Maybe you can give it to me tomorrow morning? I’ll be in the cafeteria around 9 AM.” My reply spewed out in a rush and I hoped he wouldn’t notice my flushed cheeks.

“Sure, no problem,” he smiled in the easygoing way he always had. “I’ll make sure it has all the software on it you might need.”

Fuck, he was being too nice to me. I didn’t deserve it. “Thank you, I really appreciate this,” I said again.

“Not a problem, as I said, I have a few spare. It’s no biggie to lend you one.”

He reached out and pushed some strands of hair that had escaped my ponytail away from my face. “Always happy to provide tech support!”

“You do realize that it’s a full-time job with me, right? I am literally the most technically challenged college student on the planet.”

“Lucky for you I like a challenge!” he laughed.

Judging by the way his warm brown eyes held my gaze for a few moments, I had a feeling he was talking about more than a dodgy laptop.

Chapter 21

Brax

Stella pulled a laptop out of her rucksack and popped it on the table. Something about the worn sticker on the lid looked familiar, then it struck me.

“Is that Quinn’s laptop?”

“Yeah.” She didn’t elaborate.

“Why have you got one of his laptops?”

“Mine died and he offered to lend me one until I could replace it.”

“But Amazon does next day delivery?”

She huffed in irritation. “I know!”

Something didn’t add up and it had been niggling me for days. The fees at this college were higher than most other colleges on the east coast. Parents sent their kids here because it was exclusive, which meant literally everything cost additional money. The system was designed to exclude those who couldn’t afford it, aside from a small number of scholarship students.

“Are you here on a scholarship?” That might explain why she didn’t seem to have any money.

“No.” Her tone was clipped, and I could tell she was on the verge of losing it with me, but I wanted to know why she seemed to be broke. All her clothes were well-worn, she didn’t wear makeup or have perfectly coiffed hair. And she was obviously unable to splash out on a new laptop. Why?

“If you’re short of money, I can help you out?”

“I don’t need your fucking charity, OK! I have money, lots of money, but I can’t access it easily. That’s all. Now can we please get on with this before I die of old age?”

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