Page 26 of Hooves & HeartStrings

“So, the rooms are awesome, yeah?” Garrett says. I’m rooming with Hayes, while Garrett is rooming with Dawson. “It’s big enough to fit me and Dawson’s massive ass.”

“Hey.” Dawson’s deep voice rumbles from the hall. “You’ve got no room to call me massive. You're literally the size of a fucking bull.”

“Well, because I fucking am one,” Garrett grunts and we all chuckle as Sawyer pokes her head inside. “You dumb asses ready to grab our shit? I don’t think I’ll be able to fit the bus in the dorm parking lot, but I should be able to on the street outside. I saw a moving van just barely fit, so I’d rather not risk it.”

“Yeah, we’re good to go. Let’s go unpack and then we can check out the campus,” Hayes says, clapping my back as he passes me.

“You coming?” Sawyer asks me.

I nod and follow her out. “Is she okay?”

“Who?” She shoots me a cheeky look. I glare at her, she knows damn well who I’m talking about. “She’s fine, Luci. Pissed, and rightly so, but she’s fine.”

“She hates me,” I groan as we step into the elevator. Even this thing is massive. Like the size of a freight elevator.

“She doesn’t hate you.” The doors close. “She’s just hurt. You took off without talking to her and didn’t allow her to defend herself or hear her out. The woman confessed her love over a voicemail for fuck’s sake.” She shakes her head. “It’s only been a few weeks, if that. She’s not over you. I can see as much. But I don’t think she’s going to make it easy. You're going to have to work for it.”

“I plan on it. Sawyer, I love her. I know it was only a few months, but fuck, she really is everything to me. I miss her so damn much it hurts. Knowing she’s here, on the same campus, and not being able to see her, touch her, it’s going to be pure hell.”

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’m rooming with one of her friends. So, I have a feeling I’ll be seeing a lot of her. I’ll make sure only good things are said about you in her presence.”

“What, really? You're rooming with a human?”

“I was surprised too. But the room is a good size and well, seeing how I’m not as big as most monsters, I guess they didn’t want to waste one of the massive rooms on little old me. I don’t mind, really.”

“So, your roommate? Is she nice?”

“Nope.” She chuckles. “She’s a bitch. And I can tell she’s not a big fan of monsters.”

“What the fuck?” I pull her to a stop as we head out of the dorm. “They roomed you with someone who doesn’t even like monsters?”

“To be fair, she didn’t tell me that. But the way she was looking at me said she either hates me or wants to fuck me.” Sawyer grins. “And I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t be opposed to a bit of hate sex.”

A laugh bursts out of me. “Your taste in women is questionable.”

“Maybe.” She shrugs. “But I love the ones who keep me on my toes. Who will give me a challenge. I don’t like it when it's too easy. But, it’s not going to happen. Judging how some jock dude showed up and practically shoved his tongue down her throat, I’m going to say she’s taken. Bi maybe? I don’t have time to deal with that kind of drama anyway. I’m here to go to school, do my work and that's it. I’ll be over at your guys’ place more than anything anyway. To me, it’s just a room to sleep in.”

We don’t talk about it again as we head back to the bus and move it over to the dorm. Two hours later everything is unloaded and into our rooms, and we help Sawyer move into hers. Her roommate wasn't there, but her things were. Part of me is disappointed, hoping that maybe Marley would have helped her friend or something.

On our way out, I’m on high alert, looking for the chance for the smallest glimpse of her.

“You're a lovesick fool.” Sawyer laughs, bumping my shoulder. “Relax and let's have some fun, okay? It’s only the first day here, you have tons of time.”

I don’t want time, I don’t want to wait. I want her with me now, in my arms. I want my hand in hers as we walk through the campus to see what it all has to offer.

But I know it’s not going to be that easy. Marley is a strong, stubborn woman. She’s going to make me work for it. And good, I’m glad she’s not so easily swayed. I am going to work for it and I am going to win my mate over. I’m coming for you Marley, baby. You can’t get rid of me that easily.

fourteen

I lay in my bed in my dorm room, feeling like I'm dying inside. The ceiling above me is my focus, as my mind races and swirls with the events of the day.

What the hell happened? Why is Luci back here?

Why did he leave, only to come back now? He knew this is where I was going to school. The whole tour was filled with tension. I wanted to cry, slap him, and jump his bones all at the same time.

Tomorrow is the first day of class, and now I'm freaking out at the thought of us having classes together.

I need to call my girl, Stacy, and tell her everything that happened.

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