Page 58 of Hate To Love You

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he says, giving me a salute.

I roll my eyes and run out of the room. On my way down the stairs, I run into a tall, muscular figure.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” I begin as I look up, seeing a face I recognize.

“Gwen? What are you doing here?” Holland asks with an inquiring gaze. Wow, he really does look like Ellie, just with facial hair and muscles.

I straighten, smiling shyly because I was just caught leaving Ryker’s room at eight in the morning. I feel my cheeks heat, and there’s no doubt they’re bright pink right now.

“I was just… I’m just leaving,” I point down the stairs.

“Did you stay the night?” Holland’s eyes sweep me from head to toe. I nod.

“Um… yeah. Ryker and I were working on our project, and we fell asleep,” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, shifting from one leg to the other. Holland nods slowly in understanding, still looking a bit skeptical. But I don’t have time for questions, I need to get ready for class.

“Listen, I gotta go get ready, but I’ll see you later? K, great. Bye!” I run past a stunned Holland and out the front door of the Elite mansion, straight to my house.

After taking a quick shower to rinse off the smell of sex, I throw on an old pink floral blouse I’ve had since high school and pair it with some black jeans. I don’t even bother drying my hair, opting for tying it up on the top of my head.

I top off the look with a bit of mascara, grab my bag, and run out the door.

No one was in the living room or the kitchen when I got home, so I didn’t have to deal with being interrogated by my crazy, lovable roommates. But I’m sure I’ll get bombarded later.

I feel good about today and the work we did on this project. I think Professor Whitely will be thoroughly impressed.

It’s funny, how just a few weeks ago I thought my life was going to implode after being forced to work with Ryker Steele, but here we are, actually getting along.

Oh yeah, you’re getting along really well, Gwen, my thoughts say.

As long as Ryker shows up, we should be totally fine. I just saw him less than an hour ago, and I assume he doesn’t need that much time to get ready.

Walking down the path to get to Mallory Center, I change the song I’m listening to on my phone and look back up to see I’ve been joined by a shaggy blonde with blue eyes.

I pull my headphones out of my ear, shutting them back in their case.

“So, a sleepover with the Ryker Steele, huh?” Damian mocks. I elbow him playfully as I roll my eyes. Damian grabs his arm as if I’d actually hurt him.

“I didn’t mean to fall asleep. It was late and we had to finish up the PowerPoint,” I defend. Damian shoots me a knowing glance.

“And then you fell into his bed. Tell me, is he as good as all the girls on campus say he is?” Damian chuckles to himself.

“Why are you the way that you are?” I ask as we walk up the stairs to our classroom.

“Gwen,” a deep, familiar voice says. The sound send’s shivers down my spine, causing me to stop dead in my tracks. Damian and I turn around to meet the gaze of Ashton Davis. The prick that wants to use me as part of his revenge plan with Ryker.

My blood runs cold at the sight of his battered face. A big purple and yellow bruise covers the right side of his jaw, and his nose looks out of place, like it’d been broken.

Ashton stares at me, but his eyes look empty. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days, and if I wasn’t standing here with Damian in front of our crowded lecture hall, I might be afraid.

“What do you want, Ashton?” I ask in a repulsed tone, finally working up the courage to respond.

I watch him carefully as he takes a small step forward, leaving only a few inches between us. I can feel Damian tense beside me, but I do my best to stand tall and look unaffected.

“Just wanted you to see your boyfriend’s handywork,” he grimaces. My brows furrow. What the hell is he-

And then it hits me. Last night in the library, Ryker’s cut up hand, the way he pulled it away from me and ignored my questions about where it came from. I asked him if he went after Ashton, and he wouldn’t give me a straight answer.

Ryker did go after him. My stomach clenches, and I don’t know whether to feel thankful or appalled at the fact that Ryker actually beat Ashton’s ass.

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