Page 59 of Hate To Love You

Damian watches me carefully and I give him a curt nod, letting him know he can head into class. He gives me a wary look before glaring at Ashton and making his way inside the room.

My gaze settles on Ashton as his lip curls slightly.

“I have no clue what you’re talking about,” I say casually. It’s not a complete lie, since I don’t really have any proof that Ryker did anything.

Ashton shakes his head and chuckles, but it’s not an amused chuckle, it one of disbelief.

“You’re not a very good liar, Gwen,” he replies with malice, making the hair rise on the back of my neck. “He told me to watch my back… now tell him to watch yours.”

With that, he pats my shoulder with his big hand and stalks away, as if he didn’t just threaten me.

Rage boils inside me as I watch him leave, thinking about how Ryker told me he wouldn’t go after him, and he did anyway. How maybe if Ryker had listened to me and just let it go, we wouldn’t be in this mess.

But no, Ryker Steele does whatever he wants, whenever he wants. And now I’m the one that’s screwed.

Chapter 31

Ryker

Gwen told me not to be late, and here I am, but where the hell is she?

One thing I know about her is Guinevere Sharpe is never late. So she must be sick or in trouble because there’s no way she’s-

I watch as Gwen strolls into the lecture hall looking like she’s seen a ghost, while simultaneously looking like she wants to rip someone’s head off. I didn’t know that was possible, to show both emotions at the same time.

For once, I don’t think I’m the one on the other end of that pissed off expression, and honestly, that feels good. I think we’ve finally hit a point where both of us can coexist and maybe even like each other.

Last night was fucking incredible. I didn’t mean to have her sleep over, but we were working so late, and she dozed off while I was in the bathroom. She looked so peaceful, and for selfish reasons, I didn’t want her to go. So, I let her sleep.

I know she wasn’t entirely thrilled about it when she woke up this morning, but I got a kick out of watching her rush out of my house.

Holland told me he caught her on her way out. He said she looked flustered and left in a hurry. That made me laugh.

Gwen flustered? I haven’t seen that happen very often. She’s independent and controlling, but last night? She let me take control of everything, and seeing her let go of herself, even for a little while, made me want to do it over and over again.

Gwen takes her seat next to Damian, setting her bag down on the ground. He leans in to whisper something in her ear, and my blood boils as I watch how close he is to her. How he touches her.

I’m realizing now that I really do want all of her, every day and every night, all to myself.

Gwen shakes her head at whatever Damian said, and now I’m wondering what he said to her.

Professor Whitely rushes down the stairs to her desk, late, as usual. Her tight pencil skirt hits her knees and the blouse she wears opens slightly at the top, revealing her cleavage. Her hair is curled and in a half up, half down style, and her glasses sit on the bridge of nose.

She looks like she should be on set for a shitty porno instead of teaching a college literary criticism course.

I look back down to Gwen, who is sitting a bit straighter than she was before, watching and waiting intently for the professor to begin class.

There’s barely anyone here, which I assume is due to the fact that many people hate presenting or didn’t even finish the project.

I thought I’d feel relieved when this project ended, but now, I’m not sure how I feel. I know Gwen and I will still see each other, but I wonder if our dynamic will change if we’re not forced to be together all the time. And I hate that I care this much.

Professor Whitely claps her hands together once, breaking me out of my thoughts and turning my attention to the front of the room.

“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen,” she begins. “I’ve put all of your names in this hat,” she holds up a small blue baseball cap with tiny sheets of paper inside.

“I’m going to pick a name, and your team will come up to present. When you’re done presenting, you may leave.”

I let out a sigh of relief because I did not want to be stuck here listening to a bunch of boring ass presentations that I couldn’t care less about.

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