Page 111 of Jump on Three

I tensed, fury filling every space in my body. Her muscles locked up in response, and she rushed out an explanation.

“I know that sounds terrible, but it’s never been a problem. Now that I’m familiar with her voice, it hardly takes any time to write her essays. I build them into my weekly schedule, so I’m prepared. I’ve just been so busy with my own work over the last week I’ve been avoiding her since I really don’t have time to do hers. It’s not just a short essay. It’s multiple pages worth a huge percentage of her grade. I can’t do it. She needs me to since I’m convinced she has no clue how to write properly, but I can’t.”

“She’ll figure it out,” I growled. “She’s not demanding anything from you again.”

“She’ll be very angry.”

“Let her be angry. This is her problem, not yours.”

Her head rose from my neck, and she was frowning. “You think it won’t be my problem if Layla’s angry at me?”

“Yes. She now understands the consequences of messing with you.”

Pretty lips formed an O. It was all I could do not to kiss them, but we would both get distracted and the truth Evelyn had been keeping from me needed to come to light.

“What does that mean?” she asked carefully.

“It means there is nothing I will not do to ensure she doesn’t hurt you again. Not through words or action.”

“Words?” Her gaze slid sideways, and her shoulders curled inward. “You heard what she calls me?”

“I did, and I put an end to it. That fucked-up nickname is history.”

“Oh.” She lowered her head to my shoulder again. “I wish you hadn’t heard that.”

“I’m glad I did. Someone had to step in, even if you wouldn’t tell me so I could.”

“I was handling it, Ivan. I just hate that you know how people see me. They think I’m creepy—”

“You are not. You’re lovely. There’s nothing creepy about you.”

“I stare sometimes when I don’t know I’m doing it. And I followed you, Ivan. That is the definition of creepy.”

“No. Why would you believe anything Layla says? She’s an idiot, angel. Nothing important or of value has ever left her mouth. Her opinion of you counts for nothing. I hope my opinion of you counts for a hell of a lot more.”

“Of course it does,” she murmured against my throat.

“Then believe me. You are not creepy. What this girl has done to you is horrific. She is not right.”

“It really hasn’t been so bad. I’ve survived much, much worse.”

Those words landed like individual missiles in my heart, turning the surface to rubble.

Survived.

Much.

Worse.

No, no, no.

Chapter Thirty-seven

Evelyn

Once again, I had said the wrong thing.

Ivan vibrated beneath me, whispering my admission back to me.

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