Page 161 of Unforgettable

“You wouldn’t like me as much if I were any other way. Means I’m really,reallygood at doing very dirty things to you.”

“Really? In a school, of all places?” A voice to my right spoke into the silent classroom.

My heart leaped into my throat, and I gasped at the unexpected interruption. I straightened on top of my desk, and Reed angled his body between me and the unwelcome visitor.

My brain couldn’t catch up with my mouth quick enough, and thinking it was a custodian having caught us in a compromising position, I stuttered out an excuse. Trying to come up with any explanation to de-escalate the situation, my mind finally considered the man standing in the doorway.

His arms crossed in front of his body and with a shoulder leaned against the metal doorframe, CJ stood casually just inside my classroom, wearing a less than enthusiastic expression.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Reed spit out, stepping farther in front of me and all but blocking my view.

The hard set to CJ’s features didn’t thaw. For several seconds, silence hung between us as we waited for some sort of explanation. I couldn’t come up with a decent reason why he would be there, staring at us like he couldn’t care less who we were.

“Just running a quick errand in the area.”

“That’s not an answer,” Reed said, gripping the edge of the desk with one hand and white-knuckle force.

CJ shrugged and sauntered farther into the room, casually stuffing his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. Slowly, he started a path around the perimeter, eyeing each piece of lab equipment and poster on the wall.

His presence was wholly unsettling and was genuinely pissing me off.

“You’ve told me so much about this place, Mandy. I never thought I’d get to see it in person.”

I swallowed, and Reed cut his attention to me, silently imploring me with widened eyes to either not respond or watch my words. Either way, I could only heed one of those warnings.

“Does it live up to your expectations?”

He chuckled without looking away from the poster of the human body he was inspecting on the opposite side of the room. “It does. It really showcases your personality—a little messy, yet very… enthusiastic. I like the colors.”

“Yes, well, if I’m anything, it’s messy and enthusiastic.”

He made a sound of approval in his throat and continued his exploration. Reed and I exchanged another look—one of confusion, frustration, and worry. Since I’d known CJ, I’d never felt uncomfortable in his presence until that moment.

Reed reached out his hand, offering to help me off the desk. I slid off and stood next to him. Having Reed steadfastly by my side did wonders for my nerves. I wanted him to wrap me in his arms and bathe me in the calm he created. My mind was racing for a reason why CJ would be there and how he’d gotten inside the school without someone giving him access.

“Did you think you’d come by to catch her alone and off guard?” Reed spit.

CJ scoffed, then calmly muttered. “I have access to her apartment. If I wanted her alone, that would’ve been easier there.”

I don’t know if that made me feel better or worse, but it absolutely made Reed even angrier.

“I—” Reed began, but I spoke up.

“Errands, huh?” My question cut off their argument.

For the first time since he walked in, CJ glanced over at us. He wore an impassive expression and only nodded.

That wasn’t good enough for me. “What kind of errands?”

He said nothing, and my frustration grew.

“Grocery store? Post office? Have to return a few things to the mall?”

More silence.

“That reminds me, I actually need to go run to the mall. Hazel’s mom sent me this beautiful sweater she knitted, and I was going to send her something in return. You know, as a thank-you. But I think shopping online would be the best option. Do you think I could fit an entire—”

CJ’s chuckle cut me off. He was almost to the front of my desk, and without realizing what I’d done, I stepped farther behind Reed, who once again angled his body in front of mine. I was trying to get CJ talking using any method possible, including humor and sarcasm, but there was still tension in the air that made it harder to breathe. Like we were all drowning in only an inch of water.

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