Page 10 of Lunar Crest University

“Maybe I should do us both a favor and switch classes,” she grumbles, but I hear the shake in her voice. “Since my presence is that awful.”

I can hear the rejection creeping into her voice and the way she shifts audibly on her feet behind me.

“Maybe,” I mutter.

She scrambles to leave the classroom as quickly as she can.

With a frustrated groan, I collapse into my chair, my face in my hands after yanking my glasses off and tossing them on the desk. As they slide to the edge of the wood, close to teetering intothe floor, I pinch the bridge of my nose. The slowly healing gash on my ribs aches as my chest heaves, making me wince.

I crossed a line, one that could easily cost me this job and everything I’ve been working so hard for.Fuck.

Estupido.

Chapter Three

FINLEY

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023

It’s my senior year at Lunar Crest University, and the only parties I’ve gone to are the ones Levi has practically dragged me to. If it wasn’t for his nagging and pouty lips, I wouldn’t bother showing my face at all. A bunch of drunken fraternities and loud music isn’t really my scene. Still, after my conversation with Professor Serrano yesterday, I could use a few drinks—preferably strong ones.

The past two weeks have been…exhausting.

I’m just as attracted to him as I am angry with him—and I’m not an angry person. My rage and magnetism with him are one and the same, creating a lethal concoction that makes my common sense fly out of the window whenever I’m in his presence. His grip on my chin should’ve scared me, and maybe it did, but it made my body react in ways I’d never felt, as if my stomach was turning inside out and butterflies were filling my chest, constricting my oxygen.

It’sinfuriating. As someone who needs to be in control at all times, losing every shred of dignity I have left is maddening. I feel powerless under his gaze, his hands.

So powerless that I succumbed to peer pressure and tagged along with Levi to this back-to-school party with stale beer and hormonal college kids making out on the staircase. My plan is simple: don’t talk to anyone, drink a few drinks, and get out. As much as I’d rather be drinking an entire bottle of wine while watching reruns ofGilmore Girlson my couch, at least the booze is free.

“Why are we here again?” I ask warily as I grimace at the couple shoving their tongues down each other’s throats against the marble island in the middle of the kitchen.

Levi slides a red solo cup of beer toward me. “To have fun. Like a normal college kid.”

“Right.”

“What?” he quips, touching his cup to mine in cheers before taking a sip. “Too good to hang out with me anymore?”

“We could’ve hung out at my house,” I offer. “You know? Wine and?—”

“Gilmore Girls.”

I shoot him a pointed look.

“Genevieve is supposed to make an appearance tonight.” He shrugs casually, avoiding my gaze. “But that’s beside the point.”

I partially wrap my arms around myself as I sip at my beer, rubbing the sleeves of my knit sweater tucked into my ripped jeans near my belt buckle. Tapping the tips of my black boots together, I sigh. Who Levi decides to have a giant crush on is entirely up to him, but I can’t stop feeling sorry for him every time he shrinks himself down to allow her to be the center of attention—the girl who never bothers to glance his way.

I can’t blame or criticize him, though, because I’m starting to do the same thing.

My nostrils flare at the thought of Professor Serranoagain, giving me the courage to down the rest of my cup in two seconds. I ignore the curious eyes of my friend as I refill my cup, drowning out more of my rage as I sip at the bread-smelling liquid. It’s foamy and gross, but it will do the job just fine.

“Do I worry?” Levi asks, glancing between me and my drink.

“Nope.”

He swings an arm over my shoulders. “You know you can talk to me, don’t you, Finn? About anything.”

“I know,” I reassure him, resting my head into the crook of his neck. “Just…not tonight.”

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