Page 13 of Brazen Criminals

“What are all you guys majoring in?”

“I’m a philosophy major, and before you ask, I have no idea what I’m going to do with it. RJ is computer science, Walker is art, and Trips is a finance major.”

“Cool.”

We’re almost to my…Bryce’s apartment when Jansen glances at me. “What’s your biggest regret?”

“Whoa. We’re going for the big guns now?” I pause, not knowing what to say. I hate self-reflection—it always makes me feel like I’m failing at life. After a minute, I give what feels like an honest answer. “I think it would probably be making all my choices based on the safe thing to do, you know?”

I glance at Jansen, but he’s focusing on some pedestrians crossing ahead and doesn’t respond, so I keep going. “I didn’t apply to any super competitive schools because I was scared of rejection and loans. I picked my major partially because it was interesting, but also because it has a job at someplace like the FBI at the end of it. Security, you know?”

We sit quietly, the apartment complex one red light away. “You can park up there,” I say.

My heart is in my throat as I consider my regrets. I could have added that I picked Bryce for the same reasons. He’s safe. He’s a sure thing, cute, smart, a future doctor, a good smile, and best of all, he chose me. He can be a little stiff and sometimes he makes me feel small, but that’s probably just me thinking I’m not good enough.

But why did a question about regrets make me feel like I should add Bryce to the list? That’s too harsh. I’m just frustrated. I love Bryce. He’s not one of my biggest regrets. I tug the hem of my shirt straight as Jansen maneuvers into the spot.

“What about you?” I ask, not wanting to leave the car just yet, waiting for my heart to slump back down in my chest where it belongs.

Jansen pulls the keys from the ignition and looks over at me. “I think my biggest regrets are all the secrets I’ve kept from the people I love. I hate keeping things from my mom and my sister, but some things just shouldn’t be shared.” With half a smile, he nods toward my door. “Shall we?”

Chapter 7

Clara

Brycejumpsupfromthe couch when I walk in. “Clara, where’d you go? I thought you were moving your stuff to your new place?”

“I am, Bryce. You’re the one with the car. I can only carry so much on the bus.”

“Oh. That makes sense.”

Jansen follows me in. I motion to the pile I left between the door and the couch. “These are my things.”

“Got it. Anything particularly heavy?”

“Nope. Just clothes and stuff.”

Bryce looks between me and Jansen. “Clara, who is this?”

“Bryce, this is one of my new roommates, Jansen. Jansen, this is Bryce.”

Jansen tucks a box under his arm, then reaches out to shake Bryce’s hand. “Hey, nice to meet you,” Jansen says.

Bryce almost doesn’t take his hand. When he does, I see the line between his eyebrows crease, the only hint that he’s pissed.

Well, so am I.

They shake hands for a second too long, before Jansen fills his arms full of my stuff and walks back out. “I’ll bring these to the car,” he calls.

I move to pick up some bags too, but Bryce grabs my arm. “Who the hell is that, Clara?”

I try to shake him off, but he won’t let go. “I told you, he’s one of my new roommates.”

“Where the hell did you meet him?”

“At his house, with all his other roommates. Seriously, let go. I want to get this stuff to the car so I can go buy furniture.”

Bryce looks down, appearing surprised by his hand on my arm. He lets go. “Clara, what do you know about these people?”

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