Page 9 of Unforgivable

I flipped back around in my seat so fast that my knee hit the wooden leg of the table and almost sent my Coke flying. If I concentrated enough, I could swear that I heard him laughing.

“Hey uh, I'm gonna head for the library and get a jump start on my studying,” I interjected into Micah and Fin's conversation.

“Oh..okay? Um, I guess I'll catch up with you back at the apartment,” Micah replied, confusion clouding his features. Fin just smiled up at me.

“It was so nice to meet you, Rhys! Oh hold on! Give me your phone!” Fin demanded, holding out his perfectly manicured hand for my cell. I didn't even object as I fumbled pulling it out of my bag and handed it over to him. He punched a few numbers in before giving it back to me.

“Voilá! Now you have my number and we can hang out! Text me sometime,” Fin grinned up at me. Not in a flirty way, but in a way that reminded me of meeting a friend on the playground as a kid. It was…really nice actually.

“Yeah, I'll do that,” I smiled back. “It was really great to meet you. See you at home, M.” I grabbed my bag and darted off quickly.

I hadn't even made it two minutes down the Speedway corridor that ran up the center of campus before I sensed someone coming up on my left. I don't even know why I looked. I knew who it was.

You even know who it was. If you don't, you haven't been paying attention. Gold star denied.

Hawk just continued to stare straight ahead, keeping in step with me as I gawked at him like a weirdo. My annoyance was climbing the longer he seemed to ignore me. It took him a painful handful of seconds before he acknowledged my presence.

“Hey,” he said.

“What, you get paid by the word or something?” I spit out, a little stunned at myself for snarking at him. Oh well. He was the worst.

“You know, we never properly introduced ourselves on Friday. I'mHawk. And you are?” He asked, completely ignoring my sass as if I hadn't even talked.

“I already know who you are,” I mumbled and sped up my steps the tiniest bit.

“Ah, but see, that puts me at a disadvantage because I don't know who you are. So I'm here to rectify that,” Hawk said smoothly. “If you don't tell me your name, I'm gonna be forced to make one up. Trust me, no one wants that. I suck at names. I had a goldfish named Goldie once. That was about the extent of my creativity, so you can see how badly this could go for you.”

My eyes rolled so hard I was almost concerned they'd dislodge completely, but I held my tongue. I wasn't going to entertain this…whatever it was. I didn't trust him.

“Come on…not even a hint? Just the first letter?” Hawk nudged my elbow and I instinctively flinched away. “Hmm, the strong, silent type. I can dig it. Alright, I'm gonna give you a name. How about…Herman? Abner? Cornelius? Ooo, what do you think of Eustace?” He waggled his eyebrows at me.

“Eustace? Seriously? Where did you pull that one out of because it can't be anyplace pleasant,” I snapped out.

2.5 seconds and he broke me. Good job, Rhys. Way to hold out.

“Aha! He speaks!” Hawk proclaimed victoriously. His face broke into a grin as dazzling as it was nauseating. “So, what's it going to be, Eustace? Is the name sticking?”

A deep sigh escaped me before I answered “Rhys. Rhys Evans.”

Hawk merely nodded like he was somehow impressed by it. “Rhys. Solid name, I like it. Much better than Eustace.”

“Right. Well, I've got somewhere I've gotta be, so…”

“The library, right?”

I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at him suspiciously. “How do you know where I'm going?”

“Because it's right in front of us,” Hawk said matter-of-factly, pointing up at the massive building we were steps away from without breaking eye contact with me.

“Oh. Yeah. Lucky guess,” I muttered, cheeks flushing in embarrassment. Hawk just continued to observe me with an eerily perceptive look. His head was cocked the slightest to the left. It was reminiscent of a predator taking in its prey, determining its weak pointsbefore it sunk its teeth in. It was a specific look I was all too familiar with, and I freaking hated it.

We stood in the most uncomfortable silence known to man, but you'd never know it by looking at Hawk. He radiated a palpable intensity, but his outer facade was cool and calm. I shifted on my feet a couple times, unable to comprehend why I wasn't walking away already.

“Okay, so…see ya,” I stuttered awkwardly. But when I moved to go around him, Hawk sidestepped in front of me, blocking my path. My gaze snapped up to meet his, and the charming glint from earlier was gone. In its place was nothing but ice. I froze.

“You know, I forgot to thank you for the good word you put in for me with Coach,” he said, low and menacing. My stomach dropped as a harsh realization washed over me. I had fallen for the act. I was the idiot prey that the lion had toyed with before the kill.

“No problem,” I bit out, summoning up the irritation and anger from the night of the party to give me courage.

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