Page 171 of Forbidden Lessons

I want to slap him.

I want to kiss him.

I want climb onto his lap and see that savage look in his eyes when I unzip him.

But the last time someone promised to do me a favor, all they did was hurt me.

Again, and again, and again.

I grab his wrist, yanking my fingers out of his firm grip. My hand shakes as I swipe at the tears that race down my cheeks.

“I don’t need your help,” I spit out, fingers fumbling as I try to release the safety belt.

He reaches over to help me, like I’m a fucking child, and I slap his hand away.

“I don’t need your help!”

Then I’m bolting out of his car, to the Land Rover. Pulling at the handle as I furiously swipe away at the incessant stream of tears. The wind throws my hair against my mouth. I spit it out, shrugging my face against my shoulder.

He comes up behind me. “Haven…”

I hear the keys jangle, and I turn just enough to see them dangling from his hand. I snatch them away, fumbling, dropping them.

“Please calm down.”

“Shut the fuck up.” I finally get the car unlocked, wrenching the door open so fast I almost hit myself in the face.

Wouldn’t that have been hilarious.

But I can’t close it, because Bastian’s holding the top, and he’s leaning in. “Can we please just talk this out like adults?—”

“No, because I’m a fucking child, remember?”

“I never said that.”

“You didn’t have to.” I tug at the door. “Leave it! I’m running late for my shift!”

He hangs his head and sighs like it’s so fucking hard being an adult with unlimited money and no problems. “You don’t have a shift.”

I bark out a laugh. “Yes, I fucking do. But not for much longer if you don’t. Let. Go!” I keep yanking at the door handle, but it’s like playing tug of war with a pit bull.

Bastian glances away, looking dead fucking serious when he turns back. “You don’t have a shift, because you don’t work at the diner anymore.”

I stop tugging. “What?”

He slowly licks his lips, like he’s stalling. Rolls his bottom one between his teeth. “You should be studying, not serving patty melts.”

“I should…” I shake my head as icy prickles shoot through my fingertips. “What did you do?”

“The sorority gives you full room and board. You don’t have to work anymore.” He delivers every word with this calm assurance that makes me want to scream.

“Bastian, what did you do?”

“I called them. Told them you were quitting. They’ll send your last check to the sorority, I gave them the?—“

I lunge out of the car and shove his chest with all my might. He steps back, holding up his hands, taking another breath like he’s trying to keep his cool.

“You’re a fucking lunatic!” I ward him off with a pointed finger. “You stay the fuck away from me. Stay the fuck out of my life. Just…fuck off!”

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