Page 37 of Corrupt Me

“Anywhere you’re not,” I snapped, closing my laptop, seeing as I wouldn’t get any work done with Tristan bothering me.

He picked up my drink and gave it a sniff, wrinkling his nose at the earthy notes. “Ouch. Cruel, Ever.”

A lock of hair escaped from under his hood, falling over his forehead. My fingers itched to brush it off his face. Instead, I frowned at him and folded my fingers in my lap to keep them from doing something dumb. “I have a skilled teacher.”

He set my drink back on the table untouched. “You have so much more to learn from me.”

A snort breezed through my nose. This banter we fell into was comfortable. Perhaps too comfortable. It made me drop my guard and forget I hated him. With Tristan, it took effort to remember he was the enemy. “I’ll pass. Have you just come to annoy me? Or is there something you want because, obviously, I’m busy.”

“Am I distracting you?”

“Yes,” I replied shortly, hoping he would get my drift.

He didn’t. He took it to another level, one I was trying to avoid. “In the best possible way.”

Tristan is not charming or cute,I reminded myself as I rolled my eyes. “You wish. I’m still mad at you.”

He leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the table, meeting my gaze. “Good. But I came to tell you that youdon’t have to worry about those guys. They won’t be bothering you again.”

Why was it so hard to focus on his words when he was this close to me? It would help if I stopped looking at his lips. I forced my attention to stay on his eyes. “After they ignored your first warning, I’m not sure how confident I feel I won’t become a victim.”

The blue hue in his eyes darkened. “I meant what I said. They won’t hurt you.”

I picked up my cool matcha and took a drink, needing to wet my throat. It had been two weeks since the attack, but in my mind, it was yesterday, “Why? Because you told them too?” I shot back.

He tugged on a piece of my hair, an old habit I wished would die. I needed a hands-off policy. “I paid them their money if you must know,” he said.

“And what about the next time you gamble your inheritance?”

A vein in his neck ticked. “What I do with my money isn’t your problem.”

My hands shook under the table. “Until I have a knife at my throat.” I did my best to disguise the quiver in my voice, but it wasn’t enough to fool Tristan.

His eyes narrowed, studying me with a fraction of concern. “Ever.”

I didn’t want his sympathy or worry. “Can we agree to stay away from each other? I gave you what you wanted. Now I’m asking you to leave me alone. I don’t need any more nightmares. I have my own demons to fight, Tristan. I can’t take on yours too.”

He didn’t answer immediately but stared at me from across the table. “I can do that,” he finally said, leaning back in his chair.

“Can you?” I countered, lifting a brow. Or maybe the better question was could I? Why didn’t I feel better at the idea of not seeing him? Why did I suddenly feel more anxious than ever?

Something like regret or perhaps it was disappointment flickered through his expression. “It will be like we don’t even live in the same house.”

Yet we did.

fourteen

The days flew by. My rigorous schedule kept me busy. Between classes and studying, I rarely had time for anything else, and yet, despite living with Triston, it was Preston who wouldn’t leave me alone. By the end of the following week, it became clear I couldn’t blow him off forever.

Preston’s messages got more persistent, so I decided to call him on Sunday once I worked up the mental energy to deal with him. Knowing Preston, he probably believed he’d given me enough space or time to figure things out. He’d want to get back together, and for the first time, I was on my own, enjoying my freedom.

I should have enlisted Tristan to help deal with his brother since he created this problem, but truthfully, Preston and I had been broken before Tristan interfered. I hadn’t been happy being Preston’s girlfriend.

Not really.

I’d fooled myself into thinking because Preston was such a good guy and desired by other girls I was lucky he chose me as his girlfriend. But truthfully, my self-worth suffered, more soafter losing my mother, and I had to find a way to restore my confidence. I’d lived in Preston’s shadow for too long.

I did a quick tidying of my room before changing for a run.

---