Page 39 of Confusing Hearts

I looked at him in shock, my cheeks warming, and he just smiled back and casually pointed to his ears. I burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” Anita asked.

“Um, uh, I finally understand what Chase was trying to say.” It wasn’t even a real lie. I may have been insinuating to her it was regarding our practice quiz question, but he got it.

He high fived me and said, “That’s my girl.”

I glared at him, warning he was taking it too far, but he turned to the white board behind him and scribbled down the last of the problems. To my surprise, I really did get it. The part I had been struggling with somehow clicked right at that moment.

When I was no longer flustered from Chase’s complete one-eighty on me, I tuned in to my friend. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was slightly askew. I suspected they’d been making out in the stacks. As if confirming my suspicions, they couldn’t stop making eyes at each other, and barely a half hour passed before they both made excuses to leave.

They left separately, but the moment the door closed behind Matt, Chase grabbed my hand and pulled me over to the window. We pressed our cheeks against the cool glass and watched. Sure enough, Anita was waiting for him at the first stack of books.

I laughed. “Do you think we suck that badly trying to sneak around? I mean, they were so obvious.”

He shrugged. “We haven’t put that much effort into hiding it yet.”

Horrified, I realized he was right. “That stupid challenge definitely had helped with that somewhat. Now that it’s over, we’re going to have to be extra careful. If any of my sisters found out, they’d tell Daddy, and then he’d have me on a plane out of here in thirty minutes flat.”

Sadly, I wasn’t exaggerating. I could feel waves of anger rolling off Chase. I knew if it came to that, he wouldn’t let me go without a fight. I had not yet allowed myself to consider that situation. When it came down to it, would I follow my family, or do anything it took to stay with my mate?

“What do you mean the challenge is over? Who? When? It sure as hell wasn’t me.”

I tried to hide back the smirk. “Matt and Anita, at your house Saturday night.”

“Seriously? I mean I knew they disappeared, but you said home plate and nothing less.”

“Yup, and she had to show proof too, or it didn’t count. I think the other girls are really disappointed, and considering letting it continue anyway. The ones who drew your name are all pissed at me for hogging you. I’m not sure they’re ready to give up,” I hissed angrily, turning away from him so he wouldn’t see how much it bothered me.

He wrapped his arms around me and pressed his lips to my neck, trailing light kisses down and across my shoulder.

“They can try. It won’t work. Wait, how exactly does one prove something like that anyway?” he asked curiously.

I scrunched up my nose. “She brought back the used condom.”

“Damn. You girls are ruthless. That’s disgusting.”

Chase

Chapter 13

Jenna and I fell into an easy routine, but it was never enough. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we had classes together, all morning, and then lunch together afterwards. Friends almost always joined us.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we met in the library for study time. The problem was, as others heard of our study groups, more and more people began joining us until we were actually studying. I felt terrible about it too. The initial guise was that Jenna was tutoring me in calculus: only Matt and Anita knew the truth about that, and as partners in two classes we tried to dissuade others from joining us, but someone always seemed to tag along.

Saturdays were hit or miss. Sometimes we’d see each other at a party. Sometimes we could carve out a few hours in the morning or around lunch to sneak away, just the two of us, but my brothers and her sisters often kept us busy with expectations on the weekends, so we didn’t always get that time in either. I would never dare go to her sorority house—that was opening a can of worms we weren’t ready to address. She was always welcome at my house, but my brothers treated her like one of the guys. They always fought over who would partner up with her for video games, and I felt like I was in constant competition with each of them.

Finally, Sunday would come around. We had our room on constant reserve at the library, but without a lock on the door, it was never the best place to be alone. We did somehow manage to keep that time somewhat sacred and free of intruders, but overall there didn’t feel like there was any place on campus we could just be alone.

Six weeks had passed since I’d met my beautiful mate. I couldn’t complain about how things were going, even if my wolf was unsettled and anxious for us to complete our bond. However, I selfishly just wanted some alone time with her. I wanted more than just a few stolen kisses, and I was a man used to getting my way. Maybe it was the spoiled brat syndrome of being the youngest, maybe I was just too stubborn to hear the word no, but as I began formulating a plan, I realized it was the best thing for the both of us.

It was early on a Saturday morning and I awoke to a ringing phone. I snatched it up without even looking at it. Only one person would call me at that hour.

“Good morning, beautiful,” I said in a deep, sleepy voice.

“Well, good morning to you as well,” a much too chipper voice returned. I pulled back the phone and saw my realtor’s face pop up on the screen. “Probably not who you expected, but two new properties just hit the market. We gotta move fast. They won’t last.”

I groaned. “Okay, give me twenty.”

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