Page 23 of Forging Chaos

Resigned to cut him off cold after class, I take a deep breath as he cues me up for my portion of the presentation. Iadjust my posture, turn my glance toward the class, and perform the hell out of my piece of the argument.

CHAPTER 18

ODIN

“That was awesome.”My mouth brushes against Thora’s hair as I lean in to whisper in her ear. She flushes, my favorite shade of pink splashing across her cheeks in contrast to her dark hair. Why does she do that? I fucking love it, even if I don’t understand that response from someone so obviously capable and kick-ass.

Professor Ferda smiles and gives us a thumbs up as the class titters in applause. I realize everyone is probably waiting for my hobbled ass to get back to my seat so the next group can go. I navigate the narrow space between chairs, bumping into shit with my knee roller.

Then I watch as Thora leans forward in her desk, totally paying attention to the next student presentation. I never, ever pay attention to those. I’m not going to start now, but I do watch as my research partner takes notes and focuses. She’s probably deconstructing their arguments already and finding weaknesses.

I could walk out of here right now. I’m supposed to go immediately withdraw from school so I can get my medical delay or whatever it’s called. I’ve stopped even bothering to check my email, so I have no idea how many of my otherprofessors are still reaching out. Right on cue, my phone vibrates in my pocket with a message from Meech, demanding that I roll right up to his office as soon as my presentation ends.

I purse my lips and glance at Thora again. I want to do something with her after class rather than fade into her memory as some guy she knew once. She’s about to go be a wizard or whatever at her fancy British school. And what will I be? A college drop-out with no career prospects and nothing to do but rehab an injury. It occurs to me that I’ll lose my apartment, too, if I leave school. The Stag pad is in a building for student-athletes. Shit. I was going to stay one more semester until my eligibility ran out, and I left for the pros.

So, really, I’m an injured college drop-out who has to move back in with his parents. Yeah, I’m in no rush to deal with this paperwork.

A flutter of applause alerts me to the fact that the group has finished presenting. I watch Thora raise her hand and ask them if they could elaborate on the bias of one of the sources they used, and I laugh on the inside as she arches a brow in response to their inability to answer. She’s not flushing now.

Class ends soon after, and I tug on the sleeve of Thora’s sexy dress. “Hey.” She turns. She’s wearing makeup today, just a little. It makes her eyes look huge and her lips really, really good.

I drag a hand down my cheek. “You want to grab lunch? Celebrate being done?” I hope my voice doesn’t give away how desperate I am for her to say yes. Because once she says no, that’s it. We’re not going to the author event together. We’re just two people who did a research project for a class she needed to graduate.

Her face falls. “Oh, I can’t today. I work.”

I will my expression into a grin even though my insides are crumbling. “Well, then, I guess I’m following you for a drink.” She smiles at that, and I’m surprised by the amount ofrelief I feel. “You going to wear that to tend bar?” I gesture at the dress I know she cherishes. I’m so glad she decided to wear it so I can memorize how it looks on her, highlighting every tiny dip in her figure.

Thora shakes her head. “Nah. I was going to change in the bathroom, and Fern was going to come grab the dress and take it to her place. Nobody smokes there…” Thora drops off like she’s revealed too much about herself.

“I can take it to my place for you if that’s easier. I know Fern takes the bus…”

Thora laughs, a delightful puff of sound. “Yeah, and you take forever on your scooter thing.”

I waggle my brows. “Yes, but I have a basket.”

I roll back to my place after Thora changes in the bathroom, where I tried desperately not to imagine her naked as she peeled off the dress and slipped into her jeans and tank. I ignore a bunch of texts from Meech and my coach. Instead calling one of my brothers to come run the dress up to my room. While I wait, I tear off my shirt, jacket, and tie, glad I wore a T-shirt underneath all that. I stuff everything in the bag Thora gave me, liking that our nice clothes are hanging out together.

Eventually, Gunny stumbles outside like he just woke up, which might be true since the hockey team is finished for the semester.

“Anything else, your majesty?” He eyes the plastic bag suspiciously and starts to open the snap to look inside.

“Mind your business. But can you run me to the Fuel Up? I’m meeting someone.”

Gunnar squints and gives the bag a squeeze. “Someone, eh?”

“Can you take me or not?”

He scratches his nuts and yawns but eventually shrugs. “Yeah, let me go get my keys.”

My brother drops me off without too much hassle, only cursing twice as he watches me struggle to get my knee scooter out of the back seat. “How much longer will you need that thing?”

I look upward, trying to do some quick math. “Two more weeks, I think. Then I get crutches. Or maybe I can walk in the cast? I have to ask.”

He grunts. “That fucking sucks, bro.”

“Yeah.”

He looks at his phone. “I have class for a few hours. Want me to grab you after?”

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