Page 83 of Broken Princess

“Meaning it’s time to start fucking with me again?”

“Fucking you. That’s what you meant to say, and I’m already doing that. But you’re right. It’s time to stop hiding it from everyone, because until I let them know you’re still mine, guys will keep coming onto you.”

“No one’s doing that.”

“The hell they aren’t. You haven’t noticed because your head’s always buried in that book these days.”

“Do you have some pressing editorial information to relay to me right now, or can I go to lunch?”

I’m trying to stand my ground, but him in my space and the intensity of his gaze is unsettling.Use it and change it over. Embrace the discomfort.I say the words inside my head, and unclench my teeth and my fists. If I punch him in the nose, he’ll never believe I’m softening towards him. “Seriously Logan, I’m starving. Can whatever you need wait until later at the paper?”

“Why don’t I go with you and we can talk about it over a long meal. My treat.”

“I can pay for my own food.”

He’s staring at me, waiting for me to agree to his terms and I really do want to eat. Okay, we’ll play this his way. I pull on the sleeve of his jacket, turning him towards the exit. “Fine. If paying to watch me stuff my face makes you happy, let’s go.”

My eyes dart to the crotch of his pants when he says, “Stuffing your face always makes me happy.”

“How about I feed you an actual meal first?” He chuckles, slipping his arm over my shoulder and leading out the building and down the path to the dining hall.

When we reach the door, I step away, putting space between us. As soon as he steps through the door behind me, he hooks his hand around the strap of my backpack, slipping it from my shoulder. I grab right above his hand, tugging on it. There’s no way in hell I’m letting him walk off with my shit. Last semester when he did that, he dropped me right in the middle of his pack of hyenas.

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid to be seen with me.”

“I’m not the one who has to answer to his friends for fraternizing with the budget friendly.”

“Jordy, don’t start creating problems where there aren’t any. If we’re going to be together-”

“Together? Logan, we barely talk, and when we do, we’re arguing and fighting and then we wind up fucking.”

“I know we have a lot to work through, but I want us to get back to the point where you let your guard down around me. I swear, I’ll be worthy of your trust this time. And I’ll deal with my friends.”

He looks sincere. His eyes are clear and unguarded. There’s only one way to find out. Releasing my grip on my book bag, I say, “I wanna believe you, Logan, but the last time I let you handle your friends, all you did was double down on proving how much of an idiot I was for ever trusting you in the first place.”

“I know, baby.” He grazes a finger across my cheek. “You’ll never know just how much I regret that.” He steps back, showing off his dimple. “I want a fresh start, so can I please feed you?”

He wants to be seen with me. I take this as a win, but there’s no time to gloat. Instead I say, “Lead the way.”

“Damn girl. You going out like this?” Kassidy asks, pointing to my costume.

Non-Toga Party. That’s what the invitation called it, but we’re still supposed to dress up. This is the most daring thing I’ve ever worn, and I’m a ball of nerves. “Yup. You like?”

“Do I like your belly on display and your nips barely covered by this see thru drape?”

“Sexy devils and nurses are gonna be wearing less than this. Besides, don’t I live my life safe enough? Just one night, I want tonot carethat my reputation was destroyed last semester. I just wanna have fun tonight. Drink too much and scream I don’t give a fuck into the void.” Telling her that boosts my confidence. There’s a specific reason I pickedthisoutfit.

Doing a little dance, I hold my hands out to her. Reluctantly, she joins in, and we spin and turn around the room. “Okay, okay.” She laughs, finally relenting. “I guess it’ll be fun to pretend to be someone else for a while.”

“Good.” I say, swatting her ass. “Now go get your costume on.”

I know this getup is out of character for me, but it’s all a part of my plan to throw Logan off balance.

“Jordanna. I didn’t think you’d come.” Noel says, pulling me into a hug.

That makes one of us, because from the moment I got the invite, I knew I’d show up. Maybe not wearing this, but there was no way I’d miss a chance to make things difficult for Logan tonight.

Shrugging out of my coat, I say, “You know the undergrad crowd and I have a hate-hate relationship, but then I figured what the hell.”

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