Page 83 of Ruthless Legacy

“Yeah, cagey as hell. More so than usual. If someone hurt you again, you can tell me.”

“LJ, there is nobody on this campus that I trust more than you. Over the next few weeks, there will be things I can’t tell you and places I’ll go without you. Nothing will change between us. We’re still friends, and if you see me hanging around certain people, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with this errand I have to run.”

“Why would I think our friendship-” She blinks at me. “No.”

I don’t answer, I just wait as she works it out.

“But you’re a woman.”

“Guess they decided it was time for a change.”

She drops her head, avoiding my gaze. “I know you think nothing will change, but it will.”

I grip her arms and give her a little shake. “Look at me.” Slowly, she raises her eyes to mine. “I promise you, this will not affect our friendship. In fact, I think you should join me at the lead table when I start sitting there again.”

“That’s against the rules.” She groans, “Thea, please don’t get into trouble because of me.”

“If they wanted a rule follower, they shouldn’t have gone through all this trouble to get my attention.”

* * *

I step into the hotel, waving to the girl behind the customer service desk. Van comes into the lobby, carrying a box.

“Need some help?”

“Yes, please. There’s one more in my office.”

I grab it and bring it out the side exit to her car.

“You leaving for the day?”

She smiles, nodding yes. “These are donations we collected. I’m dropping them off, then heading home. I’m on vacation for the next few days.”

“That sounds fun.”

“It’s not really as relaxing as it sounds. Sam’s out of town for a hospitality conference, and I’m in the middle of a reorganizing project, going through boxes I haven’t touched in years.”

I could use a distraction, so I offer to help.

“I’d like that. I’ll make us some lunch. Did you drive?”

“I caught the bus, like I usually do.”

“Hop in.”

“I had no idea you lived this close.” I say, noting we’re about ten minutes away from Moira and Scott’s place.

“I should have had you over before now.”

“It’s fine. I probably wouldn’t have come before now.” I look around the space. “So, what do you need help with?”

“I’m going through miscellaneous boxes, trying to get organized.”

“And you brought more boxes home?”

“These are the things I dumped into boxes at work that I need to go through, too.”

I look around the living room. It has boxes everywhere. “Okay, where do you want to start?”

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