Page 24 of Tricky Girls

With a half smile, she raises her right hand and wiggles it. ‘Even wearing my ring again for the fucker.’

I lead her up the stairs to my flat. ‘Please don’t get me excluded.’

She places her hands on my hips and squeezes them. ‘I’ll pay our way back in, don’t worry.’

My hips are still tingling when I let us into my bedroom. I think that’s one of the things I’m missing the most.The closeness. The contact. I’m pretty reserved outside of relationships but once I’ve let someone in, I’m a veritable limpet.

I fall over my bed in a heap, not in the mood yet for another go around with Ryan.

With pursed lips, Haz makes a show of looking around. ‘Where is he then?’

‘Thought we could chill for a bit,’ I say weakly.

Shaking her head, she grabs my hand and hauls me to my feet. ‘Don’t be a pussy. Show me his room.’

In the corridor I gesture to it, standing back to let her go ahead. But she’s not having it, clamping her hands down on my shoulders and pushing me right in front of the door. Then she lounges against the wall behind me, arm muscles bulging where she folds them.

There’s a frown on Ryan’s face when he emerges, clearly expecting it to be me again. His gaze travels over my shoulder and his frown deepens further.

‘What, that your bodyguard?’

Haz flashes him her serpent ring. ‘Just a friendly reinforcer.’

‘I told student services about you hitting me.’

‘Ah, a snitch as well as a cheat. That tracks. Could’ve been anyone under those masks.’

‘I know it was you.’

‘Riiiight.And who do you reckon has more weight around here? One scholarship leech or a legacy?’

That shuts him up. I’m not sure whether to be pleased or offended.

I feel Haz’s body heat as she comes up behind me. ‘This girl wants her shit back.’

Ryan looks at me and scoffs. ‘Tough.’

‘I’ll show you tough, you little cunt.’ She pushes off the wall, dark intent written all over her face.

I put a palm on her chest to ward her off. At the touch, she looks down and winks.

I think she’s playing. God, I hope she’s just playing.

I release her slowly. She grins at Ryan before using her bulk to push him out the way and into the room.

‘What the fuck?! Get out!’

Haz only shrugs as she scans the space. ‘Should’ve done it her way then, shouldn’t you? Tilda, come grab your shit.’

I’m more hesitant to enter his room. It reeks of his body spray, the smell so familiar it makes me want to collapse on his bed and spend all night sniffing his pillow.

‘I’ll fucking get it,’ Ryan mutters, chucking me my hairdryer before rummaging in a drawer for the DVD drive.

Well shit, he folded fast. Why do I feel disappointed? He grabs an oversized black and white plaid shirt and tosses that at me too. It’s one of his, one I stole so often he basically let me have it. For a second, a flash of sadness comes into his eyes before it’s just as quickly banished.

‘That’s it. Now get the fuck out.’

‘Gladly.’ Haz wrinkles her nose. ‘Smells like a boys’ changing rooms in here.’

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