Page 39 of Lodged

Gio: Just pack the warmest clothes you have, and if you don’t have any, we’ll buy some there.

Ruin: Ugh, I’m sure I’d do better in my last exam if I knew where I was being taken after it.

I laugh at her attempt to get me to spill my secret.

Gio: Nice try, Miss MacAllister. Too bad I know you’re beyond ready to ace that test. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.

Ruin: Fine. See you soon. *heart emoji*

This past week, she’s been studying nonstop, and I even quizzed her when she came over. She’s as smart as a whip. I know she’ll get straight A's this semester.

I park my car right outside the building where she’s taking her test, enjoying a cup of the magical Pumpkin Spice Cocoa Ruin made for me. She made a batch and left it in my fridge, and I love this thing. I see her as soon as she walks out the door—she’s wearing a cream wool coat, jeans, and black boots, and her red hair is braided. She looks so gorgeous. I smile at her as I get out of the car and walk around to open her door when someone gets between us.

Alyssa.

“I fucking knew it!” she shouts, and I see the horror transform Ruin’s beautiful face. I’m done being nice and polite.

“Alyssa, hi,” I say, stepping around her to take Ruin’s hand.

“So the transfer girlwasreally fucking the hot teacher,” she spits, anger and disgust dripping from her tone.

“I am not going to tolerate you or anyone else referring to Ruin in those terms. She’s not my student now, and it’s none of your business what we do any longer.”

“But—” Alyssa is quick to protest, but I’m faster.

“But nothing. There’s nothing to say or do against us. We are two people who met at school. Nothing more. If you want to make a big deal out of thin air, the joke’s on you because no one will pay attention to a girl who went to my office several times and explicitly told me to improve her grade in exchange for sexual favors.”

Alyssa’s face is pure shock.

“That’s right, and unlike you, I have proof of your harassment. Try to stir up something against us and see who ends up laughing in the end,” I tell her in a tone that doesn’t leave any room for quarreling. I move toward my car, guiding Ruin in front of me. There’s no way I’ll leave this snake to try and harm my girl. Once Ruin is in the car, I walk around to the driver’s side, but not before giving Alyssa one last warning glare. She just stands there, stunned into silence.

“Are you alright?” I ask Ruin as I start driving toward her apartment.

“Yeah, just in shock. Who would have thought she was still hung up on us?”

I release a deep breath as I nod. “There are crazy people everywhere. Part of me feels bad we lied, but at the same time, there’s no part of me that could regret being with you. No matter how things started,” I tell her as I place my hand on her thigh.

“True, I don’t regret anything that brought us together. Forbidden and all. I wouldn’t change a thing, either.” I glance at her quickly, and her eyes are shining.

“Same, beautiful.”

“So, are you going to tell me where we are going?”

I bark out a laugh. “Patience. You’ll know soon enough.”

I park the car and make my way around to open the door for her. We make it to her apartment in no time, and when I ask her about her suitemates, she tells me they’re all gone for winter break. The place is small but clean and neat.

When we get to Ruin’s room, I’m in awe—it looks like an autumn wonderland, with beautiful photos of mountains and forests, and her bed is covered with a handmade quilt. I can tell it’s handmade because no two squares look the same. It must have taken a long time to sew.

“You made this?” I ask as I touch the quilt.

“No, my Granny.” Ruin smiles, grabbing some toiletries and shoving them in her bag.

“I can’t wait to meet her.” “I know. I can’t wait to introduce you to the family,” she says excitedly.

“We’ll have one week before school starts in January, I figured I can go then.” Ruin nods and smiles as she closes the zipper of her bag.

“Ready?” She nods again, and I grab the bag to take it outside.

---