Page 6 of Study Buddies

“No,” she said immediately. Maybe it was my imagination, but it seemed like she leaned closer against my side. “I don’t think he—I think I found it right away, but… I just want to get out of here.”

“Understood.”

But as we turned toward the door, Todd appeared. His eyes darkened when he saw my arm around his former roommate.

“Tori, can we talk for a minute? Alone,” he had the nerve to say.

“Not a chance,” I snapped.

“What? This doesn't concern you.”

“Get out of her way.”

I’d never been what you'd consider a tough guy. My high school years were spent as president of the debate club and the chess club, and I’d even taken Latin, for God's sake. But if Todd put a single finger on Tori, he would regret it.

“Get out of our way,” I repeated.

“Look, pal, I don't know who you are, but this is my house.”

Jayden stepped up behind him. “Get this asshole away from her,” I growled, and Jayden’s eyes narrowed. He grabbed Todd's arm and hauled him back into the hallway. Roger stepped up, and they both blocked Todd's path as I ushered Tori out of there.

“This is my home,” Todd sputtered again. But we didn't pause. Tori’s shoulders trembled as we stepped onto the porch, her breath coming in uneven bursts. Not until we were fully in the cool night air did she inhale deeply. Jayden and Roger caught up to us.

“What the hell was that?” Roger asked. But Jayden said nothing. He'd seen the look on Tori's face, and he trusted me not to pick a fight with some random guy without good reason.

“It's nothing,” Tori said, but we all knew it wasn't true. Still, this had happened to her, not us, and she was the one who got to decide how to deal with it. “Can we just go?” she asked.

“Sure.” I opened her door and waited until she climbed inside before handing her slippers. Then I walked around to the other side of the car, where Jayden was waiting by the driver's door.

“What happened?” he said in a low voice.

“I'll tell you later,” I said just as low.

We drove off, and Roger requested that we drop him off a couple streets ahead. When Jayden had pulled in front of his apartment building, Roger turned a little awkwardly in his seat.

“Hope you have a good night, Tori.” His tone was gentler than I’d ever heard it.

After he was gone, I offered Tori the front seat, but she said she was fine where she was.

“So where are we taking you?” Jayden asked.

“Where are you staying now?” I asked more softly when she didn't answer.

That seemed to snap her out of her trance. “With my friend Hailey.”

“Where does she live?” Jayden asked.

“Actually, I'm parked by the laundromat on Main Street. Would you mind dropping me off there?”

“The laundromat?” I repeated.

“Yeah, I had to do a load of clothes, and their dryer was broken.”

“They?”

“Yeah, she's got a couple of roommates, so I'm just staying there until I find another apartment.” Tori’s tone bothered me. It was like she was reading from a script.

“You must be a pro at moving by now,” Jayden said, but I could tell he was uncomfortable. So was I. The thought of someone planting a camera in Tori's room—it was almost more than I could wrap my head around. How the hell could you do that to someone who trusted you—someone who thought you were a friend? I wish I'd punched him in his nose.

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