Page 147 of Zero Chance

“Can’t wait until Wednesday,” he murmured right before his lips covered mine.

I got lost in his kiss, grabbing a fistful of his shirt as I leaned in until catcalls had me tearing away in alarm and jerking backward with wide, glazed eyes.

“Get a room,” someone hollered, while one guy straight up asked Keene to share the love.

He flipped them off as he hopped down from the checkout station.“Not a chance, asshole.”Then he tapped the counter twice as he met my gaze and pointed at me.

“Later, Waves.I’ll dream of you.”

I watched him stroll out of the library, still in awe over the fact that this man was all mine, only to jerk in surprise when someone else approached the counter and leaned his forearms on it to get my attention.

I turned to the patron warily.He was part of the basketball team, but I had no idea what his name was.None of them ever checked anything out, and they didn’t come to ask questions, so I was immediately on guard.

“Hey, I need a little help with this printer over here.I think it needs paper or something.”

“Oh.”Okay, that sounded legitimate.“Sure.”Reaching under the counter, I grabbed a fresh ream and hurried out from behind the counter to follow him to the printer in question.

But when we arrived, I opened the door to refill it, only to find it sufficiently full.

“Hmm.”Wondering if it needed new toner, I set the paper aside.“It’s not the paper.”

The guy hovering behind me didn’t sound surprised to learn this at all.“Really?Huh.Well then, I guess I’ll take one of those kisses you gave that douchebag who just left.”

33

KEENE

About two hours after leaving Waverly at the library, I sat at my kitchen table and repeatedly tapped the end of my pen against my legal pad with an excess of unspent energy flooding my veins.

I was supposed to be taking notes for my daily reading assignment in Nursing Fundamentals, but… I kept glancing at the time, hoping maybe Waverly would surprise me—despite telling me she had homework tonight—and show up for some happy mattress time.But it was already half an hour past when she would’ve clocked out, and she wasn’t here.

My knee started to bounce in rhythm with my pen before I gave up all hope of concentrating on the last two slides, and I tossed the pen down to run my hands over my exhausted face.I should probably go to sleep, but I felt too fucking wired.Something was just…off.

When Xander entered the kitchen, paying no attention to me as she typed on her phone, she went directly to the fridge to get one of her gross health drinks.I was about to say hi, or just anything to get her attention because talking suddenly felt like a good idea, but I shut my mouth when she hissed, “Yes.She’s still awake.Thank God.”

And dialing a number, she pressed the phone to her ear.A second later, she closed the refrigerator door with her hip and started back out of the kitchen.“Frankie,” she ground out in disgust as she strolled through the exit.“This literature paper is kicking my ass.It’s due Wednesday, and I still haven’t gotten past the first paragraph.It’s?—”

“That’s Waverly?”I interrupted, diving off my chair and hurrying after her.“I want to talk to her.”

Xander flipped me off over her shoulder, telling me that wasn’t going to happen, and she didn’t even slow her pace as she continued on across the expanse between the kitchen entrance and stairs.

“I know!I’m an awful procrastinator but—hey.”She paused on the bottom step that went up.“Are you okay?You sound shaken.”

Shaken?

Alarmed by the concern in Xander’s voice, I shot forward.“What do you mean,shaken?What’s wrong with her?”

Xander held up a finger to pause me, even as she pulled her foot back off the step and half turned in my direction.

“Oh my God,” she exclaimed a moment later.“How—What—Are youokay?”

When her worried gaze rose to me, I lifted my hands and demanded, “What?”

Xander covered her phone briefly with her fingers.“She said there was some kind ofincidentat the library.”

When she shook her head to signify that’s all she knew, I furrowed my brow and echoed, “Incident?”

Xander removed her hand and spoke into the receiver.“Did you have to go to the hospital?”

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