Page 45 of Strings Attached
“I’m really happy you’re alive,” I whispered against his lips.
“So am I.” He gave my ass a playful slap. “Now, get ready for class, and I’ll be by tomorrow morning, alright?”
“Okay,” I said as he opened the door.
He glanced over his shoulder. “And if this is, in fact, the last question you ask me, I’ll make sure my final ask is memorable.” He gave me a wink before leaving.
I stood in my living area, staring at my door as the locks turned. Footsteps echoed from outside, and I blinked a few times. His final ask... What would happen after I finished interviewing him? I still had to integrate the information I’d gathered into my report. The threat of the PIN was over... There was nothing stopping him from killing me at this point. No more threats looming over his head.
He loves me.
And I loved him, but I knew love might not be enough to spare me. He’d never left witnesses before...except once about twelve years ago when he left me behind. He hadn’t known I’d been hiding in the washer-dryer closet, though. If he had, I’d probably be dead, along with my foster parents. Instead, he became my hero that night.
I finished drinking my coffee, nearly chugging it as I grabbed my messenger bag. My two classes were apart by around four hours, so I’d use that time to work on my report some more. I made sure my notebook was in my bag along with my laptop, and I dashed outside.
The weather was freezing in comparison to the inside of the building, the wind hitting me like shards of ice against my skin. Thankfully, it was only cold and hadn’t snowed yet since that would’ve slowed me down a lot. But walking against the wind wasn’t great.
By the time I got to my class, my face stung and throbbed, but at least I was inside again. Away from the windiest day I’d had the misfortune of traveling in. I promised myself I wouldn’t complain about the summer heat after this but snorted at my own thought; I swore the same thing every year. I hated both extremes and just wanted someplace to have a perpetual spring and autumn instead. Was that so difficult to ask for?
The day seemed to crawl at a snail’s pace. I couldn’t stop thinking about Jack and what his last ask would be. The thought of never hearing him ask for that again made my heart ache. I hated myself for having grown so dependent on him. On needing him.
As my final class came to an end, I stretched long and hard. I hated this stupid schedule; having a class finish at ten o’clock at night was torture. I was a night owl, but with a class earlier in the day, it just screwed my whole sleeping routine.
Elsie leaned against my side of the table with a grin. “Want to come have drinks with me and the girls? We’re heading out right after we stop at our dorms to get changed.”
“I don’t know...”
“Oh, come on. You never want to go out. All you do is work,” she said with a teasing smile. “Once. Just once. Please?”
I wanted to refuse, but then I imagined sitting at home, thinking of Jack. Wondering what he’d ask for. Wondering what came next in our strange relationship. “Sounds good...”
Elsie nearly screamed in glee as she bounced on her feet while clapping her hands. “Awesome. Okay, we’ll meet back at this building in around thirty minutes?”
“Sounds good,” I said, part of me regretting agreeing to this. I could’ve also gone home to work some more on my report, but Elsie was right—all I did was work. That or watch some television to pass the time. And occasionally do some scrapbooking.
This could be an opportunity to have fun.
29
Owed
Islipped on my knee-high boots before glancing at myself in the closet mirror. My tights were opaque and matched well with the black and red dress I’d picked out. It had slits on both sides going up to my thighs, while the front had a half-circle cut out, revealing my chest. Nothing too sexy, but I wanted to fit in at whatever club we were heading to.
The frigid air cut through my clothes, and I tightened my coat; the wind was messing up my hair, but worst of all, it was biting every part of me. God, I hated winter.
A group of women stood huddled together near the entrance to the building where my class had just taken place, and I recognized Elsie right away. She waved her hand, bouncing up and down. I guessed it was partially to stay warm.
“You made it,” she said with a huge smile. “Come on.”
We quickly rushed inside, and I rubbed my hands together, trying to get feeling back into them. “You had to pick the windiest day?” I asked with a grin as I did my best to flatten my hair. They frizzed like crazy from being outside for only ten minutes.
“Hey! I don’t control the weather,” she said with a pout. “Besides, cold or not, I’m having fun tonight! It’s almost the end of the semester, and I’m celebrating.”
I couldn’t believe how quickly December had arrived, but I wasn’t complaining either. Soon enough, we’d go on break for the holidays, and then my last semester would start.
We walked toward whichever nightclub they’d decided on, keeping to the inside as much as possible. It was so much nicer indoors with the heaters going. Soon enough, my skin grew sticky with sweat, and I regretted keeping my winter coat on.
“We’ll go out here,” one of the women said. I think her name was Sabrina.
