Page 49 of Rear View
Hard no.He was already too inserted in my life. I wasn’t about to give him more. “I’m fine, but I appreciate the concern.” Pulling my laptop out, I aimed for the TA table and tried to ignore the pounding headache that moved in fast.
“Why are you so weird about her?” Chloe harsh-whispered. “Just let it go!”
“Enough, Chloe,” Christian said through his teeth.
Her gaze flicked my way, and she straightened her spine, her chin lifting as she sniffed and swiped at her tears. “Answer when I text you this time,” she told Christian, then turned, offered me a poisonous glare and left.
Lovely.
Christian’s expression was sullen.Exactlywhat I needed. Still, they’d never been so…open about theirfights before. And I was surprised, after pining over him for so long, how little it affected me.
I took my seat beside him, and he thumped the stack of exam papers down between us—235, to be exact. It was the first I’d seen him since my time with Xavier, and I hadn’t realized just how freeing it’d been.
“I got you a coffee.” He pushed it my way.
“Thanks,” I said.
“How was the rest of your weekend?” he said, his tone sharp.
“Great.” The days following, not so much, but he didn’t need that detail. His foulness oozed off him, so whatever it was he was looking for, I didn’t want a part of it. My week had sucked enough ass already.
“You actually end up meeting that driver?”
My brow furrowed deep.Stand tall, Ryah. Stand tall.“Yes, I did.”
He shook his head like he considered that decision a colossal mistake.
From across the room, Barlowe’s stare tracked between the two of us.
My jaw clenched, my teeth grinding so hard, they hurt. “What’s going on, Christian?”
He huffed and aggressively straightened his papers. “I’m worried, R.J. This guy just shows up at the magic moment you’re hit, and you what? Run off into the sunset with him?”
What the actual hell?“I think I know my own situation. I’m not stupid. We went snowmobiling as agroup. Miles was there, for God’s sake.” I didn’t know why I explained myself to him, but I couldn’t help it, because the comment rankled.
He exhaled heavily through his nose and set his handover mine. “Just don’t lead the guy on, okay? You’ve already got one stalking you. You don’t need another.”
A cacophony of emotions soured my stomach as students started piling in and I pulled my arm back. “That was cruel, Christian.”
The corners of his lips drew downward.
I opened my mouth to say more, but Barlowe cut in instead.
“Mr. Fellows,” he chided Christian, his stare landing on him before it darkened. “Leave Miss Nolan be so she can finish her work.”
Christian’s spine locked tight, face reddening.
I didn’t care if Barlowe had done it to help, or for a self-serving purpose, but either way, I was grateful.
Settling his hands over the lectern, Barlowe triggered his mic to start the class.
Twisting my wrist, I checked my watch. An hour. As long as class was finished on time, I’d be out in an hour. I just wanted to go home, be alone and hide. Hide from Christian. Hide fromhim. And hide from the crumbling hope Xavier had left in his wake.
* * *
The streetlight above the campus bus stop was out, making the shadows deeper. Darker. My gaze darted through the dim. No one waited with me—a blessing and a curse.
The winter wind was frigid as it cut through my layers, causing my teeth to chatter. Pulling out my phone, I dialed my parents. Talking would distract, make me feel less isolated. And if I screamed for help, at least someone would hear.
