Page 11 of Heartbreak Kings
Why did he watch me so long before approaching?
Is he genuinely curious, or is he planning to mess with me?
I hated that I had to think like this about guys. But I wasn’t stupid, and I knew how to read a crowd. Aside from a handful, most of my fellow students tolerated me being there.
The stunningly successful, hot-as-hell Alpha of Alphas at Alpha Omega had not just taken an interest in me out of nowhere, even if there was a lack of women immediately around to compare me to. His Royal Hotness wanted something, probably bragging rights about bedding me.
I stared at his photo for a few seconds longer, then realized it was getting late. I had promised Mom to catch up with her before sundown tonight. She was getting less tolerant of nighttime calls now that she was alone, saying that it always made her feel lonely afterward.
So, I pushed Blake out of my head and called her.
Mom picked up after one ring. “Hello, dear! Are you eating?”
I had to think about it. She knew me too well.That’s what I forgot to do after class.When I was on a project, the first thing I started ignoring was sleep. The second was eating. “Uh, the dining hall’s still open. I’m going down after I talk to you.” I couldn’t keep the embarrassment out of my voice. “I just wanted to catch you before dark.”
“Good, this house gets too empty with you not here and your aunt out on her new job. And her new boyfriend. When it rains, it pours with that woman. I want her luck.” And off she went, straight into gossiping about the family. Alone in my dorm room with the window at my back, I cradled my phone against my ear and felt a sad longing for that chilly mountainside cottage. At least the people back home liked me.
I chuckled cheerfully. “Mama, she’s widowed twice over.”
“Good for her. They were both assholes. The new one’s a baker. He’s sweet like sugar himself, going to make her fat and happy. Like I said, I want her luck.” Her voice was too bright, I realized, like mine. She wasn’t taking my being away well, but there was more to it than that.
“You’ve been into Grandma’s brandy, Mama? Careful with that stuff.” I kept my voice teasing while I worried. Mom only drank when upset.
“Only a little,” she conceded. “This house is very empty.”
I swallowed hard. Sometimes, after wearing myself out dealing with my childish classmates all day, after forcing myself to attend class and study and do everything I needed to while fighting all day for my very right to be there, I thought hard about giving up and going home. But if I did that, I would blow my best chance of making it as a journalist and pulling my family and me out of poverty. “Mama, you want to come visit next weekend? There’s a nice place near campus where we can have sandwiches.”
“Will those boys ruin it?” she asked warily, and I laughed despite the sudden tightening in my gut.
“I won’t let them. Besides, I’ve made a few friends. One of them is helping me with keeping up my blog.” I didn’t bring up that Billy was, in part, doing that by helping me sneak a look at things like school files and criminal records. Apparently, the same guys were on his case for other reasons. They didn’t seem to need much excuse—being here on scholarship, being a woman, being a guy who was into guys. “You’ll like him. He’s sweet.”
“Dating-material sweet?” She immediately perked up.
I didn’t know why, but I immediately thought of Blake.
Blake, who had caught my attention even before he had slid up and turned on the charm.
Blake, who ran a good chance of being anything but nice.
“No, I’m definitely not his type. Besides, I’m trying to focus on my schooling, like you advised me to. Remember?” Mom had definitely had a bit too much of that brandy.
“Still. I wish so many of those boys weren’t showing their rotten side so often,” she sighed. “It’s not good to be alone too long. And I worry that they will make you hate men.”
I laughed genuinely then, though there was a nervous edge to it. “No, no, it doesn’t make me hate men. There’s a specific type around here that’s causing problems. The fewer prospects they have, the more they seem to hate me. It’s different with those who will work for their success, like Billy.”
“Oh well, some men have always been trash. I taught you that long ago.” She sighed. “But then there was your father. The only thing he ever did wrong was die young on us.”
I swallowed a sudden lump. “Come on, Mama, he wouldn’t want you moping like this. I’m doing okay. There are a lot more guys who treat me like just another student than there are acting like we’re all nine years old. I’m doing well in class, and I’m adjusting.”
“But you’re forgetting to eat. Which means you won’t be sleeping properly either.” She sounded arch again.
I rolled my eyes. “Mama.”
“Don’t deny it. You can’t push yourself so hard without looking after yourself. At least get a proper meal and some sleep. It’s Friday night. You can sleep in tomorrow morning.” Her tone told me she wasn’t listening to any kind of refusal.
I smiled. “I will, Mama. I promise. Just please don’t worry so much about me, okay? You didn’t raise me to back down from a fight.”
“No, I didn’t. But I still don’t want you getting hurt. And I don’t want you too lonely, and I need to know you’re taking care of yourself.” She was rambling, her voice shaky.
