Page 32 of Allure

Needless to say, I’m sold on the place, and when I make my way back over to Dawn, it’s clear she’s made up her mind too. We both sign up for one year, and I hope we both stick with it because this could be good for us. We’ll get stronger and healthier, and it’s a great start to the year.

I know I need to do more than just squats and lunges, and I so am not going to try to grow my ass for Declan's sake. Hmm, maybe once I do find a guy I'm willing to grab me, I can make sure he grabs my ass in front of Declan…

Why the hell do I think Declan will care? Why do I want him to be jealous?

When we get back to the dorm, Dawn calls her mom, and I sit at my desk, doodling, something I haven’t done in ages. I’ve always hated to draw realistic pictures of faces because I can never nail the eyes. One is always bigger than the other. Always.

So I just draw eyes. One after another after another. It’s not until I wish that I had a light brown colored pencil that I realize whose eyes I accidentally drew over and over again.

So what? Doesn't mean anything. Declan just has alluring eyes, that's all.

Shit.

CHAPTER11

After I crumpled up and threw out the picture of Declan’s eyes that I never intended to draw in the first place, I do a bit of research on weightlifting for women. It should be different for women versus men, right? Our bodies are different. I mean, we don’t have testosterone, not to the extent guys do. Hmm. I need to eat more protein, which isn't a problem. I shouldn't avoid carbs. Fats should be the healthy kind.

Armed with this knowledge, I figure a trip to the grocery store is a good idea, but maybe I should get some of my mountainous amount of homework done first.

Time flies by as Dawn and I both work, talking occasionally. My mom calls at one point, but I don’t answer and shoot her back a text that I’m busy with homework so she won’t freak out. As much as I try to tell myself she’s not being overbearing, I can’t help feeling smothered. It probably doesn’t help that she breathed down my neck all throughout high school to the point that she volunteered to be a chaperone at my junior and senior proms. Like she had to worry. I went with friends. During my senior prom, I had my eye on a cute teacher assistant who definitely kissed me but refused to go any further, which was probably a good thing because he actually was a really good teacher, and I did learn a fair amount from him, including that I love Eternity for men cologne but also all about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. He had a way of making history seem like it matters, as if it was important to us here and now, and I’m sure it is. If you don’t learn from the mistakes of the past, you’re doomed to repeat them. Hell, how many kids repeat their parents’ mistakes even though they were warned?

But, yeah, Mr. Tomas Simenson was just another one in my long list of guys who I had no business fawning over in the first place.

Dawn, Kaylie, Eliza, and I all go to dinner together at the dining hall. Some guys who went to our suitemates’ high school join us. They’re pretty funny if a bit immature, but they’re nothing compared to Declan.

As if a part of me is hardwired toward the bully, I glance up, and our gazes meet. Declan smirks at me. I swear he doesn’t know how to smile, that he only knows how to look smug and pompous. He is not God’s gift to anything—not to karate, not to women, not to business. Nothing at all.

Dawn follows my gaze. “Wait, is that Declan?” she asks.

“Who’s Declan?” Kaylie asks.

“Who’s who?” Eliza asks.

“That guy? He’s a real nobody,” I inform them as I grab my tray. “I’m gonna get going. I have a quick errand to run.”

"Want me to come with you?" Dawn asks.

“Nah, you stay here and try to help Max and Cole here grow up some.”

“But what if I don’t want to grow up?” Max asks.

“I’m. Toys-R-Us kid!” Cole declares.

We all crack up at their antics, and I leave them behind, throwing away my trash and putting my tray on top of the receptacle. I head to my car and drive to the closest grocery store. We had a late dinner, so it’s dark outside by the time I’m finished. I probably bought more stuff than I needed, but I specifically bought this haul for Dawn and me both.

I whistle to myself as I put the bags into the backseat and then wheel the cart over to the corral. Maybe I’m just a kid at heart because I still will throw it forward into the space. What’s life worth if you can’t have a little bit of fun here and there?

Turning around, I almost plow into a guy. His face is covered in shadow from the baseball cap he’s wearing, but his green eyes peer at me.

“Excuse me,” I murmur, and I try to walk around him when I realize he doesn’t have a cart to return and that he isn’t moving.

In fact, his hand reaches out to snatch me.

I try to jerk my arm away from him, but his grip is too tight.

And then there’s the pressure of a barrel against my midsection.

“Give me ya purse,” he growls.

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