Page 25 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

“You look like you just saw a ghost,” Ava remarks. “Your face suddenly changed.”

“I’m honestly fine, but I think I need the restroom.”

“Okay,” my roommate replies. “I’m going to find Luke somewhere in this sea of people. Somehow. Come find me when you’re ready, okay?”

“Sure.”

We part ways. I push my way through the crowd to make my way upstairs. I’m guessing that’s where the restroom is. Warm sweat – which isn’t mine – drips down my arm as I jam through people drinking and chatting and dancing.

This is not my scene at all.

I think I find the restroom in the hallway upstairs, but before I can reach it, some guy steps in front of me. He’s short, with frizzly brown hair and small eyes.

He looks at me like he’s found a jackpot of gold.

I don’t know who he is.

Maybe he’s in one of my classes...

“You’ve got to pay the toll to get past,” he tells me, crossing his arms theatrically. I look him up and down. He’s probably the same age as me. Probably another student at CRU like everyone else in this place.

And I havedefinitelynever seen him before in my life.

I sigh. “I’m just trying to get to the restroom, please.”

The guy refuses to budge.

“Has Luke mentioned me?” he asks. “I’m Michael. I have a feeling you’re Olivia.”

Oh.

The penny drops. This is the friend that Luke was propositioning to me about. The one that saw me on the campus and searched me up.

Oh no.

“I just want to get past,” I say.

“Ah, so youareOlivia,” he replies. “I’m good at this little guessing game. You want a drink? I can get you a drink.”

I really, really don’t want to do this.

“Sorry, can I use the restroom?” I ask, hoping he just leaves me alone.

Michael sneers at me. “You’re not going to even talk to me?” he asks. “Not going to give me a moment of your time?”

“Please move.”

I try to say it in the most pleasant way possible. I don’t want this little interaction to evolve into something worse. I just want him to let me through.

He shows his teeth. “You’re so stuck up, you know that?”

His words hit me, but he thankfully moves out of the way. I squeeze past him and shut the restroom door, making sure it’s definitely locked before I dare exhale in relief. I don’t want to deal with any of Luke’s creepy friends tonight. Not here. It makes me feel claustrophobic as hell.

I take in a deep breath and pee, praying to God that Michael isn’t still out in the hallway when I emerge from this tiny room.

He isn’t. Thank God.

What a party this is. First, I start to imagine my professor being here, and now I’m getting accosted by one of Luke’s hangers-on.

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