Page 25 of A Not So Prince Charming

“See you tomorrow,” I said, grabbing the rest of my stuff. “I gotta… I have to go.”

“Ella!” He called after me, but I didn’t turn around.

Apparently, the only thing I was good at anymore wasrunning.

“Audrey?” I peeked into our shared room, finding it dark. I’d been too exhausted after the events of the previous day to even think about moving my stuff to my new room.

My bed was calling my name, but I couldn’t afford to sleep. Not yet.

It had been a long day, starting with my meeting with Cameron. I still couldn’t believehewas Charming. The man who I’d spent the entire night talking to, sharing some of my deepest secrets.

And now, I would have to work with him for the rest of the semester?

I groaned. “What sort of a cruel twistof fate is this, anyway?”

Sure, hewascharming, and handsome, and the way he’d treated me—touched me—hadn’t seemed fake, but it wasn’t real, either.

“Thisis why I don’t do hookups,” I said to the silence, glad no one was around to listen to me mutter to myself. Either I got attached, or they did, and the one time I’d had theperfectnight… The universe put him back in my path.

My sewing machine beckoned me, the project for class that I hadn’t finished yet draped across my desk. My professor for my design class asked me this week if I could create some of the main costumes for the spring musical, and I’d been all too eager to agree. They were doing a play on fairytales, and I knew Audrey was already losing her shit over it.

But try as I might, I was staring at a blank page, my thoughts too occupied with Cameron Edwards to focus on anything else.

And how I was a coward who kept running away from him.

CHAPTER 10

Cam

Surveying the crowded quad, full of pumpkins and college students laughing wildly as they swing at the orange gourds, I couldn’t help but crack a smile. This event was absolutely ridiculous—in every way—but it was alsofun.

A crowd of girls came to stand at the edge of the field, wearing jeans and pinkPi Rho Sigmasweatshirts. I grinned as I caught sight of Ella, who was looking across the grass curiously. She’d pulled her hair into a bun, though it wasn't as fancy as the one from Halloween, but I recognized her instantly.

Handing my current job off to one of my guys, I made my way over to her.

“Hi.” All her girls were at the check-in table, paying for swings. “You made it.” I grinned. Seeing her here was more than I could have asked for.

“I said I’d be here.” Ella gave me a curt nod, though she avoided my gaze.

“Want me to show you how it’s done?” I asked, picking up a hammer. “First swing’s on me.” Hoisting it up so it rested on my shoulder, I gave her my best flirty smile.

She batted her eyelashes. “Oh yes,Prince Charming, because I couldn’t possibly figure out how to do it myself.”

“Exactly.” I smirked, enjoying her quip. The reminder of that night. “Took the words right out of my mouth.” I knew she was being sarcastic, but I couldn’t help but dish it back.

At least she was here, and talking to me. That was enough for now, wasn’t it? Even if I wanted more. Had craved more.

“Cameron.” She narrowed her eyes as I crowded closer to her, but I couldn’t stop.

“Ella.”

She gestured between us. “This isn’t happening.”

Why not?I wanted to ask. Wanted to know why she pulled back—ran away. But a part of me knew, too how close she was to shutting me out, pushing me away. And we had to work together. So as much as I wanted to know, I couldn’t ruin everything.

“But we’re just having fun, right?”

“Oh, isthatwhat we’re doing?” Ella scowled at me. “I bet you say that to all of your girls.”

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