Fighting Fate (Granton University #1)(15)

The truth was he was using them, using their personal accounts to heal himself while he gave nothing in return. And that made him feel vile. Just not vile enough to leave and never come back. Without them, he knew he’d be worse off than he was. So he kept returning each week, complete fake that he was.

“Anything good to eat tonight?” a voice asked beside him.

Logan glanced around to spot Kevin Lloyd, who’d lost his dad when he was eight.

“I’ve been eyeing those wrap things,” Logan answered. “Jamie just brought them.”

Kevin took two for himself. “Oh, God. These are amazing.” He moaned between bites. “Jamie sure can cook. But then, she’s a culinary major, isn’t she?”

Logan eyed the blonde they were discussing as she sat in the circle talking to another girl. “English,” he corrected.

Kevin frowned. “Really? Well, she should have a culinary degree.” He licked his fingers clean and reached for another wrap when something caught his eye on the other side of the room. “Whoa! Dude, check it out. New girl.” He hitched his chin toward one of the many doorways leading into the Crimson Room.

The back of Logan’s neck prickled. A strange warmth spread through his veins. Before he even turned, he knew. When he glanced around, he wasn’t at all surprised to see Paige hovering shyly in the entrance. A powerful jolt of shock passed over him. Or maybe it wasn’t shock.

Ducking his chin just enough so she wouldn’t immediately see his face from underneath his ball cap, he clenched his teeth and gave a silent curse. He should’ve known she would show up to one of these meetings sooner or later. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

God, she looked good. He loved her silky dark hair, her dark soulful eyes, the way her clothes accentuated her lithe frame.

Kevin nudged his arm. “Smoking hot, huh?”

Logan cleared his throat and jerked his attention away from Trace Zukowski’s little sister.

Her presence was a total disaster. Panic leaped into his veins. If she saw him, she could cut him off from his only line of emotional support with one sentence.

She might as well cut off his air supply.

“Uh…yeah,” he mumbled, scanning for the nearest escape route. “She’s…cute.” Cute for a girl about to destroy him.

“Cute?” Kevin’s jaw dropped. He stared at Logan as if he was insane. “Puppies are cute, man. That goddess is flat-out gorgeous.”

Logan silently agreed, his gaze locking on a doorway to his left. But gorgeous or not, she was going to flay him alive. He couldn’t make any sudden movements and outright dash for the exit; she’d see him. He’d have to be stealthy about his escape.

Keeping perfectly still, he held his breath and waited for an opening. His insides tightened as he prayed she wouldn’t spot him. She didn’t seem to be aware of his presence yet but she hadn’t moved from the doorway either.

“Looks like she needs a friendly welcome,” Kevin murmured.

Logan and Kevin both glanced at Samantha, the one who usually welcomed fresh recruits to the group. But buried in a one-on-one conversation with some guy, she hadn’t noticed Paige’s arrival.

“Well.” Kevin breathed into his palm to check his breath before he straightened his shirt and stepped away from Logan. “I guess that’s my cue.”

The urge to grab Kevin back and keep him away from her nearly overwhelmed Logan, but he fisted his hands down at his sides and managed to restrain himself. He crept backward, slowly and inconspicuously nearing the closest escape while Kevin called out to her, distracting her attention.

This was his chance to leave without her ever being the wiser. But for some reason, he couldn’t go quite yet. Watching her and Kevin together held him entranced.

She jumped and spun toward Kevin, eyeing him warily, even as she offered a tentative smile. “Hi. Um…is this the grief group?”

“Sure is.” Kevin held out a hand for her to shake. “I’m Kevin.”

“Oh!” A bright smile of recognition bloomed across her face. “How lucky is that? It’s so nice to meet you.”

Shifting into a shadow, Logan sucked in a breath as he watched her. An ache started in his breastbone as she smiled prettily at Kevin. He’d never seen her smile before. It was…devastating. He wanted her to aim that bright, beautiful, dazzling smile at him.

“I think my suitemate has a class with you,” she told Kevin. “Her name’s Tess. She said she met you in World History, and you told her about these meetings. That’s how I learned about them, incidentally.”

Kevin stared at her blankly, looking utterly awed, probably held under the spell of her smile as well. Then his face flushed, and he cleared his throat. “Tess?” he repeated only to nod. “Yeah. Yeah, sure. I know Tess.”

“I’m Paige.” She relaxed her stance, showing Logan how much she already trusted Kevin. “I’m glad I met you first thing.”

Logan’s throat burned. She knew next to nothing about Kevin, had no idea what horrible things he might have done in his life, and yet she automatically liked him more than she would ever like Logan, on principle alone.

“Help yourself to something to eat,” Kevin offered, leading her over to the refreshment table.

Again, Logan realized this was another timely moment to flee without getting noticed, but he wanted to watch her, just a little longer. She held so much power over him, could decide his fate with a few simple words. It made him strangely curious about her. Like an idiot captivated by the lethal beauty of a cobra that was poised and ready to strike.