Fighting Fate (Granton University #1)(50)

Kayla dropped Paige’s hair as if giving up on it. As the dark strands fluttered down over her shoulders, she met her best friend’s gaze in the mirror.

“Then why do you look so sad, sweetie? At Thanksgiving, I swear you seemed like the old you, the Pay Day you were before—” She shook her head, refusing to mention the before. “Is Granton not treating you right after all?”

“No.” Paige shook her head. “No, it’s nothing like that.” Feeling naked without Trace’s necklace against her skin, she slid off the one Kayla had tried on her and returned the cross where it belonged. “I still love it there. I’m making friends and fitting in, and—” she blushed “—flirting with guys.”

“Ooh, now you have my attention.” Kayla wiggled her eyebrows and nudged Paige to scoot over and give her room on the small stool so they could sit beside each other. “Tell me more about these guys.”

Paige groaned, wishing she’d kept quiet about that part. “There’s nothing to tell really. I already told you about Reggie. But…a couple others have shown their interest.”

“And?”

Paige shrugged. “And nothing. I haven’t felt a spark back toward any of them. Well, except for—” When she realized whose name had almost spilled from her mouth, her lips slapped together tight and her eyes flew open wide with horror as mortified heat covered her from head to toe.

Kayla pounced. “Except for who?”

Wagging her head back and forth savagely, Paige squeaked, “No one.”

“Oh, no you don’t, girlfriend. Spill it. Every detail.”

“I can’t…there’s nothing to spill. Honest. He’s no one.” Except the person she had once upon a time blamed for taking Trace away from them and destroying both their lives.

Kayla bumped Paige’s shoulder insistently. “So what’s no one’s name?” she sang out the question.

All feeling and warmth leached from Paige. No way could she tell Kayla his name.

“Okay, fine,” Kayla gave in, leaving that question alone. “Just tell me he’s super-hot and likes you as much as you like him.”

“I can’t…it doesn’t matter. Nothing can ever happen between us. It’s impossible.”

“Why? Is he married? A professor?” Kayla gasped. “Oh my God, he’s a married professor.”

Paige snorted, then laughed. “No. Neither. But he is forbidden. Really forbidden.”

Chewing on her bottom lip, Kayla looked momentarily stumped. “Yeah, those forbidden boys do tend to look more appealing, don’t they? There’s just something about being told to stay away that makes you want to climb all over ’em.”

Mouth dropping open, Paige turned to gawk at her best friend. “You sound a little too much like the voice of experience there.”

Kayla blushed and picked up a tube of lip-gloss. Averting her attention to the mirror as she screwed off the cap and applied it, she said, “What do you think Trace was? My dad had heard of his wild reputation and told me to stay away.”

Paige gasped. “Oh my God.”

How could Mr. Hashman think of Trace as wild? He’d only been outgoing with a mischievous side, and okay, sometimes he said the most outrageous, controversial things just to stir up a commotion. And maybe he’d driven too fast and had spent his fair share of time in school detention. But he’d been harmless.

“Why have I never heard this before?” Paige demanded.

“Probably because I totally ignored my dad’s warning and started dating him anyway.” Kayla shrugged. “Dad didn’t really object that loudly, and he ended up adoring Trace once they finally met.” She laughed and rolled her eyes. “I swear, Trace could charm anyone.”

“Wow.” Dazed, Paige glanced at her own reflection in the mirror. “My annoying brother was actually your forbidden taste of bad boy. Weird.”

Kayla giggled. “And he did taste mighty fine, thank you very much.”

Pretending to gag, Paige gasped, “TMI! TMI!”

Both girls shoved at each other, laughing uncontrollably, and ended up booting one another off the stool. After landing on the floor, they curled into balls and gripped their stomachs, giggling.

But after the moment passed, Paige grew serious and closed her eyes. “So how do I know if it’s this guy’s forbidden status that has me fascinated or if it’s just plain him I like?”

“Well…” Sprawled on the floor, Kayla kicked out her legs and found a relaxed incline as she tucked a hand against her cheek and studied Paige. “How well do you know him?”

Paige blinked, not quite sure how to answer. She knew more about him than anyone else at Granton knew about him. She also knew how he volunteered his time for good, honorable acts. He worked hard. He faced his biggest fears on a daily basis. He put others before himself. He’d been willing to sacrifice things he loved so Paige could get whatever she wanted without having to deal with his presence. He cleaned and wrapped bloody fingers. She felt connected to him as she did no one else since they shared some of the same aches and loneliness in life. She could tell him things she couldn’t tell anyone else. He took life too seriously and hardly ever smiled. He had the saddest yet most beautiful blue eyes she’d ever seen, and a crooked half grin that made her tummy clench with the urge to touch him. And he handled her corny teasing with a dry wit she loved. And he was too freaking gorgeous for his own good.