Boyfriend Material (Hawthorne University, #2)(11)

The short guy has never stopped moving. He slowly circles me, never getting closer, but ready to jump in.

“First, what’s the deal with you and Julia?”

He smiles, his teeth damn near perfect. White. Shiny. He could be in a toothpaste commercial.

He looks me up and down, evaluating, then brushes gravel off his sleeve. “My business.”

I stiffen, my eyes narrowing. I have fifty pounds on the little guy, and I’ve already knocked around the other one. I’ve had my share of hockey scrapes on and off the ice. I even trained with some wrestlers at an MMA place. I’m not scared of throwing gloves, even if it is two on one.

The big guy cocks his head at me. “Do I know you?”

“Nope.”

He wags his finger. “Nah, you look familiar. I’ve seen you before.”

“Maybe around town,” I say. “What does she owe you?”

He rears back and laughs. “I get it. You’re that hockey player. Winger on the Hawthorne team. Everest.”

I think about denying it but . . . “Yeah.”

He holds his hand up at his friend, then points at me. “Bobby. He’s a celebrity.”

“I fucking hate hockey,” Bobby mutters, beady eyes on me.

“Fine by me,” I say.

“Yeah. She owes me money,” the big guy tells me with a smirk. “So, you gonna front her the cash?”

“How much?”

“It was five hundred she owed today. But now?” He wipes his nose with his hand and stares at the blood. “Consider it double. Pain and suffering for me.”

Jesus. “That’s a grand.”

He pulls out a pack of cigarettes and lights one up. “Yep.”

My teeth grit as I pull out my phone. “What’s your Venmo?”

He chuckles and looks over at Bobby. “This guy. Cash only.”

I let out a breath. “You think I carry that kind of money on me?”

He rakes his eyes over me, taking in my expensive sneakers, the designer clothes. He shrugs. “Do you?”

I reach for my wallet and pull out six hundred. I’d hit the bank earlier for cash for the first week of class. “This is all I’ve got. Take it and call it even. Plus, I know she gave you some already.”

He stares at me for a long time, then snatches the money. “Tell Julia that if she pulls this shit next month, she’s dead.”

My stomach pitches. She goes through this every month.

What the hell is going on?

He continues. “Keep out of it next time. Or you’ll regret it, feel me?”

I back away but can’t let it go. My hand rubs at my jaw. “How much to settle her debt for good?”

“She’s under your skin, huh? I can see that. That innocent look. Big tits and long legs. I’d like a taste of that.”

My back ripples with tension as I resist the urge to clock him. Julia’s more than just her body. She’s smart. Sweet. Funny when you get to know her.

Or she used to be those things.

I don’t know who she is anymore.

“How much?” I plant my feet in a defensive stance.

Surprise moves over his face as he raises his eyebrows. “Well, the exact math is a little complicated, but let’s call it six grand.”

My eyes thin as I stare at him. I bet it’s less than that.

Most of my money is in a trust fund, but I have a healthy bank account my mother drops a check in each month. Sometimes I barely use it, usually during hockey season, and the amount piles up.

“I never have that kind of cash, but I’ll give it to you through Venmo. I’ll add an extra thousand if you do something for me,” I say.

“What?”

“You have to leave her alone from now on. I want your word.” I’m sure his honor isn’t worth shit, but it’s the only thing I can think of.

He considers this as he dabs at his nose. “Why? Guy like you—you look like you’re going places. She’s a throwaway. Who is she to you? Girlfriend? She a good fuck?”

I dip my head, hiding the anger on my face.

Who is she to me?

Yeah, that’s a story.

She’s someone I used and never looked back.

I raise my eyes. “After I pay you, if she comes to you for drugs, for anything, you need to walk away. She’s off-limits. We have a deal?”

There’s confusion on his face—I don’t think anyone’s tried to make a deal like this with him. He nods. “Alright. Bobby has the Venmo. He’s into crypto and all that. Ain’t ya, Bobby?”

“Block chain . . . the future.” Bobby holds up his phone with a QR code.

I pull out mine and scan his. Venmo pops up and we both hear a whoosh sound.

Seven thousand out of my account and on its way to a lowlife scumbag.

Bobby glances down at his phone then holds it up to his boss and they both nod their heads.

I head home to what Reece and Boone, my roommates, call Hockey House.

My stomach growls as I go inside. In the kitchen, I open the cabinet and grab a box of cereal and reach in a hand. Empty. I grab another box. Same thing. The kitchen clears out of food within seconds after one of us makes a supermarket run. I curse, wishing once again that Z still lived here. He kept things organized—and clean. I glare at the overflowing trash can.