Co-Ed(12)

Wordlessly, he pulled her into the room and slammed the door in my face. I smiled the entire way back to my room and was stunned to find a shocked expression on both my friends’ faces.

“You broke a rule.” Leo tapped his finger against his chin. “Didn’t he, Finn?”

“Yup, sure did.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit,” Finn smirked. “You know you aren’t allowed to touch anyone who isn’t your client yet, and first-time clients don’t get touched after Reiki. They’re too vulnerable. So technically, you broke two rules.”

“I didn’t touch her,” I pointed out. “Well, I mean I did but—”

“Ah, and now he’s defensive.” Finn grinned wider. “Leo, I think I smell a bet coming on.”

“Are you twelve?” I spat.

“Fourteen.” Leo shrugged. “But he finally got his balls, so I think we should all celebrate the maturity level in this room.”

Finn gave him the finger. “A thousand dollars.”

“Make that two.” Leo grinned. “Two grand.”

“You’re both idiots.” I looked away. “Besides, I don’t need money.”

“Then do it because you’re bored as fuck and driving us crazy with your mood swings,” Finn grumbled.

“What am I even doing?”

“Oh, that’s easy. Get her to like you — actually like you — maybe kiss your ugly mug and sleep with you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Hell, I could do that half dead.”

“No tricks,” Leo added. “No Wingman tricks, no Reiki shit, no good touch, no manipulation.”

I stared them both down, opened my mouth then closed it again. Because it wasn’t something I knew I could actually do by being myself.

The last time I’d actually dated…

Fallen in love.

The last time I had actually been real with a woman…

She’d been taken from me.

They knew it, too.

“No!” I barked as pain filled my chest until it was hard to breathe.

Both of them were quiet as I backed out of the room and slammed the door behind me, feeling like shit and in dire need of a good workout to push the guilt away.





Chapter Seven


Shawn

“Hey there, Shower Girl.” Leo sat next to me in Human Anatomy like we were best friends then handed me a coffee. “I asked for Ristretto shots since Knox said you were stressed out. I find the acidic drinks from Starbucks make anxiety higher, thus the sweeter shot.”

I blinked. Then blinked harder. He was wearing a tight band shirt, skinny jeans, black and orange combat boots, and a smile that promised more than just moaning, if you get the picture. His golden locks were tucked behind his ears in a low bun, and he was wearing a red beanie that brought out his dark eyebrows and green eyes.

I was more surprised over the fact that women in our general area hadn’t suddenly started ripping their shirts off, since just looking at him seemed to send females in to heat.

“Thanks for the coffee.” I quickly took it from his hand and looked back at the professor whose name had completely escaped me because the minute Leo sat down, I’d been drenched in the sweetest, most intoxicating cologne I’d ever smelled.

Sweet Lord, what did he do? Sacrifice Channing Tatum on an altar and soak up all his man-juice in a bottle? I clenched my teeth and took a sip of coffee. It was surprisingly sweet with just a hint of sugar that made it easy to swallow.

“Huh?” I pulled it back and stared at Leo. “What was this again?”

“Shower Girl special,” he said with a wink. “I’ll be more than happy to bring you one every time we have class together.” I almost choked. Class together? For the rest of the semester? With him? “But I’m going to need a favor…”

“Is anything ever free?” I wondered out loud.

“You’re telling me.”

“You’re the one asking for a favor.”

“How’s that coffee? De…li…cious?” He drew out the word, good naturedly teasing me, then leaned in. “So, here’s the deal. I need you to seduce Knox.”

Had my mouth been full, I would have spit the contents onto the student in front of me and probably soaked my textbook.

“Tell me I heard you wrong,” I hissed as the professor started telling everyone what page to open our books to.

Leo shrugged, opened his book before opening mine and founding the correct page. He was… almost too much, but a part of me wondered if he did it out of habit. Was he so used to doing things for women that he just naturally defaulted to gentlemanly actions when his mouth had no choice but to be a jackass?

“Oh you heard me loud and clear, Shower Girl.” He gave me some major side-eye then leaned in again. “I’m not saying you have to see what’s under his bulging pants.”

I felt my face heat.

“Then again, with that reaction, be my fucking guest! Sla-a-ay, woman, slay—”

“Would you keep your voice down!” I pinched him in the side, reverting back to junior high in a seriously embarrassing way.

“I bet you would hold on to his ponytail,” he said, completely ignoring me, “like a pony. Hey I can put the song on. You guys can give us a little show—”