Co-Ed(17)

Instead, I sauntered over to her, leaned closer, and kissed the top of her head.

She went completely still as I whispered, “If the girl leans into you and doesn’t even realize she’s doing it…” Shawn was doing exactly that. “…feel free to slowly build your case with her. It means she’s into it. But if she jerks away, or if she seems confused why you’d hit on her, you need to go back into the safe zone and try again later. These women are ones we want to feel safe around you, so that when they break up with their boyfriends — and they will, especially freshmen — they come running to you for comfort of every variety except sexual then you help them decide which direction to take in their next relationship.”

“And that direction,” Finn said, “will always be Wingman, Inc., unless they aren’t interested in a relationship. Then your job is to be a support for them until they are.” He offered a matter-of-fact shrug. “Some may never get there. You may have clients who literally only rely on you to get by each week — but that’s the job.”

Finn coughed into his hand, and I became aware that I was running my hand along Shawn’s bare shoulder.

I jerked away then tugged her hair a bit.

Her breath hitched.

She liked it.

I loved it.

“So…” Leo rubbed his hands together. “…that’s enough tutoring for tonight. Keep us updated, all right?”

Chris and Jay both stood and walked out of the room.

Leaving the three of us alone with Shawn.

And her sitting there like a lamb at slaughter.





Chapter Ten


Shawn

I sat back down, dumbfounded.

So when guys came in? They just trained them on how to get women? Or how to send them to that crazy dating app? It seemed like a scam, but at the same time, they created this sense of trust and safety that had everyone eating out of their hands. People still left satisfied, and that was all that mattered? It made sense, I guessed, in a way, but I wasn’t sure how that built Knox’s case. I mean, he helped other guys get the girl, but it seemed dishonest. Didn’t it?

I frowned harder when another knock sounded at the door. No one bothered answering, and a gorgeous woman with slick, black hair and crystal blue eyes bounced in.

“My favorite girl!” Leo tugged her into his arms and kissed her on the mouth as if it was normal. Finn followed, twirling her into the air as Knox moved away from me in their direction.

My chest constricted as I waited for him to politely push her away. Instead, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his mouth, hot and eager, against hers.

And just like that…

I was done.

Game over.

The end.

Now I understood the warnings Slater had given me.

The reason he wanted me far, far, away.

Because this to them was normal, and I wasn’t into sharing, no matter how seductive it might look. They’d made me feel — special.

And it suddenly occurred to me. That was just what they did.

And they freaking got paid for it!

Disgusted, I stood and shoved past everyone, ready to slam the door behind me, when Knox suddenly grabbed my elbow and jerked me around. “What?” he sneered. “Can’t handle it?”

“Handle what?” I tried to sound unaffected. “I’m just not in to that scene. Good for you, though, working your way through college. I hope it all turns out for you.”

“So that’s it?” His grin looked more pissed than friendly. “You’re just… done? No tutoring? No friendship with Finn and Leo?”

“I think…” I looked behind him as both Leo and Finn stood on either side of the beautiful girl; one kissed her neck while the other grabbed her hands. “…that you guys have enough friends.”

I hated that my chest was tight.

Almost as much as I hated that I had tears in the backs of my eyes for no stupid reason. These guys weren’t mine.

But for two straight days, I’d fallen for it.

Fallen for the attention they gave everyone. The only difference? They’d given it to me for free.

“So. Stupid!” I roared the minute I got back to my room, seconds after slamming my door.

“Told you so,” Slater said from the bed, textbook open, beanie almost completely over his eyes, and coffee in his right hand. “They’re the devil, all of them.”

“How the hell can they get away with that?” I grabbed his unicorn and whacked it against the wall.

“Hey now, don’t take it out on Horny.”

I dropped the unicorn onto the floor. “You named your unicorn Horny?”

“It has a horn.” He shrugged. “Besides, aren’t all animals horny?”

“Are you asking?”

He yawned. “And to answer your question, they get away with this little business because Wingman, Inc. gives the school millions of dollars a year in order to have a presence on campus. Get this, in the last three years alone, they’ve tripled their enrollment for the dating app. Who cares if the success rate is high? They’re manipulating people into using it.”

“But the people who use it are happy?” I wondered aloud.

“Does it matter? Manipulation is manipulation.”

I suddenly felt sick to my stomach.