Co-Ed(46)

I sighed.

I wasn’t exactly shopping for shoes yet.

And I wasn’t sure if Alexa and I were close enough to even talk about that sort of thing. If I was being really honest? My insecurity was rearing its ugly head in a choking way.



“My parents just… they don’t understand.” Jack ran his hands over his face and groaned in irritation. “But they’re paying for school, you know?”

My blood ran cold. “No, maybe you should just spell it out for me, since last night you were telling me you loved me, and right now it sounds like you’re dumping me!” I started to shake uncontrollably. No. It couldn’t be happening. Not again. I had promised myself this time I’d be careful.

Keep my heart close.

Especially when dating a white guy who drove a shiny brand new BMW and had a daddy who was from the South.

The warning signs were there with his background. But who was I to judge? And he’d promised.

He’d promised!

Jack bit down on his bottom lip and reached out for me. It was exactly what I needed.

I walked into his arms and laid my head on his shoulder.

“I hate this.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Me too.”

“But…”

There it was.

I tensed.

He pulled back. “Shawn, I love you. I do. You’re gorgeous, talented. Hell, any guy on campus would do anything to be with you.”

He was right about one thing. They wanted to be with me.

Keeping me was something else altogether.

Being seen with me?

My parents warned me that not every place was as progressive as New York. I hadn’t listened.

Not until going to LSU.

“Look.” Jack’s smile was forced; he was all white teeth and old money, with a housekeeper who had the same color skin as I, and a gardener who had such a thick Southern accent I couldn’t understand a word he said. “It will blow over. Just give it time.” He squeezed my hand. “I mean, I’ll talk to Dad, but he sort of holds all the cards in his hands right now.”

“So, that’s it.” Anger surged through me. “You’re dumping me because your dad’s a racist pig!”

Tears streamed down my face.

Jack released me as anger flashed so quickly I almost missed it. “What the hell do you know?” he sneered. “He’s my father. I know you’re not used to this sort of lifestyle, but that’s just how things are done! If I’m supposed to take over the firm, I need to follow the rules. Then once I prove myself, I’ll choose whoever I want by my side, and I want you.”

“Romantic,” I said through clenched teeth as I crossed my arms.

He didn’t say anything.

I mean, what was there left to say?

“Goodbye, Jack,” I whispered, wiping away the tears of betrayal and hurt. Wiping away the dreams of a big, fancy wedding and the pretty engagement ring I had seen on my finger the minute he’d said, “I love you.”



What if history repeated itself?

If Knox hadn’t wanted me to keep him forever, he shouldn’t have given me a taste of what a few minutes in his arms would feel like. A girl could get used to those minutes and wonder what would happen if there were more minutes on top of the other minutes.

I tensed.

Maybe it was just a one-time thing.

I could do that.

I could be okay with that.

I just needed to not get any more attached to his perfect smile or the way that, whenever I looked into his eyes, I didn’t see judgement, just a bit of obsession, which made me want him even more.

“Gummy worm?” Finn shoved one in my mouth.

I sucked it between my lips and chewed.

“Where did that even come from?”

“His sweaty pocket,” Knox growled behind me.

Finn ignored him while Leo held the straw to my mouth and winked. “Sip?”

“I’m not a child. I can hold my own can of soda.”

“Ri-i-ght,” Leo said slowly like he was trying to figure me out. “But you’re relaxing. I have two hands, so why would you when I can do it for you?”

I opened my mouth to argue when Slater grunted out, “Wingman Fantasy Frat Rule Number Two.”

“Huh?” I repeated while Knox went, “Shhhh.”

“Wingman Fantasy Frat? That’s what you are?”

“Technically.” Slater put up air quotes. “At least, that’s how they get paid, right?”

“Are you billing me right now?” I was ready to shoot up from my chair and rage around the living room.

Leo sighed. “Mood wrecker.”

Finn threw popcorn at Slater’s head while Knox put his hands on my shoulders.

I instantly relaxed.

“We don’t bill our friends, asshole,” was Knox’s terse response to Slater. “Let them do something nice for her because they’re genuinely nice guys, not that you would know, since you cut us out three years ago, but—”

The room fell silent.

The buzz of the TV was the only sound I could hear above my own heavy breathing as tension wrapped around us all like a knife.

“Yeah? Well, when you’re questioned by the police and someone dies, things tend to get a bit depressing. Right, Knox? Or is that not the word you would use?”