A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime (Lancaster Prep )(108)

My skin goes hot at the possibility.

I slip on my boots and am about to put on my jewelry when I realize something.

Where is my ring?

I unpacked at one point last night and don’t remember pulling it out of my bag. I go to the bathroom and dig in my toiletries bag, but it’s not in there. I check my purse to see if I dropped it in a small pocket inside, but no.

It’s not there either.

I remember taking it off. Leaving it on the nightstand at the hotel.

I don’t remember picking it up before we left.

Panic fills me, making it hard to breathe. My father is going to kill me. That ring is a family heirloom. It was his mother’s original engagement ring, and it has so much sentimental value attached to it. If I lost it…

I throw on my uniform jacket and my thick winter coat. Wind the scarf around my neck and don a hat before I’m leaving my dorm room and eventually exiting the building, a little earlier than usual.

I need to talk to Crew. Ask him if he remembers grabbing the ring for me. Anything is possible, right?

If he didn’t, I can call the hotel and ask if someone turned in a ring. There are still good people in this world who would turn in a lost item. I’m sure of it.

My steps are hurried as I run across the slick sidewalk. It rained for the better part of the weekend and some of the snow still remains, though now it’s slushy and dark with debris and dirt. Not fluffy and white like it is when it first falls. When it feels magical and wondrous.

No, now it’s just ugly. The air is cold and damp, the sky a dark, steely gray. There aren’t many people out this early, so it’s easy for me to make my way to the main building. When I see the entrance, no one is lingering in front of it, not even Crew’s friends. I trudge my way up the steps, going just inside and waiting by the door, so I can see his approach.

We texted briefly last night, but I could tell he was tired. I was too. Plus, I don’t want to come across as too clingy.

Oh my God, I sound like every other girl I know who’s had sex and then wants to play it cool. Like it’s no big deal. And the sex thing isn’t what’s bothering me today. No, it’s the fact that I lost my ring and I’m scared of my father’s reaction.

He’s going to be mad. I just know it.

Five minutes pass and there’s still no sign of Crew. I send him a text, asking where he’s at, but he doesn’t respond.

He’s driving me out of my mind with worry.

Finally, I spot him, walking with his friends toward the building, Crew standing in the middle. I walk outside, barely able to repress the smile that wants to appear when I note the way his gaze lights up when he first sees me.

How he tamps it down so his friends won’t notice.

Well. That’s disappointing. Though it’s originally what I wanted, so I can’t complain.

Chewing on my lower lip, I wait until he’s closer to say something.

“Hi, Crew.” I glance over at his friends. “Ezra. Malcolm.”

They both nod and murmur their greetings, Crew watching me with the slightest frown.

“Can I talk to you?” I ask him.

“Sure.”

“Privately?” I send a pointed look in Ezra and Malcolm’s direction.

“Yeah, definitely.”

Crew lets me take his arm and we walk down the hall, hiding away in the abandoned classroom he dragged me into that one time, when he kissed me so ferociously. Like a jealous lover.

Once the door is shut, Crew is on me, his hands cradling my cheeks, his mouth landing on mine. He devours me like a starving man, consuming me completely.

I eventually push him away, needing a clear head, hating how he frowns, worry crossing his face.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I stand up straighter, my tone somber. “I lost something this weekend.”

His smirk surprises me. “You sure did.”

My cheeks burn. “Stop.”

“What did you lose?”

“My ring. The one my father gave me. He’s going to be so mad if it’s gone. It belonged to my grandmother. It was her engagement ring, and it’s really special to him. That’s why he gave it to me,” I explain, my head starting to hurt.

I will never forgive myself if I lost it for good.

“I know where it is,” Crew says, calm as ever.

Relief floods me, though not enough to ease the fresh headache. “Oh my God, really? Where is it? Can you give it to me?”

He slowly shakes his head. “I can’t.”

I blink at him. “Why not?”

“Because.” He unzips his jacket and reaches for the knotted tie at his neck, loosening it so he can then unbutton his shirt.

I’m so confused. “What are you do—”

The rest of the word sticks in my throat when he pulls out a chain that’s hanging around his neck, my ring dangling from it.

My gaze meets his, surprise coursing through me. “Why are you wearing it?”

“It belongs to me now.” His expression is grim.

“What?” Okay, he’s really making no sense. “It’s mine, Crew. It belongs to my family. My father gave me that ring.”

“And I’m taking it. Because I took you.” He glances down, sliding his finger through the ring, though it barely fits. “This is mine, just like you are.”