“What?” My head snapped up and I glared at Jude. “No way.”
He sighed heavily. “Don’t be stubborn, Tate—”
“Once again, you are not allowed to call me Tate,” I interrupted him.
Grinning, he said, “Tatum, I can help you with your project. Now be a good girl, nod your head, and accept my help.”
Why? Why did Jude have to be studying to be a nurse too? Life was cruel and unfair.
Nibbling on my bottom lip, I did what I had to do. “Okay.” I couldn’t believe I was agreeing to this. I was willingly going to be spending time with Jude Brooks—the guy who singlehandedly ruined my life.
Monday’s sucked.
So did desperation.
“That was easier than I thought,” Jude smirked, crossing his hands behind his head. “This is going to be fun.”
“No, it’s not fun,” I spat the word. “It’s my final paper. I need a good grade for this, so don’t screw with me,” I pointed a finger at him.
“You need to chill,” he eyed me. “You’re too stressed. You know what’s an excellent stress reliever?”
“What?” I asked, even though I knew I shouldn’t.
“Sex.”
My eyes widened. “Oh, really. Are you suggesting I have sex with you?”
His grin became even bigger. “I mean, if you’re interested I could always show you a good time. I promise to make it worth your while,” he winked.
“Keep dreaming,” I muttered, returning my attention to my lunch.
“I don’t have to dream. I’m not giving up on you Tate.”
I looked up then, choosing to ignore him calling me Tate again. “There will never be an ‘us.’ Besides,” I leaned closer and lowered my voice like I was letting him in on a secret, “it’s not like you’re hurting for a little fun between the sheets.” I nodded towards all the girls that had their eyes on Jude. I might hate the guy, but he was hot—in that All-American sort of way. With his brown hair and eyes, and that grin, he drew women to him like a magnet. Everyone on campus knew he was a player, but most girls didn’t care. They were more than happy to be a notch on his bedpost. Not me, though, and I knew that was the real reason Jude wouldn’t leave me alone. I was the only female on campus that posed a challenge. I wished he’d leave it alone, though. It was annoying. If he wasn’t friends with Rowan I’d kick him for all his schoolyard antics—like right now, he was trying to play footsie with me. What were we? Five?
He gasped dramatically and put a hand over his heart, like he was offended by my words. “I deserve to have some fun while I wait for you to wake up and realize that we’re perfect for each other.”
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention back to my food. I wasn’t wasting any more of my time on Jude. I couldn’t believe I was going to be stuck shadowing him…hours of just the two of us. It was like my own personal hell.
“Well, ladies, this has been nice and all, but I need to go,” Jude mumbled, standing up and grabbing his backpack. He shoved his phone in his pocket and grabbed an apple off his tray, sticking it in his mouth. He gave us a salute and headed out the double doors.
Rowan looked across the table at me and sighed. She did that a lot. “I really am sorry I couldn’t help you, but at least there’s Jude. I mean, it won’t be that bad, right?”
I glared at her. “That bad? I hate him.”
“But why?” She asked. “He’s not a bad guy at all, Tate. He’s really nice once you get to know him. I wouldn’t be friend’s with him otherwise.”
“You don’t understand,” I squirmed in my seat. “You don’t know him like I do.”
“You’re right,” she grinned like the cat that ate the canary. “I know him better.”
I was over this conversation. I knew even if I told her the truth, I’d never be able to make her see.
We finished our lunch in silence and went our separate ways.
When classes were over I met Rowan for our almost daily study session in the library. A lot of time Jude joined us, but today wasn’t one of those days. When my homework was done I knew I couldn’t put off the inevitable any longer. I had to go home, back to the place I dreaded the most.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I told Row, shrugging my backpack on. She barely nodded at me as I left. Even though she had her fiancé, Trenton, to take care of her now, she still wanted to get her degree and have a job. I couldn’t blame her. I craved my independence too. There was something satisfying about knowing you could stand on your own two feet without anyone else’s help.