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Austin moved back, holding his hands up.

“I’m not wanting to cause any roommate tension.”

“Good. Then you should leave,” Jocelyn said.

“Jocelyn! That was uncalled for. Apologize!”

“Whatever, Brooke. I warned you I was going to watch my shows in here. If you two don’t like it, you can be the ones to leave.”

I turned to Austin, disappointment on my face.

“Can we pick this up some other time, please?”

“Sure.”

He turned to glare at Jocelyn then stood up.

“I’ll call you soon. It’s just that I think I remembered I have a pop-quiz tomorrow, and I need to study.”

He nodded.

“See you, Brooke.”

As he walked toward the door, I thought about jumping up and chasing after him. He left before I acted, shutting the door behind him. It sounded so final.

I spun my head to Jocelyn. She had a self-satisfied smile on her face.

“You’re a bitch,” I said.

“I’m protecting you, Brooke. He just wants one thing from you.”

“How would you know?” I shouted as I stood up. “Just leave me alone, okay? This might be our last semester together.”

“We have to be roomies,” she cried.

“I’m not in the mood.”

I stormed past her and into my bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.

What the hell is her problem? I wondered as I fell back-first on my bed. Laying across it sideways, I stared up at the ceiling and wondered what must be going through Austin’s mind. After all the resistance I’d shown, he would surely move on to the next woman.

Fuck my life.

SEVEN

Austin

The next morning, I woke up half-an-hour early to get an extra mile or two in on my run. Part of it had to do with the pizza I’d consumed the night before, but I also wanted time alone to sort through my thoughts. Brooke had appeared in my dreams.

At least I thought it was her. I’d woken up with a raging boner, something that hadn’t happened in a long time. Now, running along a walking trail that circled the entire campus, I tried to piece together why she attracted me so damn much.

I came up with no answers, just like the night before when she had asked me. We had gotten closer to sleeping together, but I wondered if even that would help get her out of my mind. As I neared the School of Architecture building, I saw trouble.

Derek and a few of his frat brother friends stood on the path, blocking my way. I thought briefly about simply running around them, but that would only embolden them.

As a football player, I wasn’t supposed to get in trouble, and I didn’t want to risk injury, but I had to stick up for myself, not to mention Brooke. Ten yards away, I stopped, jogging in place with a smile on my face. I always liked to try humor first. It makes confrontation more fun.

“Hey, fellas, care to join me? You’re not dressed for it, but you all look a bit soft.”


Tags: Nicole Elliot Romance