“Oh,” I say, the wind leaving my rage-filled sails. “That’d be great, thank you.”
He digs in his pocket and pulls out a crumpled piece of paper. “This is my number, for when you get a new phone. Text me and I’ll send over the details.”
“Thanks, Connor,” I say with a small smile, trying not to look like a crazy bitch.
He shuffles his feet, and I wait for him to say whatever it is he looks like he’s trying to say. “Okay, well, bye.”
The words tumble from his mouth as he darts away from me, leaving me beyond confused. I turn and find Travis glaring daggers at me.
Yep, that’ll do it.
I roll my eyes, because Isodon’t have the patience for Travis Kensington, and my anger spikes when he tips his head back, like he’s summoning me to him.
Jumped-up rich kids, man.
Taking a deep breath, I make my way over to him, because I really don’t need any more drama today and ignoring him seems like it’ll just bring more stress.
His blue eyes are cold like steel as he looks down at me. I’ve never not liked my height until right now with him towering over me.“Ready to drop out yet, Goldie?”
“Goldie?” I ask, confused. When he smirks in response, I kind of wish I hadn’t asked.
“Goldie… ya know, short for gold digger.”
“Wow, aren’t you original? Such a clever nickname there, champ.” I sigh, my patience wearing thin. “What do you want, Travis?”
“Did you get the summons?” he asks, and I think back to the text from Mom and nod, assuming that’s what he means. “Good, I’ll grab you from your dorm and you can ride with me. My father never needs to know there’s anything wrong, or that I fucked my whore of a stepsister.”
“Yeah, because it was totally my intention to just blurt out over dinner that I rode your cock like it was the second coming of Jesus,” I deadpan, and I watch as his jaw tics.
Yay. Travis has buttons to push.
He doesn’t say another word, just turns and walks away, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides as he does.
Score one to me.
I spot Sawyer across the quad, he glances at me just before Travis reaches him. I should have known that he’d run back to his keeper. Not that it matters, I won this round.
Now to work out how to stay ahead of the game.
CHAPTEREIGHT
After cooling off, blasting PVRIS’sMy Housein the dorm, singing at the top of my lungs to burn out the last of my frustration, and eating my favorite Peking duck ramen, I head to the library. I need to try and catch up on the reading from today’s classes and actually make myself some freaking notes until I get new tech so I can listen to the recordings Connor took.
Here’s hoping my Intro to Writing class in the morning is happy enough with pen and paper rather than a laptop. I have tomorrow afternoon free, so I’m going to have to suck it up and go shopping then.
I would like to think I’ve made my peace with it, but I know I’m going to absolutely hate every fucking second of it.
I make my way into the library, relishing the peaceful calm that washes over me as I enter the quiet space. The librarian smiles at me when I wave before trying to work out where the best place for some privacy is.
Not that I need the privacy to study, I justreallydon’t want to people.
I walk through the stacks, breathing in the scent of books—one of my favorite smells—and find a group of tables where people are obviously trying to study.
Nope, this is not where I want to be.
“Briar?” I turn at the whispered call of my name to find Connor and Penn walking toward me.
Huh. Didn’t know they knew each other. “Hey.”