“I’ve never stood outside your apartment, Blair Love.” His voice is firm, and he cuts me off without room for argument. “And Oliver only followed you a couple of times before I told him to stop. That’s not what we do. We don’t need to. You’re in class twice a week, and we watch you stream. Plus, Oliver knows where you live, and has your number. Why would we be stalking you?”
The floor drops out from under me, sending me reeling, and all I can do is stare at him. “What?” I whisper finally, his words barely computing in my brain.
Professor Solomon looks back to my folder, spreading out photos and his analysis of them. “Let me just go through this with you while I think,” he requests, launching into an explanation of why I didn’t get more than a B minus.
I’m barely listening, however. I’m too busy runninghisconfusion through my brain. If it wasn’t him, or if he didn’t know about it, could it really have been someone else? Or am I just crazy?
“Maybe I’m just misunderstanding,” I interrupt, clearly not listening to what he’s saying. “Maybe it’s because of how on edge I am. I’ve been crazy lately because of you two. Like with that guy who scared me when I called you.” I tap my fingers against the arm of the chair, matching the rhythm with my foot on the floor.
“Blair.” The word is sharp and pulls my attention back to Professor Solomon. “Have you heard a word I’ve said to you about this?”
I shake my head and frown apologetically. “No. But it’s fine. You gave me a Bminus, I wasn’t as good in your class as I thought, it’s fine.”
“You should still take another one of my classes next semester.”
“No, nope. That’s okay,” I assure him, itching to get to my feet. “I work really hard for my average. I had to after freshman year. Call me a coward, but I take classes I’m good at. I…” I bite my lip, sigh, and continue. “Sorry, I guess. I wanted to do better—”
“Goddamn it, Blair.” Rook stands up suddenly, causing me to stumble, and while I try to regain my balance, he comes around to my side of the desk. “Stop it. Do you know how many As I gave out this semester?” He crowds me back against the filing cabinets until he can reach out and grip them on either side of my face.
My heart pounds as I stare at him, lips parted as I shake my head.
“None.None. Oliver didn’t even get one from me back when he actually took my classes. You’re not bad at this, and you’re not being punished. If you wouldlistenwith your ears, you might actually hear that I liked the direction of your project, and the way you handled it. It’s your technique that needs work, and your choice of focus.”
It’s impossible not to listen to him when I’m this close to him and his breath is warm against my lips.
“You’re sofrustrating,” he adds, eyes narrowed. “You remind me so much of Oliver sometimes, it’s unreal. Except he wouldn’t be in my office crying. He’d be trying to throw my shit out the window, or planning to key my car.Yes, Blair. He keyed my fucking car.”
I don’t want to laugh. It’s inappropriate, and I clap my hand over my mouth when I let out a soft snort of a snicker.
Rook reaches up to peel my hand away, and I press my lips together as he glares down at me, finally letting go of my hand and replacing his on the cabinet.
“You arenotgoing to cry over a passing grade,” he threatens, like I’ve committed a sin. “Are you?”
“Probably.”
He sighs. “Go home, Love. Go home, and just…stayhome.”
“Oh yeah? Why? Are you grounding me for getting a B?” I snap, eyes narrowed in anger at the idea of him being able to tell me what to do with my hours outside of class.
“No.” He leans in closer until his lips are brushing mine. “Because I need to take the rest of the night to figure out who’s stalking you.” The words pull a gasp from me, and my eyes widen. I’m about to reply when he kisses me, teeth sharp against my lips and not giving me a chance to do more than lean back as he crowds against me to keep me there.
He’s the best kisser I’ve ever met. That much is very clear. He deepens it, teeth and tongue teasing my own as he keeps me guessing as to what he’ll do next. It’s not until I’ve let out a soft whine that he pulls away, eyes dark.
“Go home,” he repeats, pulling me to the door. “Before it gets dark. I’ll have Oliver call you.”
“It’s really not you?” I ask, not sure if I believe him as the door opens.
He shakes his head. “It’s not, Love. It’s really not.”
Chapter 27
Slamming my apartment door behind me as I step out into the hallway feels like a small, vindictive victory.
Hitting the elevator door button six times with more force than could ever be necessary feels like another.
I step into the elevator, sneakers making a soft double tap on the floor as I jab my finger into the button for the first floor. I don’t feel like gasping for air in a mimicry of tuberculosis today like the time I hit the stairs. Plus, I’m more interested in pacing out my frustration in the elevator and getting out the door as fast as I can.
Last night, I believed Rook. I’d gone home like a good girl, called in dinner with Juniper, and helped her pack for her flight this morning. She left today, though had offered to stay for three more days with me, since I hadn’t found a reasonably priced flight until then. Being nice and considerate, I’d assured her it was fine, and that rebooking her flight would be too much trouble.