Chapter 11
Alex
Isabella’s friends are already waiting for us at the food court when we arrive. They sit at a table by the large windows facing the quad. A girl with pink highlights waves at Isabella, who waves back and points at me. One of her friends, a guy with blond spikey hair, nods and grabs an extra chair from a nearby table.
Isabella and I buy our lunch—I get a burger with a side of fries, and she gets a caesar salad—and join her friends.
“Everyone,” Isabella says as we sit at the table. “This is Alex. She’s in my figure drawing class. Alex, this is everyone. Liam, Gianna, and Abigail.”
She points at her friends as she calls their names.
Liam is the blond guy with spikey hair who got the extra chair.
Abigail is the girl with black hair and pink highlights. Half of her bangs are pink, half are black. She looks more in line with what I imagine an eccentric art major to look like. “You can just call me Abby,” she says.
Like Liam, Gianna has blonde hair and the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen, with freckles sprinkled over her nose and cheeks.
It’s been a long time since I have socialized with people my own age. Lately, most of my socialization comes in the form of unwanted advances from middle-aged reapers, so I’m out of practice.
I sit a little tense, occasionally taking small bites of my burger and watching them talk about art classes. From what I can gather, Gianna and Abby are sophomores. Liam must be a junior or senior because he’s already taken the classes the girls are taking this semester. He nostalgically recounts stories from his time in those classes.
“How did you all meet?” I wonder. Grade-wise, they’re all over the place, so I’m curious about how they met.
“We met on a Facebook group,” Isabella says. “Remember what I told you about Professor Alvarez? That’s where I heard about those rumors.”
“Rumors? You mean that he likes to sleep around with art girls with armpit hair?” Liam asks between sips of soda and laughs.
Abby shoves him, almost knocking the drink from his hand.
“Sorry if I offended anyone,” Liam says. “I’m just talking from personal experience.”
“So it’s true that Professor Alvarez likes to sleep around with students?” I ask. I wonder how many girls he’s slept with.
“It’s basically an open secret,” Abby says. “There are other rumors, too. Like his size .”
“His size?” I ask, wondering if she’s referring to what I think she’s referring to.
“Don’t worry. I’m taking one of Professor Alvarez’s classes next semester. I’ll figure out if that rumor is true and report back my findings,” Gianna says with a smirk.
“Oh my God,” Isabella shakes her head.
“Oh, right,” Liam says. “Alex, do us a favor and cover Isabella’s virgin ears.”
“Shut up, Liam,” Isabella says, glowing bright red. She rolls her eyes and stabs her fork into her salad. They have only known each other for a few weeks and already speak like they’ve known each other since forever. Must be an art major thing.
“So what do you think, Alex?” Liam asks. “Is he as hot as all the girls say?”
“Um,” I say. I don’t want to tell them what I really think—that Alonzo is a gorgeous man with a hot body because I don’t want to be the center of attention. So I just deflect. “Well, I can see why some girls would find him attractive.”
“He’s not your type?” Liam asks, leaning back in his chair. “What is your type?”
“Give it a break, Liam,” Abby says. “You’re gonna scare her away.”
Liam laughs. He looks around the table and notices nobody else is laughing with him. He rolls his eyes and retreats to his lunch.
“Anyway,” Gianna says. “A couple of art students are hosting a party this Friday. One last party to close out the summer before we get too busy with classes. We were thinking of going. You should come, Alex.”
“This Friday? I think I work Friday night,” I say.
“What time do you work? You can stop for an hour or so,” Abby says.
“I work at nine,” I tell them.
“See? Perfect. We can meet up around 7 PM, and you can hang out for a bit,” Abby says.
I turn to Isabella for help. Instead of helping me get out of it, she says, “Come on, Alex. It’ll be fun. It’s my first college party!”
“I guess I can stop by for an hour before work,” I reluctantly say. I don’t have the guts to say no. Isabella and her friends have been so nice and friendly to me that I can’t find it in me to reject them. I’m not particularly looking for friends, but a few drinks with people my age will be a pleasant change of pace.
???
I wait outside the university library. It’s almost 6 PM, and I just came out of my last class. It’s been a long day, and I’m ready to go home and relax, but there’s one more thing I need to do.
Alonzo appears in the distance. He waves hello when he sees me. He’s wearing his signature suit, which I’m starting to think he wears even in his sleep. The breeze blows his jacket to the side, partially revealing the tight-fitted button-up shirt and making him appear sexy as hell. He runs his fingers through his hair, fixing it after the wind left it messy. Honestly, he looks hotter with messy hair.
Chill out, Alex, I remind myself. Remember who he is .
After class this morning, we agreed to meet outside the library at 6 PM. Alonzo is going to prove to me that the money he gave me is clean, though I’m not sure how he’s going to do that. Fifty grand is a lot of money to pluck out of thin air.
“You showed up,” he says when we’re finally face to face. There is a hint of amusement in his voice.
“I was curious to see what you would show me,” I say. A small, devious grin appears on his face. At first, I’m confused. But then I realize what I said. What he heard . “That’s not what I meant,” I clarify.
“I know,” he smiles. “Come. My car is this way.”
“Your car? Wait, where are we going?”
“I’m going to show you where the money I gave you came from,” he says.
I follow him to the staff parking lot, where we approach a sleek black Audi. I don’t know much about cars, but I’ve seen a few Audis in town, and this one does not look like any of them. It’s a lot fancier and sporty.
“Hop in,” Alonzo says, opening the passenger door for me. Reluctantly, I get in and sit on the uncomfortably comfortable brown leather seat. Alonzo looks at my feet to make sure they’re in the car before closing the door. He walks around the car and gets in the driver’s seat. Like I said, I know very little about cars, but I bet this one cost him at least two or three college tuitions combined.
“I didn’t know college professors could afford these types of cars,” I say, buckling my seatbelt and glancing at Alonzo.
“They don’t,” he smirks. “It’ll all make sense by the end of the day.”
We drive out of the university parking lot and head southeast to the highway, which we get on and drive north.
“Where are we going?” I ask, reading a sign that says LEAVING SAN MARQUEZ.
“I told you,” he says. “I’m going to show you where my money comes from.”
“Couldn’t you just show me on your phone or something? It feels like I’m getting kidnapped. Luckily, I always carry my pepper spray,” I say, shuffling my backpack on my lap. I’m only half joking. I am carrying a pepper spray, and I will gladly use it on him if he tries something funny. Just because I have to seduce him doesn’t mean I’m going to let him take advantage of me. If we do anything, it’ll be under my terms.
“Noted,” he smiles. “By the way, what did you end up telling Jacob?”
“I told him I was feeling sick.”
“And what did he say?”
“He was okay with it,” I lie. Jacob gave me shit when I called him to tell him I wouldn’t make it tonight. I never call in because I need the money, which he knows. That’s why he reluctantly believed me when I told him I’m feeling sick.
On the downside, he said I have to come in earlier on Friday. I’ll have to break the bad news to Isabella and her friends next time I see them.
“That’s hard to believe,” Alonzo says. He glances in my direction as if he’s trying to read my face. “His men were upset when he pulled you off the stage the other night.”
I don’t know if Alonzo is fishing for information or if he suspects anything, so I keep my reply short to play it safe. “He didn’t like it, but it’s not like there’s anything he can do about it. He said he’s going to call another girl to cover for me.”
Alonzo’s eyes study me. It makes me nervous to think he can read my lies. And I’m equally nervous that his eyes are on me instead of the highway ahead. We’re driving at 75 MPH, and I don’t have a death wish.
“Mind keeping your eyes on the road? I’m not looking to die this close to graduation.”
His eyes linger on my face for a few more seconds before he turns to look ahead. “We’re almost there,” he says.
A few exits later, we get off the highway just before reaching Austin and pull into the parking lot of a small Mexican restaurant.
“You hungry?” I ask Alonzo, feeling a bit hungry myself. “I thought you were going to show me where your money came from.”
“It came from here,” he says, parking his car in a slot with a RESERVED sign. “I own the place.”