37. Alexis
CHAPTER 37
Alexis
I cast a helpless look over my shoulder as I reluctantly follow Huntley. He doesn’t notice, too busy gabbing about how proud he is of me for working so hard to improve my grade.
“You certainly don’t act like a Whitmore. They pay their way through life rather than work for anything. Why do you think their name is on the building?”
God, this is awkward.
I want to turn around and run to Sophia, but I can’t imagine what Huntley would do if I did. Probably give me an F on today’s discussion questions.
“How’s life at SRU? Are you settling in well?” Huntley opens his office door, gesturing for me to go inside. I swear he inhales my scent as I pass him.
He steps inside and shuts the door behind him. His presence is too close for my comfort.
“It’s fine. Things are going well.” My muscles are tense as he heads for his desk.
“Good to hear.” He gestures toward the chair across from him. “Please, have a seat.”
I do as he instructs, my spine rigid as I put my backpack on my legs, ready to bolt.
“Lexi, I won’t bite.” He chuckles, his predatory eyes roaming over every inch of me as he slides into his chair. “Before we get started, tell me about your family situation.”
“What do you mean?”
“I understand Preston and your mother got married very suddenly.”
My eyes narrow. “She’s not pregnant. Just stupidly in love.”
He chuckles. “That’s good to hear. And how did Evan take the news of having a stepsister?”
I pause, unsure how to answer. Do I tell him Evan resented me?
I squirm beneath Huntley’s intense gaze. “It’s been an adjustment. But we’re dealing.”
Huntley leans back in his chair. “Glad to hear that.” His gaze moves to my backpack. “Please, make yourself comfortable.”
“I’m fine.”
His eyes narrow. “Why don’t you come around here so you can see my computer screen? That way we can review last week’s discussion questions.”
I unzip my backpack, pull my laptop from it, and set the bag on the chair beside me. Perching my laptop on my knees, I open the screen. “It’ll be easier to comprehend if I can see the questions and my answers.”
“Very well.” He starts typing, a fake smile on his lips. “We’ll do this your way.”
Thank God.
“I saw you coming out of the pizza shop with Evan about a week and a half ago.” His shrewd gaze moves from the screen to me. “The two of you looked rather… cozy.”
His cold gaze pins me in place. My heart beats sluggishly as fear courses down my spine, questions swirling through my head.
Did he see us? Where was he? I didn’t see him. And why does his tone sound accusatory, like Evan and I were caught doing something we shouldn’t have been?
I force my tone to sound nonchalant. “The pizza is great and not far from our apartment.”
“Best pizza around.” Huntley’s fake smile makes my skin crawl.
He folds his hands on his desk, a smirk curling his lips. “I never saw Evan smile like that before. Certainly not with any of the many women who flock to him. Of course, most usually last only one night—two if they’re lucky.”
Nausea churns inside my stomach. What the hell is he getting at, exactly?
Pasting an equally fake smile, I maintain eye contact as I say, “Well, I’m his stepsister—not one of his flock.”
Huntley raises his brows. “What’s odd is I haven’t seen his usual entourage of women flocking him.” His gaze bores intently into mine, gauging my reaction.
Keeping my face intentionally blank, I shrug, trying not to be upset by his words. “Maybe he thinks it’ll look bad to the administration. I mean, it’s one thing when he’s a student. But as a faculty member…” I sit back in the chair, trying not to squirm. “Or he’s bored. There are only so many women on this campus.”
Huntley lets out a chuckle. “You don’t seem bothered by his track record, Lexi.”
I keep my expression neutral, but inwardly, I’m dying. Has Evan been with that many women? I need to ask Sophia. I don’t trust Huntley to tell me the truth.
Clearing my throat, I feign nonchalance. “Why should I? He’s my stepbrother. What he does in his personal life doesn’t concern me.” My gaze drops to my laptop screen. “About those discussion questions….”
Huntley chuckles. “Guess my eyes deceived me. I thought he looked smitten with you.”
I freeze, unsure what the hell to say. I thought he was too, but he’s been avoiding me. Maybe he found out I fucked a stranger wearing a Ghostface mask in the woods.
But there’s no way I’m telling Huntley any of that.
Instead, I laugh. “He’s my stepbrother. He’s not smitten with me.”
Huntley laughs, waving his hand dismissively. “I’m glad we cleared that up. I don’t envy the position Evan is in. Not only are you beautiful, but you’re forbidden.” He leers at me. “I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off you.”
Uneasiness rolls through every fiber of my tense being. My brain screams at me to run away before he does something inappropriate.
My phone rings, breaking the uneasy silence. I fumble for it, relief filling me when I see Sophia’s name.
“I need to answer this. It’s my mom,” I lie, shoving my laptop inside my backpack. I practically run to his door. “We’ll have to meet another time.” Exiting, I slam it shut behind me.
“Hello.” I race down the hallway like I’m being chased by Ghostface again. “Thank God you called. That was the creepiest meeting ever.”