Chapter 33
Evie
I follow Zane outside to his truck. While he throws my stuff in my truck, I stare at my dorm, wondering if I’m making a huge mistake.
This was my chance to get out and make something of my life.
I love my mom, but I don’t want her mistakes to be mine.
And yet, I feel like I’m making mistake after mistake.
Maybe I should just stay here. I turn around suddenly and nearly run into a guy I’ve never seen before.
He’s tall with tattoos crawling all over his tanned skin.
His head is nearly shaved, just a little black shows.
I resist the urge to take a step back when I see his scowl.
When he opens the back door to Zane’s truck, I’m confused. “Uh, are you at the wrong truck?”
He looks down at me. “Nope.”
With that, he climbs into the backseat, and I stare after him in confusion. “Don’t be a jerk,” Zane calls out as he comes around to my side. “Evie, this is Slate, one of my roommates.”
My eyebrows raise. “How many of you are there?”
Zane’s lips pull up on the sides. “There are four of us. Slate plays soccer, so he hasn’t been around since before classes started. They’ve got a short season with multiple games a week. We don’t usually see him until soccer’s over. Thankfully,” he says under his breath to me.
I look back towards Slate, and dark eyes meet mine. I resist the urge to shiver and turn towards Zane. “Any other surprise roommates I should know about?”
“Nope.” He opens my door for me and closes it once I’m inside.
It’s quiet until Zane comes around to climb in, and I'm thankful because Slate makes me nervous. He’s intense like Reid but like on a whole other level. “Ready?” Zane asks, looking over at me. I nod and settle against the seat, hoping I’m not making a huge mistake.
My phone buzzes, and I glance down to see a text from Tessa. I cringe. I tried to track her down before I left, but she wasn’t in her room and didn’t answer when I texted her.
Tessa- sorry, I just now saw this. I was studying, trying to survive this upcoming test I have.
Me- no worries
I pause a moment, wondering just what to say. She texts me back before I get a chance to respond.
Tessa- Want to meet up after dinner?
Me- I want to, but I can’t tonight
Tessa- are you in your room now? I can try to meet up with you real quick now
Me- no, that’s what I was texting you about
I pause after sending her that text. I don’t really know what to say. I debate a moment and then decide to just be honest. I don’t want to ruin our friendship, and dishonesty is the fastest way to do just that.
Me- I'm going to Zane’s house off campus
I hurry to clarify.
Me- just for tonight
I frown because that sounds worse.
Tessa- wowzers, girl! What did I miss?
Her words are like a gut punch. I feel my hands get clammy, and I wipe them on my leggings.
Me- I'll catch you up, but stuff with Jace…I don’t even know how to finish that text, so I send it as is.
Tessa- did he hurt you?
I pause a moment and wonder how to answer that. My phone rings, startling me. I look down and see it’s Tessa calling. I don’t really want to answer it, but that will just make things worse. I glance over at Zane. “Tessa’s calling.”
“Go ahead and answer it; it won’t bother us.”
I have a feeling Slate would disagree, but I don’t look back to check. I answer on the third ring. “What did he do to you?”
I can’t help a small smile at her fierce words. “I’m okay,” I say softly, looking out the window. I really don’t want to have this conversation in front of Zane and Slate, but she hasn’t really left me a choice. “It’s kind of a long story.”
“I have time.”
“You just said you were studying for a difficult test,” I remind her.
“Who cares about a test? You are far more important. Now what happened?” Tears prick my eyes at her words, and I find myself unable to speak for a moment. “Evie?”
“I’m here,” I manage to get out. I swallow back the lump in my throat.
I realize I have no idea what to tell her.
I don’t want to tell her what really happened in the woods, because I’m not even sure I really believe what went on out there.
I stare out the window, trying to form the words.
“He ended up being a jerk,” I finally say. “He and Sam were just...using me.”
“What do you mean?” Tessa sounds as confused as I am.
I’m very conscious of the two guys in the truck.
“I don’t know, Tessa. They said some pretty awful things to me when I told Jace I wanted to break up with him.
” I push forward. “When I told Jace I wanted to break up with him, Sam got really mad. She told me she can’t stand me and was only being nice for Jace’s sake. ”
Tessa gasps. “She did not! I’m going to tear her hair out.”
Her words make me smile, which is surprising in this moment. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Oh, it’s totally a good idea. Where is she now?”
I shake my head, even though she can’t see it. “I don’t know. She hasn’t been back to our room since we had the run-in. Maybe she’s staying with Jace,” I throw out. Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me. I hear a sound that I can’t place. “What are you doing?” I ask.
“I was just closing your shower door,” she says.
“Why?”
“Because I was grabbing Sam’s shampoo and conditioner and soap.”
My eyebrows rise. “Why?”
“Have you ever gotten in the shower and realized you don’t have something you need? It’s the absolute worst.”
“Uh, is that your payback?” I ask.
“Yes. I realize it may not be the plan an evil mastermind would come up with, but that’s all I could think of in the spur of the moment. I’ll keep thinking on it and come up with something that’s more devious.”
I can’t help but smile. “Yeah, Tessa, I don’t think you have a devious bone in your whole body; but thank you. Seriously. Stealing somebody’s shampoo and conditioner to get vengeance for somebody else is the sign of a true friend.”
“Don’t forget the body soap,” she adds.
My smile widens. “And the body soap,” I add.
“Is that why you left?” she asks, softer now.
“Yeah. I just...wanted to get away for a little bit.”
“I get it, Evie. Just be careful, okay.”
I turn even more towards the window, trying to give myself privacy. “Zane’s a nice guy; he won’t hurt me.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about that. Zane’s a great guy. Totally jump his bones if you get a chance.”
I choke on the saliva in my throat. I can feel my face heat up and pray Zane can’t hear this conversation. “Okay, well thank you.”
“He’s sitting right there, isn’t he?”
“Uh, huh,” is all I can manage.
She laughs into the phone. “Hey, Zane,” she shouts loudly, and I quickly cover the mouthpiece with my hand.
“You are the worst!” I hiss into the phone after I take my hand away.
“I know; that’s why you love me.”
My heart softens. “I do, Tessa. Thanks for being a good friend.”
“Aw, are we at best friend status now?”
I smile. “Sure.”
She squeals, and I have to hold my phone away from my ear. “I’ve never had a best friend.”
“Me neither.”
“I’ll get us t-shirts and matching bracelets.” I laugh, though I’m not altogether sure she’s teasing.
I hear something on her end and wait for her to come back. “I gotta go. Stephanie just got back, and she gets cranky if I’m on the phone when she wants to study.” Her voice is a loud whisper.
“Okay. Thanks for calling and checking on me.”
“Of course! That’s what besties do.”
“Thanks.”
“Keep me updated. Oh, and tell me what Zane looks like without a shirt on...in detail.”
“Okay, I'm hanging up now.” I can feel my face flaming.
She cackles in the background. “Bye, Evie.”
“Bye, Tessa.”
I hang up and try to get my face to cool down before I face Zane. “What are the chances you didn’t hear any of that?” I ask him.
“What do you want the chances to be?” he asks, a grin tugging at his mouth.
“One hundred percent—that you didn’t hear a thing.”
“Then I didn’t hear a thing your new bestie said.” I groan out loud and put my forehead in my hands. “It’s fine,” he says with a chuckle.
“It’s really not,” I mutter. I open my door and climb down and head to the back; but Zane already has my bag in hand.
Slate’s already gone inside by the time we head up the steps and through the front door.
It’s not new by any means, but it’s got a nice layout.
It definitely feels masculine. There’s not a throw pillow, blanket, or candle in sight; but it’s an all-male house.
So, I guess it doesn’t really surprise me.
Zane walks down a hallway, and I follow him.
He steps into a room with a large bed. I take in the navy bedspread and the lack of anything feminine.
“Is this your room?” I ask. I realize I was already here, but I don’t really remember anything about that night.
“It is,” he says, dropping my bag on the bed.
I walk over and snatch it up, dropping the strap on my shoulder as realization dawns on me. “There’s no spare room, is there.”
“This room,” he says easily.
“I’m not taking your room, Zane.”
“It’s fine. I’ll crash on the couch.”
My eyes widen. “You’re not going to sleep on the couch.”
“Why not?”
I stare at him, like he’s lost his mind. Maybe he really has. “Zane, you’re an athlete, a really important one. You're not sleeping on the couch. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“No way,” he argues.
“Zane, your body won’t even fit on the couch.”
A corner of the side of his mouth ticks up, and he steps closer. “Are you saying you’ve noticed my body and decided it won’t fit?”
I keep a straight face. “No. I just know that principles of science and matter and all that. You won’t fit.”
He smiles. “Principles of science, huh? What principle did you use to make that deduction?”
“I’m going to be an early elementary education teacher; I don’t need to know the stupid principles of science.”
His grin widens. “Getting a little feisty, are we?”
“Yes,” I snap. “I wanted to have a great first semester and prove to my mom and uncle that I have what it takes to make it, and I can’t even make it a few weeks!”
Zane turns sober in an instant. “Evie, you have what it takes.”
I scoff and point to his room. “I’m literally in a house off campus because I don’t get along with my roommate.”
“Give yourself more credit than that, Evie,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest.
I really don’t want to talk about this. “Do you have extra sheets I can use for the couch?”
“You’re not sleeping on the couch,” he reiterates.