Chapter 7
“You are gonna behot in those jeans. And I’m not talking the sexy kinda hot.” Addy looks me up and down with a grimace. “Put some shorts on, girl.”
I wave her off. “I’ll be fine. Besides, I don’t have any.”
She jerks her head back and scrunches her face. “Why would you not bring any? It’s fucking Texas. You will melt into a puddle of sweat with this humidity and heat, babe. I mean, you lived in Vegas, which is practically an oven in the summer.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t bring any. I said I don’t have any. As in, I don’t own shorts. My legs don’t look good in shorts. Dresses at least fall past to my knees. But shorts, ugh. No one needs to see me in shorts. That’s a horror film waiting to happen.” I feign a shudder.
She frowns at me. “First, stop it. Second, you would look fine in shorts. So we are going shopping after classes and getting you some. Third, don’t fight me. I always win.” Addy winks at me and goes back to packing up her backpack.
Shaking my head, I return to putting on my gym shoes and straightening my black T-shirt with the words Fun fact: I don’t care on it.
“What classes you have first today? We are in studio together, right?” she asks.
I nod as I pull up my schedule on my phone. “I have physics. Yuck.”
“You didn’t take physics yet?”
“I did, but for some reason it wouldn’t transfer over. Something about the descriptions of the classes being different. Whatever, it’s fine. All my other classes did, so this is just the only one I need to retake.” I throw my bag onto my back and put my phone in my pocket.
“Okay, so design studio this afternoon? Want to stop at the Student Center for a quick bite?” Addy suggests.
“Yeah, that sounds good. I’ll need to get something in me, otherwise I won’t eat until after all my classes.” I throw a granola bar in my bag to tide me over.
“You headed to Hughes Hall?”
I nod. “Yeah. And I need to get going so I’m not late for my first day.”
“See you at the Student Center!” Addy calls out as I walk out into the hallway, and I wave goodbye.
With the hustle and bustle of the first day, there are other students in and out of their dorms. Some head for the elevator and some take the stairs. Since I’m on the second floor, I opt to take the stairs down to the lobby.
Pushing open the doors, the humidity immediately hits me. It’s going to take me some time to get used to that. Maybe shopping for shorts won’t be such a bad thing.
Thankfully, it’s still a little cool this morning. If you can consider the high eighties cool.
As I make my way through campus, I take a look around. The sky is clear, the sun is out. Pine trees litter the campus. Green covers the landscape.
I’m not in Kansas anymore. Well, Vegas, actually.
This is a stark difference from the desert landscape of Las Vegas. The concrete and rocks. The palm trees and cactuses. This is very much the opposite of a desert.
When I finally make it to Hughes, I follow some other students through the doors of the hall. I walk through the lobby of the building, looking at the signs that can point me in the direction of room one-thirteen.
Following other students, I make my way down the hall toward my physics class. The white floor and grey cinderblock walls make the hall less inviting than the outside, prompting me to wince.
Finally locating the classroom, I walk in and see some of my classmates have already found a spot at their tables. I see a vacant table in the far back and head over to it, throwing my backpack on the tabletop.
Taking my laptop out of my bag, I open it up and power up my notetaking app. As I start setting up my tabs and sections in the app, I feel a presence sit next to me.
When I look up, my mouth drops open.
Giant tattooed friend of my stepbrother. Awesomesauce.
Birch and bergamot fill my nose as I turn toward him. Goddamn, he really is good looking. I can see the tattoos peeking out of his black shirt on his neck and arms.
“There are other tables. Please find another seat,” I snap at him.
He grunts and then turns to me. “No.”
“Did you just grunt? Are you a caveman?”
He quirks a brow. “Why? Want me to throw you over my shoulder and have my way with you?” he says, his face completely blank as he looks at me.
“No.” Okay, so that’s not the answer my vagina is wanting to give him, but she can’t talk. So, since I have the vocal cords, I’m making sure the sexy caveman isn’t anywhere near the lady bits.
“Your loss, Angel.” He shrugs.
I scoff and roll my eyes, turning myself back to what I was doing before I was interrupted.
By a brute.
Lifting my head from my laptop, I take in the room and students around me. Most are chatting away with the others, I’m assuming most are underclassmen because that’s when this class is usually taken.
The classroom itself isn’t too big. It’s a regular classroom with black lab tables for desks. The walls are decorated with science posters and bookshelves filled with books.
Then there is the hot-as-fuck tattooed, brooding caveman sitting next to me.
“Why are you even in this class? Shouldn’t you have taken it like last year or something?” I turn toward the giant.
He side-eyes me. “Put it off. Is that a problem?”
“Well, yes. Because now you are in it with me and sitting right next to me being all … all …”
“Sexy? Hot as fuck? Those the words you are looking for?” He smirks.
“Ogre. I was going to say all ogre-like. Okay, Shrek?” I cross my arms in front of me as I narrow my eyes at him.
And all this savage does is chuckle at me.
This class is not going to be enjoyable because it’s physics. But even more so it’s going to be a literal hell because of this barbarian.
“Welcome to physics!” a man who looks to be in his thirties says as he enters the room. His dark hair is combed back with a crispness. He unbuttons the sleeves of his white button-up as he stares at us. “Well, don’t look so excited.”
The class laughs as he reaches into his briefcase and pulls out a stack of papers. He saunters over to the first table in front of his desk and drops the papers onto the tabletop. Then he claps once and walks back over to his desk.
“My name is Professor Tim Mayer. You can call me Tim. Look, I know this is a requirement, and for some it won’t be fun. My job is to try to make it fun. You will have three hours of lecture and three hours of labs. Lab time is on Fridays. We will be covering mechanics, heat, electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics.
“The person sitting next to you is your lab partner for the rest of the semester.”
Shit.
“Lucky you, Angel.” The caveman next to me chuckles softly. My lips twist in contempt.
“I’m not your angel,” I mutter under my breath.
He leans over, and goddamn does he smell good. A birch scent with a hint of citrus invades my nose. His lips turn up and his eyes almost look black.
“Not yet.” He sits back in his seat and focuses his attention back on the professor.
“Now, in regard to your labs, I’m not a cruel person. So, here’s the deal. You don’t have to do them here in this room. Do them in the library, do them in your dorm room—hell, do them with a goat on a boat.”
Some of the students break out in laughter.
He continues, “They will be due on Fridays by nine at night. But I expect you to work on them together. They will be on the online portion of the class. So if you do the labs on the boat with your goat, make sure your Wi-Fi connection is strong.”
For the rest of class, Professor Mayer goes over the syllabus and the lessons we will be covering.
But the entire time, my mind is preoccupied knowing the handsome behemoth next to me keeps staring and smiling at me. I can feel his eyes on me.
“Give me your phone,” he demands.
I bristle. “First, no. Second, no fucking way.”
“Look, if we’re lab partners, we’ll need to communicate with each other on when to get together.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t even know your name.
Why would I just hand over my number?”
He chuckles and holds out his hand. “Dekker West.”
Instead of shaking his hand, I give him my phone. “Put your number in there, Dekker West.”
“That’s all I needed to do to get your number? Damn, Angel, you’re easy.” He whistles.
I roll my eyes. “Just message me when you want to get together to do the labs. Preferably somewhere public with witnesses. And stop calling me Angel.”
Not giving Dekker a chance to respond, I throw my backpack on after he punches his number in and march my ass right out of the room.
Of all the people in the world, one of my stepbrother’s friends has to be in this class.
And of course, he is my lab partner. Because why not?
When I finally get outside, I walk along the wall of the building and then stop several feet from the door and lean against the wall. Tipping my head back, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
I wish I wasn’t here.
If my dad was still alive, I wouldn’t be here. My mom wouldn’t have married Aaron, and I wouldn’t have an asshole for a stepbrother. Or know his asshole friends.
“I think she may be dying out here. I mean, all that fat has to be hard to carry around.” My eyes fly open at the sound of the harpy and sure enough, there’s the queen bitch herself and Xayden.
“Your voice is like nails on a chalkboard, Drizella.” I push away from the wall and start to walk away from them.
As I walk past, I hear Xayden snicker.
“Who the fuck is Drizella?” The bitch’s voice raises like three octaves. “My fucking name is Monica! Learn it.”
Monica. So that’s his girlfriend’s name. Though, Drizella does fit her better. “You were so obsessed with Cinderella, you tell me, Driz.”
She sneers, “If you call me that again, I’ll fucking tear you apart fatty.”
I hold my hands up in front of me. “Wow, how original, calling the fat girl, fatty. Run out of room in that pea brain of yours for an actual insult?” Turning away from them, I head toward the student center to meet Addy.
The walk is not a long one as I trek toward the Student Union Center. When I reach the brick building with the college logo on the side and SUC on it, I let out a low sigh. It is bad enough that I have Dekker in my class, but then Monica has to enter the picture and ruin my day.
Along with my stepbrother who did nothing. Just stood there letting his slut run her mouth.
I burst through the doors and look around the open space. Tables are scattered everywhere, some lounge areas are placed near the windows, and some counter-height tabletops are placed against walls for those who just want to sit and work by themselves.
As my eyes roam over the new space, I see a hand fly up in the air. Addy waves me over to the table she snagged for us. I walk over toward her and smile.
“Finally! What a morning so far. How were your classes?” I say as I drop my bag onto the table and plop myself into the chair.
She shrugs. “Not too bad. It was my elective this morning. So 3D Max for the win.” Addy throws her hands up in exaggerated celebration. “How was yours?”
“Well, minus the big oaf sitting next to me, it was fine.” I frown, remembering Dekker.
“Big oaf?” Addy raises an eyebrow in question.
“Yeah, one of my stepbrother’s friends is in my class. And he just happened to decide to sit next to me and annoy the fuck out of me,” I groan. “Can we go get food? I’m starving.”
“Yup, let’s go.” We grab our bags and walk over to the vendor area of the SUC. “Oh! I want a sandwich. How about you?” She turns to me.
I shrug. “I can do one, too.”
We both walk up to Sliced Meats and look over the menu. While Addy places her order, I decide on mine.
“What can I get you, miss?” a young man behind the counter says as he puts on new plastic gloves.
“Can I have the Italian sub, please? But no oil, no onion, and extra circle pickles. Oh, and mayonnaise, please.” I smile at him.
“Sure, can I get a name?”
I adjust my bag on my shoulder. “Rory.”
“It will be ready in a few.” He turns and starts cutting the bread as I look at Addy.
“So, your stepbrother, is he cute?” Addy waggles her eyebrows.
I purse my lips. “He’s an asshole.”
She nudges me. “I’m just kidding. So, tell me about this hairy asshole of a stepbrother.”
I laugh. “I didn’t say he was a hairy asshole.”
“Well, if he turns out to be cute, that’s what I need to picture so that I don’t throw myself at him. So in my mind, hairy asshole!”
“Oh my God, Addy.” I cackle. “Yeah, he is something else. My mom married his dad, and I guess he’s not happy about that because he’s been a dick about it since I got here. His friends are just as dickish as he is.”
“Who is he? Maybe I know him,” she asks as the man behind the counter hands her sandwich to her.
“Rory?” the young man who took my order says as he looks at me. “Here you go.” He offers me a brown paper bag with my order.
Addy and I head back to our table and sit down. “Xayden Brooks.”
She frowns. “Hm, haven’t heard of him. But even if he’s cute, he’s still the hairy asshole.” I laugh and shake my head.
We sit quietly, biting into our sandwiches and enjoying a moment of calm before we have to head to our design studio. As I bite into one of the pickles, I hear a gasp come from Addy.
“You okay?” I ask with my hand covering my mouth.
“Hot guys.” Her eyes widen and look past me.
Slowly, I turn myself to try and see what she’s looking at. And then I see them. Their eyes instantly find mine.
Xayden, Dekker, and Seven. Shit.
I let out a groan and turn back toward her. “Hairy asshole alert.”
She looks back at me and then back at the guys. “No! No fucking way! One of those is your brother?” she exclaims.
“Stepbrother. And yeah. The ginger is Seven, the barbarian-looking one is Dekker, and last but not least, the blue-eyed devil himself, Xayden.” I roll my eyes.
“Okay, I may hate the fact that I now have to use the hairy asshole code word. Because holy wow. They are like Greek gods of all that is sexy.”
“Wipe your face here.” I point to the side of her mouth.
“You have some drool.”
“Shut up!” She throws a napkin at me, and we laugh.
But of course, our good times are suddenly ruined by the three people I could go without seeing any more of in this lifetime.
“Aurora,” Xayden says my name in a way that instantly gives me chills.
“Rory. Stop calling me Aurora.” I side-eye him.
“No can do, Aurora.”
I turn my head toward him and the guys and stare at all three. All three sets of eyes are on me.
“What do you want? Lose one of your sluts? I’m sure they are somewhere around here sucking someone off. Go away.” I wave my hand dismissively.
He reaches out and grabs my hand, squeezing it. “Who do you think you are talking to, Princess?”
“Ow, Xayden, you’re hurting me. Stop it!” My other hand reaches up, and I try to pry his fingers off of me. I don’t know why I try; he’s got the grip of death on my wrist. It feels as if he’s trying to crush my bones.
“Pack your shit, take your fucking mother with you, and get the fuck out of Texas,” he snarls.
I grimace. “Is that what this is all about? You mad, bro? You mad my mom took your daddy away from you? I thought people in Texas were supposed to be more welcoming. Apparently, you didn’t get the memo.”
He squeezes me harder, and I clench my teeth together in pain as I stare at him. “Nope. Not at all.”
What the fuck is his issue? “Look, I already apologized about the other day.”
“This has nothing to do with that,” he says as he slams my hand down on the table.
It’s at that point I notice the area around us has gone quiet and people are staring. The other two assholes are standing behind him. Seven is rubbing the back of his neck and Dekker looks straight through me.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m sure as shit not going to take away my mom’s happiness. So fuck off with that shit.”
“Noted.” Xayden turns around, and his two lapdogs follow him.
Chatter around us starts back up again as my eyes follow the three jackasses out of the SUC. I can feel the tension in my neck and the heat on my cheeks from the embarrassment of the confrontation with him.
“Wow. You guys really don’t like each other,” Addy breaks the silence between us.
“I had no problem with him until he got all mean. Which I’m now gathering is because he’s not happy my mom married his dad. Like I have any control of that,” I huff as I rub my wrist.
I look down and see the red mark from his hand. Great.
“Well, after that, he’s a hairy wart-filled asshole.” Addy crosses her arms over her chest with a scowl.
A laugh escapes my lips, and I shake my head. “The picture you just put in my head. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at him and not give myself nightmares.”
Addy and I continue eating our lunch until we have to leave for our studio class. My mind can’t stop replaying the interactions I’ve had with him since I got here. I was wrong to bring up his mother; I know that. But he has it out for me because of what my mother and his father decided to do. Two grown ass consenting adults who simply loved each other and wanted to get married.
I’m not leaving Texas. Now, it’s just a matter of principle. No, I’m going to stay here, graduate, and make sure I piss Xayden off every step of the way.
Congrats, stepbrother. You’re now in my crosshairs.