Chapter 4
Tessa
I finish the last few bites of my salad quickly; I’m about at the end of my reserves. I need to get some sleep stat. I pick up my trash and stand. “All right, Everybody. I’m off.”
“Do you work tonight?” Evie asks.
I nod. “Do you?”
“This afternoon. Stop in before you have to start your shift. I’ll make something for you with lots of caffeine and sugar.”
“Yes, please. And let me pay for it this time.” I make sure she sees that I’m serious.
“We’ll see.”
“Evie,” I implore. She always uses her free drink on me, and I hate that.
She waves me off. “Go get some sleep; we’ll figure it out.”
“Fine. I’ll see you later. Bye, Zane.”
He looks up at me with an easy smile. “See ya, Tessa.”
I turn to the intimidating soccer player to my left.
“Good to meet you, Slater,” I tell him with a grin, since we both know it’s not the first time; but I want it to be.
I don’t like fighting with people, so I’m glad we cleared the air between us.
I throw away my trash and make my way towards the exit.
When I get there, I’m surprised to see Slater waiting at the door.
I glance at him and then back at the table where I thought I left him.
“You’re leaving now too?” He nods and opens the door for me.
“Thanks, Slater. Have a great day.” I take a few steps and notice he’s still walking with me. I pause. “What are you doing?”
He looks down at me. “Walking with you.” He waits a beat. “Is that okay?”
I laugh and look around. “No, the entire female population of FMU will hate me by the end of day. No, thank you. It won’t matter that it doesn’t mean anything.”
“What if it meant something?”
I grin up at him. “Slater Thorne, you apologized. Just let it go. You don’t need to walk me to my dorm. I’m a big girl. Thank you, though. Have a great day.” I take a few steps forward and turn back. “Oh, and have a good soccer practice later today.” I leave him behind and make my way to my dorm.
“Tessa.”
I turn to see Ashley hurrying to catch up to me. She lives across the hall from me. “Hey, Ashley. How’s it going?”
“Was that Slater Thorne you were talking to?” she asks with wide eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I look at her. “Why was I talking to Slater?”
“Yes.”
“We had a run-in earlier this morning; well, and yesterday. So, we’re just getting it sorted.”
Her eyes widen. “You had a run-in with him?”
I keep walking. “Yep, but it’s all fixed now.” She talks the rest of the way to our dorm and even inside, but I don’t catch a whole lot.
“Are you listening to me? You look like you’re zoning out.”
I cringe. “I’m sorry. I worked all last night, and I’m so out of it.”
“Oh, man. Go sleep. I’ll bug you later.” She smiles and waves and walks to her room.
I finally make it to my room and sigh when I see it’s empty.
Stephanie is usually working in the afternoons, which is nice for me.
I drop my bag on the floor as exhaustion floods me.
After kicking off my shoes, I drop into bed and pull my blanket over my head.
My peace lasts approximately ten minutes before I jerk awake to the sound of pounding music.
I groan and pull my blanket over my head and try to sleep, but it’s no use.
I try as hard as I can before I throw my blanket off and walk into the shared bathroom.
I knock on their door. “They probably can’t hear me over the music,” I mutter to myself.
I open the door cautiously. “Hey.” I open it a little further and see several girls who are not my suitemates.
I finally see one of the redheads in the mix. “Faith,” I call out.
She smiles and waves. “Hey,” she calls out over the music.
“Can you turn down the music please? I’m trying to sleep.”
“Sleep? It’s the middle of the afternoon.” She and a few others laugh.
“Yeah, and I work tonight; so, I’m trying to get a few hours of sleep in. Do you mind turning down the music please?”
“Sure,” she waves me off, and I wonder if she’s actually going to do it. But a moment later, the noise level decreases; well, of the music anyway. The girls are anything but quiet.
“Thank you,” I call out as I retrace my steps back to my room.
I sigh heavily and drop into bed once again.
I pull my blanket up and close my eyes. It starts up again.
I look up at the ceiling and debate screaming or crying.
I’m so tired; I just want to sleep. I try off and on for like an hour before I finally give up.
Knowing I can’t stay here, I change into my security outfit, pack my bag and leave my dorm room.
I know the library is out because it’s too quiet, and I’ll just fall asleep.
I decide on the coffee shop. I'm hoping maybe a caffeinated to the max drink will help me wake up and maybe help me make it through my shift tonight. Somebody opens the door for me when I get there. “Thanks.” I head inside and realize immediately that Evie isn’t working yet.
Defeat washes over me, and I think I just might cry.
I step back outside, not wanting to be in the shop if Evie’s not even there.
I close my eyes a moment and try to recenter myself.
“Tessa.”
I startle at the sound of that low voice; I know without even looking whose voice it is. Sure enough, when I open my eyes, I see Slater Thorne standing in front of me. I manage a smile. “Hey, Slater.”
“What’s wrong?” His question is intense, and it surprises me.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just—” I pause, unsure what exactly to say.
“You’re just what?” he prods.
I suddenly feel like crying, and I’m irritated with myself. “I’m sorry. I’m just really tired.”
He steps closer. “I thought you were going to go lay down and get some sleep.”
“Yeah, but then my suitemates decided to play their loud music.”
He frowns. “Can’t you report them?”
I shake my head. “I’m not going to do that.”
“Why not?” he questions. I rub my head, where I’m getting a headache. He pulls out his phone and types something, and I take that as my cue to leave. “Wait,” he says quietly and then he pockets his phone.
My phone dings a moment later, and I open a text from Evie.
Evie- the house is empty right now except for me. Come sleep here for a few hours.
I stare at the text, wanting to desperately, but unsure. “You can take my truck.”
My head jerks up. “What?”
“You can take my truck,” he repeats.
I stare at him, trying to make sense of him. “Why would you offer that? Why are you even being nice to me? You don’t know me at all.”
He studies my face a moment. “You’re Evie’s friend. Here.” He digs in his pocket and takes out his keys. “I’ll show you where it’s parked.”
“Slater, I’m not taking your truck.”
He turns back to face me. “Then I’ll run you over and come back.”
“You don’t need to do that. I’m fine.”
He puts his phone to his ear, and I take a step back. His eyes meet mine, halting me. “Evie,” he says in that seriously seductive low voice. “Please convince your friend that I’m not a serial killer, so she’ll get in the truck with me.” He listens a moment and then hands me the phone.
I put the phone up to my ear. “I know he’s not a serial killer,” I tell her before she can say anything.
“Tess, let Slater drive you here. You can crash in my room for a few hours and actually get some sleep before you have to go back tonight. Don’t think about it; just get in the truck with Slater. I can vouch for him; he’s a good guy.”
I turn away from him. “You just told me what a jerk he was.”
She huffs. “Okay for the record, I never said he was a jerk. I said he was...Slater, and you took that to mean he was a jerk. Yes, he’s intense and driven, but he’s one of Zane’s closest friends.
He wouldn’t be if he wasn’t a good guy. And I know he would never hurt you.
” There’s a sound from behind me, but when I turn back, Slater just watches me carefully.
“You’re sure I’m not bothering you or messing up your schedule? ” I ask Slater.
“Are you asking me or Slater?” Evie asks over the line.
“Slater. Well, both of you really.”
“I’m fine. Believe me; Slater’s fine with it. Just get in the truck and come. If you keep dawdling, you will mess up Slater’s schedule.”
“Oh,” My eyes shoot to his. “Okay. Bye, Evie.”
“Wait, so are you coming?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I'll see you soon.”
She disconnects, and I hand the phone to Slater. “Would you be willing to run me over?”
He doesn’t hesitate for a second. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to.
This way.” I follow him to his truck, which isn’t parked all that far from my dorm.
He opens my door without a word, and I climb in.
As soon as he shuts the door, I take a deep whiff.
It smells really good—like leather and whatever cologne Slater wears.
It’s something dark and masculine. He opens the door and climbs in much more gracefully than I managed.
Soft music plays from the radio; it’s not loud enough for me to hear what it is.
It's relaxing though, and for that, I’m grateful.
I put my head against the seat and watch as the scenery passes.
I must have fallen asleep at some point, because when I open my eyes, there’s a house in front of me.
I sit up and glance over at Slater. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to apologize for.” He slides out of the truck and comes around to my side. When he opens the door, I jump down and teeter a moment. A strong hand at my elbow steadies me. I blink, still trying to wake up.
“Come on.” He tugs lightly on my elbow, and I follow him towards the house. Evie opens the door before we get there and hugs me tightly like we didn’t just see each other an hour ago.
“Come on. Let’s get you to bed.”
Because I’m still so out of it and sleep-deprived, I follow her without a word. She opens her room, and I follow her inside. “You can crash here; I’ll be out in the living room.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, even as the bed calls to me.
“Yes, I’m sure. Sleep, Tessa. What time do you need to get up?”
“I’ll set an alarm.”
“Okay. I’ll probably be gone because I’m leaving for the coffee shop in about an hour. If you get there early enough, I’ll make a coffee for you.”
“Thanks, Evie.” I sit on the edge of the bed, ready to crash. I kick off my shoes and watch Evie leave. Before the door can close all the way, Slater ducks inside.
“Here’s your bag.”
I blink. “Oh, thanks. I totally forgot about it.”
“I didn’t.” His gaze meets mine. He looks like he’s about to say something, but then he takes a step back.
“Get some rest, Tessa.” His voice is almost soft and.
..gentle? I realize I’m more tired than I thought I was.
As soon as the room is empty, I lay down on Evie’s bed.
It only takes seconds for me to fall asleep.
Thankfully, this time there is no music or slamming doors to wake me up.