Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94653 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
One quick step brings her closer as she stabs a finger at my chest. With her head tilted upward, her warm breath drifts over my lips. It’s tempting to suck in a big breath of her and take it deep into my lungs. I want to hold it—her—captive there forever.
Even with the anger that vibrates off her in heavy, suffocating waves, she’s nothing short of intoxicating.
“There once was a time when we were friends, but that’s over.” Her lips peel back into a snarl. “Stay the fuck out of my way.”
Before I can respond, she swings around and stalks away without another glance in my direction.
Chapter 7
Fallyn
I’m still shaking from that run-in with Wolf as I slide onto my seat in psychology and yank out my computer. I wish I could say it’s just anger swirling within me, threatening to swallow me whole, but that would be a lie.
There’s sadness, too.
So much of it.
More than I expected after all this time.
Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised.
Almost five years might have passed, but it’s nothing compared to the decade of friendship we shared before that. There was nowhere we went that Wolf wasn’t right by our side. Miles and I were always close and got along. But Wolf was the missing piece. I loved him just as much as I loved my brother.
Maybe even more because I’d always assumed—
I shake those thoughts away before they can do permanent damage.
It doesn’t matter what I believed years ago.
Miles is gone, and the fault lies with Wolf.
Just as the professor begins class, a text pops up from Vi.
How’d the call with student services go?
A second one quickly follows.
You have an interview with Sully at 4 today! Yay!
My fingers hover over the miniature keyboard. After my run-in with Wolf, I’m not sure I want to work someplace where he’s a regular.
But I need the money.
All I can do is hope he’ll heed my warning and stay the fuck away. It would be the best thing for both of us. I just need to make it through this semester, and then Wolf Westerville will graduate. If the gossip I hear swirling around campus is true, he’ll move up to the pros. Then I won’t have to worry about running into him around every corner.
I can live my life in peace.
Decision made, I fire off a quick response.
I’ll be there. Tell Mads thank you!
Viola hearts the comment.
Good luck!
I release a steady breath, knowing I’ll need it.
The rest of the hour-long lecture passes slowly. Normally, this is one of my favorite classes, but I can’t focus. My brain keeps bouncing back to Wolf and the handful of minutes I spent in his company.
I’m shocked and ashamed of myself for slapping him.
Twice.
I’ve never hit anyone before.
What makes it even worse is that he’d just stood there and taken the abuse before quietly asking if we could talk.
Talk!
Ha!
Like that would change anything between us.
Or bring Miles back.
That thought is enough to bring a burst of agony to my heart, and my hand unconsciously rises to rub the scar that lies beneath my shirt.
As soon as the professor dismisses us for the day, my phone rings, cutting through the chaos unfolding around me. My heart hitches when an unknown number flashes across the screen. I glance at the students flooding the corridor as I step into the swiftly moving stream and get swept away by the current.
“Hello?”
“Ms. DiMarco?”
“Yes. Who is this?”
There’s a slight chuckle from the other end of the line. “Oh, sorry about that. It’s Sharon from student services.”
“Oh.” My belly dips as my feet falter. “Hi.”
“When we spoke yesterday, you talked about applying for a private loan at one of the local banks to pay your tuition. I was hoping you could give me an update.”
I chew my lower lip. “Actually, I did talk to a few places. They said it would take a couple of weeks to get the funds.” And that’s if I qualified in the first place. Which is doubtful since I’ve never held a job.
There’s an uncomfortable pause.
“I’m afraid our hands are tied at this end. If you’re not able to pay your bill by the cutoff date, we’ll have to drop you from your courses.”
Icy fingers wrap around my heart, squeezing until it becomes impossible to breathe and I blurt, “I’m, ah, working on another potential solution. Can I call you back later this afternoon?”
“Of course. I hate to say this, but our deadline is strict. There isn’t any wiggle room.”
“I understand. Just…give me a bit more time to figure something out.”
Her voice gentles. “Let’s talk tomorrow morning. Hopefully, you’ll have some good news to share.”
By the time I end the conversation, my knees are weak.
Not more than thirty seconds later, my phone rings for a second time. Everything inside me nosedives when Chloe’s name flashes across the screen.