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“A Chippendale,” I answer.
Charlotte laughs, and it lights up her eyes. “Is that a thing anymore?”
We walk toward the door after I pay the bill. Nine Inch Nails, another favorite of my dad’s, starts playing, and I’m glad we’re going. “They did a documentary on it recently,” I reply, “So it would be a funny throwback. You can dress up as a lion tamer. I got an old tux we can turn into a costume. You wear the jacket, and I’ll wear the pants.”
“I guess.” Her tone is borderline, as if it’s a real possibility.
“I’ll have the prettiest woman taming me.” I push a little harder. “It will be fun. We can hang together, and I’ll make sure no one bothers you.
That’s the hook. Suddenly, Charlotte is interested in the idea and asks a ton of questions about our costume.
Heading back to campus, I tell the driver that it’s okay to leave us outside the gate. The gate is two brick columns on either side of the road and a chain they pull across it after 9:00 p.m. As we pull up, a security guard is locking the chain.
We walk toward the dorm, but I hesitate by the hall. “Do you want to look in there one more time, just in case you dropped them?”
Charlotte nods, and we hurry into the building. The roaring sound of vacuums echoes in the hallways as the cleaning crew works most of the night throughout the campus buildings. I head down the aisle in the lecture hall, watching carefully as we approach the row we usually sit in. The seats are on an incline, and Charlotte has to get on the floor to look under her seat.
While she looks, I pull her keys out of my jacket pocket and hold them up in the air. “Are these your keys?”
She clasps her hands together, delighted with my find. “Yes, thank you so much. I really didn’t feel like bothering Jake or getting a new set.” She pauses. “No, I would’ve insisted they change the locks.”
I step over the seat so that I’m standing beside her. I hold her shoulders in my hands and look into her eyes. “You tell me, and I will pound the MF into the ground.”
When I lean in for a kiss, she eagerly meets my lips. I hold onto her tight.
We walk back to the dorm together hand in hand, and before she leaves for her room, she pecks me on the cheek. “Thanks,” she whispers, “For being okay with everything.”
I smile. “Charlotte, I’m sorry, and I’m here for you.” I watch her as she unlocks her door and slips into her room. The lock clicks before I walk away. When I enter my room, I start to cough from the cloud of cigarette smoke dimming the overhead light. I throw the window open, and Jaxon starts to complain about the icy air.
“I’m not listening to you whine,” I tell him. “I told you two not to smoke in here.”
Asher reaches down and taps out his cigarette on the floor before putting it away in his jacket. He’s going to spontaneously combust one day, and everyone’s going to think it’s fucking magic. He looks at me like the cigarette hole in the rug is no big deal. And for a second, I wonder if he sent Charlotte those notes. No, the Neanderthal can barely read or write.
“I spoke to her, and she’s going as a lion tamer.”
Whooping, Jaxon jumps off his bed and slaps my back. He does that shit on purpose. “You pulled it off. Now we’ll all match.”
“I told her that I have a tux,” I reply. “I didn’t tell her I got it just for her to wear.”
“I don’t get it,” replies Asher. “Why dress alike?”
“Because it sends a message to others to back off. Unless you want Kurt to join in on our reindeer games.”
Asher glares at me as if I want to share her with one more guy. I sit by the window to get away from the foul stench of their cigarettes. “I did my part,” I tell them. “And we have to stay near her.”
“Of course.” Asher looks at me like I’m crazy.
I shake my head, not pleased with Jaxon’s attitude. “No, something is up with her. And we should stay close by.”
Chapter 29
Charlotte
My Halloween costume is sexy, not slutty, and even though the skirt is short, my top half is completely covered. It’s cute in red, white, and black. I wear skin-tone tights with my skirt fluffed up by layers of tulle. In the lounge, I take a spin, sending the hem of my skirt into the air. I tip my top hat at Prisha, Wren, and Tracey.
“That is to die for,” says Prisha, admiring the tux and tails. “It’s so cute. I love the sparkling tulle underskirt.”
“Thanks,” I take a bow. “I love your costumes too.”
