She turns back to her laptop and notes, and I’m forced to walk back toward the front of the class despite the way the bond begs me to go back to her, to complete it and make what we have more than just emotional.
I hope to someday, for sure, but to go from no idea there's anything beyond mortals to mated to a super… well, that might be pushing it even more than my disappearing act.
The bell rings not long after, and while everyone else is in a hurry to pack up again, it’s almost as if Wren exists in her own world, oblivious.
I’m about to call her name when Gavin stands, making his way toward my desk, and I remember we’re supposed to go shopping today for some stuff for the dorm and my apartment.
Crap.
I see the second he notices her, his face scrunching up in annoyance, his jaw clenched as he stops dead.
“What’s she still doing here?” he snaps, his voice far too loud in the now mostly quiet room as the last of my other students trickle out.
That gets her attention, though I’m not sure if it’s the volume of his voice or just him. I have to imagine she’s used to his attitude by now, despite how much she doesn’t deserve one bit of it.
I’ll have to talk to him while we're out. I’d thought he would get over this one-sided grudge against her, be the bigger man, and all that.
“It’s her class, asshole,” Julian snaps from the door, and we all turn to see him standing in the doorway. The magic that wafts into the room lets me know just how he got here, and the look on his face tells me this is normal for Gavin.
Great, definitely not the bigger man then.
“Julez.” There’s no mistaking the relief in her voice when she says his name or the fact that she’s using his nickname.
Fuck, so maybe his little display wasn’t just a way for him to poke at me.
Not that I care, and he can’t really say much either, considering him and Titus.
It’s fine; her having Julian is good; she needs someone in her corner.
I try to convince myself, and while I know that’s true, I can’t say I love it.
“Let’s go, Pookie.” Julian nods toward the door, and she’s up and moving so fast I nearly growl.
Wren’s nearly out the door when she pauses for a moment, looking back at me over her shoulder.
“See you tomorrow, Mr. Adler,” she says before Julian whisks her away, and I’m left with my asshole little brother glaring at me.
“See you tomorrow, Mr. Adler.” He mocks her in a stupid, high-pitched voice that sounds nothing like her, and this time, I do growl.
Gavin cocks a brow at me but keeps his mouth shut.
“Grow up,” I snap as I grab my keys and head out. He can follow or stay here, for all I care.
Idon’t know when it happened, but something shifted, as if overnight Nolan switched sides, leaving the dorm split.
Wonderful.
I’d told myself that I was going to be impartial with her, act as if she didn’t exist, at least for Julez's sake, but then that had gone out the window when she showed up for cello practice.
I knew that everyone was required to play something or learn, but what were the odds she played cello of all things?
And I’d never admit it aloud, but she played well. At this point, it’s as if she can do no wrong; everything I’ve seen her attempt, she’s great at.
No wonder she and Gavin bump heads; they're much the same, and as unfair as life might be, I bet if she’d grown up with us, she’d have fit right into our group instead of being at odds with us.
The only thing that made all of this worse was that she also had violin practice with Julian, and while he had been thrilled, I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that I’m not.
The last thing I need is for her to have more time alone with Julian; he already insists on her being around as often as she will allow.
