Page 47 of Trust Me

With a huff of laughter, Linc held his hand out for a pamphlet.

Spotting another familiar face, I darted over to him before he could disappear into the library. Aiden looked at me in surprise when I shoved a pamphlet toward him.

“What’s up, my guy? Your opinions could change the fate of the whole university.”

“I’m sort of in a hurry,” he said.

I stuck my lip out. “Come on. We shared an umbrella. That’s a bond that can’t be broken.”

“We tried to share an umbrella.”

“Then we ran through the rain like two jolly good fellows in a romance movie. Work with me here.”

Finally, he chuckled. “Fine, but make it quick.”

“Efficiency is my middle name, little dude.”

*****

Dean was off last night. It didn’t really matter that I’d learned that by asking Remi because I was too chicken shit to talk to Dean myself. I was super self-aware of the logical faults, but I just needed to know whether I should expect him to come through that door or not.

Same with today. He should’ve been out of class a few hours ago. It wasn’t like he had to update me. He was a grown man, just like I was.

The problem was, I didn’t know how to leave well enough alone. I would run an issue into the ground, then start digging with my hands to drive it deeper.

Things were off, so I had to fix it. I had to or I wouldn’t breathe right.

When the door opened, I jumped to my feet. Dean stopped, taking in the situation. The mail was spread out on the floor, all opened in a messy pile. Opened but not examined.

Without saying anything, he brought a grocery bag into the kitchen. I waited for him to put things away, but then he headed for the bathroom. When he let out a growl, I inched closer.

“Crap,” I muttered, rushing forward to grab the towel I’d left on the floor.

“It’s fine.”

I continued to pick up the few other things I’d left behind after my shower. I’d been trying to remember to keep the space clean, but I’d been consumed by the need to deal with the mail situation.

Seeing the tube of toothpaste on the counter, I shoved it into a drawer, along with my toothbrush. Since the hand towel was nearly in the sink, I grabbed it and hung it on the wall.

“Oliver, I just want to shower.”

“You called me Oli before,” I said, searching for anything else I’d left a mess.

“What?”

“It’s what my friends call me.”

“Okay.”

I unclenched my teeth before I looked at him. He wouldn’t meet my eyes. “You’re quiet. Or is this your natural charm?”

He finally looked at me, but his expression was blank. “Just tired.”

“The Wi-Fi is back on.”

“That’s good. Thanks.”

Twisting my lips to the side, I tried to read him. “I know I made things weird—”