Page 3
“That sounds noncommittal.”
“Noncommittal is my specialty.”
He laughs before handing me my bag. Neither of us seems ready to move but I’m still looking for a reason to keep him at a distance, like I keep most people.
“Are you going to say the same thing your brother did?” I ask finally. “Not to tell anyone?”
He sighs. “Give me your phone.”
I can’t think of a good reason to refuse, so I reach into my bag for it and pass it over. He types a few keystrokes before handing it back.
“My number. If you need anything.”
“In case I need to call Theo Ashford,” I echo, the doubt clear in my voice.
This time, he grins. “So you do know who I am.”
“Obviously.” My lips curve too, and somehow, I’m a little breathless. “Your name’s on the building.”
The Ashfords represent exclusivity and speed and prestige. But one of them is standing in front of me with a disarming smile as if we’re equals. No, it’s more than that—as if the fact I’m talking to him is as much his privilege as mine.
“I hope your day gets better, New Girl.” With a wink, Theo turns on his heel and heads for the parking lot, where the Porsche now sits in front of a Reserved sign.
The driver’s getting out, his sunglasses back in place. I can’t know if he’s watching, but I’d bet on it.
2
Shay
The Ashfords.
Of the possibilities I imagined for my first day of the semester, meeting them was not on my bingo card.
Though I’ve watched four-time F1 champion driver Luca Ashford race on screens my entire life, this is the closest I’ve come to his family. Photos and video clips hardly do Luca’s sons justice. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful in real life.
Shaking myself, I turn for the building and walk straight into the glass doors.
I manage to avoid falling on my ass but catch sight of myself reflected on the surface. Brown hair escaping its messy ponytail. Lined eyes looking more haunted than edgy. Chapped lips always in need of lip balm. Thank fuck for my leather jacket—without it, I’d probably have a hole in my long-sleeved T-shirt, courtesy of the Porsche.
“I ran into them my first day,” a slender girl with wavy black hair appears in the reflection next to me.
“The Ashfords?”
“The doors. They scrub them sparkly clean every hour.” She smiles, her teeth bright against flawless golden skin. “I’m Megan.”
“Shay.” Her warmth is a lifeline. I breathe in for what feels like the first time all morning. “Is it that obvious I’m new?”
“I clocked it fifty feet away.” Megan holds out a hand and I hold up mine. Her gaze lands on the angry red skin. “I’m guessing that’s not from the door.”
As much as I’d like to defy Theo’s brother, I hesitate to volunteer the details to a stranger. “I fell.”
Megan seems to accept it, opening the offending door and motioning me through. Her pink sweater billowing in the breeze, she looks as out of place as I feel.
“I’m supposed to be in class.” I pull up my schedule on my phone.
She looks over my shoulder. “Wait. You’re second year, like me.” She blinks, flashing bright blue eyeliner.
There are a million questions on her face, but I only answer one. “I’m a transfer. I was taking mechanical engineering at Ohio State.”
