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Chapter One
Zadie
Ihadnotime.I never ran late, but I was tonight. It was nerves, most likely. They’d been slowing me down. My hands were trembling a little. My feet felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. But I’d managed to put on a little mascara without stabbing myself in the eye, so I was calling it a win.
I checked my phone as I walked out of my room into the living area. Two minutes. Jeez, I never cut it this close.
“I don’t like your boyfriend.”
Stopping in my tracks, I stared at my suitemate, Elena. Blonde, tan, thin, and so beautiful I could weep.Shefit in at Savage U. The day she showed up to claim the third room in our suite, I’d been braced for the worst—my roommates freshman yearhadbeen the worst. Elena Sanderson was sharp tongued, sarcastic, somewhat narcissistic, and a little unhinged, but she’d aimed all that outward. To me, she’d never been anything but funny, and I would even say kind.
“What?” I shoved my phone in my purse. I didn’t have time for a conversation, but I was frozen on my spot.
Elena was spread out on a love seat, books, papers, and laptop around her. She nodded and flicked her fingers in my direction. “Your boyfriend. He’s absolutely wretched. You’re so pretty, and you’re rushing around, frantic not to be late for a date with him. It makes me sad. One, because a man should always wait on his woman, and two, because he’s not good enough for you.”
“That’s...I don’t know what to say.”
She shrugged. “Helen thinks it too. She won’t say it because she doesn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
My eyes widened. “You’ve been talking about me?”
“No. I don’t have to. It’s extremely obvious.”
“It is?”
Helen Ortega was one of the most honest, up-front, real girls I’d ever met, but not in the brutal way Elena was. She was a stunningly beautiful, skateboarding badass who had always had a soft spot for me, but especially since her troubles spilled over onto me a few months ago. After my hostage crisis, she’d been a little extra careful with me.
So, if she didn’t like the guy I was sort of seeing, it wouldn’t surprise me she hadn’t said anything. Leave it to Elena to bring the truth.
“What are youdoing,Zadie?” Elena pushed aside her laptop to stand in front of me, her hands on her hips. I was miniature, and she was tall and lithe, so I had to tilt my head back to look at her.
“I’m just...he’s not really my boyfriend.”
She rolled her eyes. “Thank Prada for small miracles. But I mean, why are you spending time with him? You can do so much better, girl.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but if I said that out loud, she’d get angry with me.
“He’s funny, and…I don’t know, it’s nice to go out and do things. I spent all last semester in this suite. It’s time to shake things up.”
Her hands squeezed my shoulders. “I’ll take you out. There’s really no need for you to go out withhim. If it’s about getting laid, I’m sorry I’m not available for that service, but I’m certain I can find you someone who is.”
I would have laughed if my phone hadn’t vibrated in my purse. “I’m sorry, I have to go. He’s waiting.” She didn’t remove her hands, so I was stuck. “I need to go, El.”
She stared at me for a long beat before releasing me. “Go. But if he lays an unwelcome finger on you, do not hesitate to kick him in the dick and call me to finish the job.”
The lead finally lightening in my feet, I raced to the elevator and then through the lobby, bursting out of my dorm. Nerves still writhed like worms in my stomach, and only worsened as I approached the car. The passenger door swung open. As soon as I slipped inside and closed it, the car pulled away from the curb.
“Hi,” I said softly.
Elliott, the guy I’d been seeing for the last couple weeks, drummed impatient fingers on the steering wheel. A muscle in his square jaw ticced before he relaxed.
“You owe me an apology.”
I sucked in a breath. “Okay. Um…I’m sorry I was running late. My roommate started talking to me and—”
“I’d appreciate it if next time you send me a text if you’re not going to be where you promised you would be.” He glanced over at me, sweeping his sharp brown eyes over me from head to toe. “You look nice.”
“Thank you, Elliott. You do too.”
