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But I’m not allowed to feel jealousy. If I’m jealous, I’m doing my job wrong.
Layla seems lost in thought as we walk across campus to her next class. I scan the area, on the lookout for that photographer. There’s no sign of him, but I catch countless people staring at us as we pass. They’re not too subtle about taking pictures of Layla and whispering to one another as they type madly on their phones. I imagine those photos will be posted all over the Internet any second.
It’s a nice day, a clear sky, and it’s not too warm—which is a good thing as we’re doing a lot of walking outside.
As we head to her next class, I can’t help reminiscing about my own college experience. It’s been a few years since I was in college. I went into the Army right out of high school, with the intention of becoming a combat medic. I watched a lot of war movies growing up, and I thought the real heroes were the guys who pulled the injured soldiers out of the fire and rubble and patched them up long enough to get them to a field hospital.
So I did basic training, then advanced training, and I served as a combat medic in Afghanistan. When I got out of the Army, I wanted to continue working as a medic, so I became a licensed paramedic and got a job back home in Chicago.
When I met Liam and Miguel at our favorite local watering hole, and we became friends, they talked me into joining McIntyre Security. At that point in my career, I was ready for a change. The PTSD I brought back with me after serving in Afghanistan was bad enough, but working as a paramedic wasn’t any easier. It got so bad that I couldn’t sleep some nights. I still suffer from insomnia. Some sights you just can’t unsee, no matter how hard you try, or how much time has passed. Or how many therapists you’ve been to.
So I underwent even more training to learn how to be a bodyguard. Because of my medical background, Shane assigns me to clients who have significant medical issues, like Layla.
Layla’s awfully quiet, and I wonder what’s on her mind. She’s probably thinking about the idiot who asked her out. I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the last of him.
Well, I have news for him. He won’t be alone with her. Even if she agrees to a date—and that has yet to be determined—yours truly will be riding along with them. He won’t have one single moment alone with her.
I’ll make sure of it.
Chapter 20
Layla Alexander
When I reach my English classroom, the door is open. I walk inside and take my usual seat in the back of the room. Students are milling around the rows of desks, chatting and laughing. I notice a girl sneaking a selfie with me in the background—I’m essentially photobombing her.
When she realizes I’m on to her, she shrugs as she gives me an innocent smile.
Jason takes the empty seat beside me.
He’s so bored. I don’t know how he can stand being around you all the time.
Stop it.
If I were him, I’d want to kill myself.
“I said stop it!”
I realize I said that out loud when everyone in the room turns to stare at me. I can feel my face heating in embarrassment. I hate it when I slip up like that and talk back to her. The people around me think I’m nuts.
Jason lays his hand on my back. “It’s okay,” he whispers. “Ignore them.”
I want desperately to put my earbuds in and listen to music to try to drown her out, but I can’t because our instructor just walked in the room and class is about to start. Jason’s watching me covertly, but I pretend not to notice. This is my life—going from one crisis to another, from drama to drama. It sucks, and he’ll just have to get used to it.
I focus on what the instructor says and try to block out everything else—Jason’s worried glances, students sneaking pictures, the monster in my head—all of it.
Pressure’s building in my chest. My lungs feel tight, my skin prickly.
You’re such a disappointment.
Near the end of class, I notice Jason consulting the app on his phone as he checks my blood sugar. He doesn’t say anything to me, so I guess it’s okay. When class is over, I slip my iPad into my backpack.
I have two more classes today—one a psychology class on early childhood development and the other chemistry. I’m taking four classes in all, and they meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I only come to campus those three days.
But right now I get a short break because it’s lunchtime, and I’m meeting Charlene.
Chapter 21
Jason Miller
