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“Why are you being so nice?” I shift in my seat. I’m not used to people going out of their way for me. There’s always some kind of ulterior motive.
“What’s your name?”
“Autumn.”
“It fits.” He smirks.
“And you’re Noble.” I’ve heard Rob call him that. It’s an interesting name and one I’m pretty sure I’ve heard before.
“Yeah, Noble Patton White.” A few things click together in my mind. I know of the Pattons. I’m here under one of their scholarship programs for kids coming out of the system from group homes. They select a hundred each year from the state to receive financial help. I suddenly feel very awkward. The Pattons are not rich. They’re wealthy.
“You’re a Patton,” I confirm. He said it as his middle name, but with Noble in front of it, I’m pretty sure he’s one.
“Yeah, White is my father’s last name.”
“Well, Noble, it was nice meeting you. Thank you for helping me with the Rob thing.” I start to stand. He snags my wrist to stop me.
“You can’t go in and out of men’s rooms. Whoever approved you to have that job should be fired over at the Student Staffing Office.”
“I need this job, and it’s all that’s available right now.” Is he going to report this? Will I get fired because honestly, I don’t think he’s completely wrong. I had a brief moment of panic when Rob grabbed my arm.
“What does it pay?” His thumb wrapped around my wrist starts to stroke back and forth against the inside of it. It’s hard to think when he’s doing that. His eyes hold mine. He’s too damn handsome too. Why is he so interested in me?
“Like a few hundred a week.”
“Fine. I’ll pay you a few hundred a week to clean my place. Cash.” I jerk my hand from his hold. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop because his offer is too good to be true.
“You’ll pay me a few hundred a week to clean your room. Seriously?” I jump up from the sofa. “I’m guessing there are other services you want to go along with that.”
“Hey, I didn’t—” A knock sounds at his door.
“Noble? Are you there?”
“Fuck,” Noble mutters, standing from the sofa and glaring at the door. He clearly doesn’t care for whomever is knocking. “That was not what I meant.” A knock sounds again. “Hold on!” he shouts. “I’ve got to deal with my father, but this isn’t over.” Before I realize what’s happening, he’s pulled my phone out of the back pocket of my jean shorts. He holds it up to my face, and it unlocks.
“What are you doing?”
“How’d you crack your phone?” he asks, clicking away on the screen.
“I got it cracked.” A phone starts to go off but stops after one ring. He hands it back, and I realize he just called his phone with mine.
“Noble!” His father knocks again, sounding agitated now.
“You should get that, and I’m going to go.”
“Not to Rob’s room,” he reminds me.
“Not to Rob’s room,” I agree. I’m going to go back to my own dorm room and shower and pray my roommate and her boyfriend aren’t there. If they are, I’ll end up spending my evening in the library to escape them.
“You can start tomorrow.”
“I didn’t agree to your deal.”
“You’ll start tomorrow,” he says again.
“It’s safe for me to clean your room but not the other males that live here?”
“Yeah, it’s safer for them.” He walks over to the door, opening it as his father starts to pound harder.
