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Silas looks into my eyes, his intense gaze making my heart skip a beat. I almost stop breathing when his free hand slides up my back and into my hair. He cups the back of my head, his touch possessive. “I’m sorry, baby. My seminar ran longer than it should have.” He tips his head toward Caleb, a questioning look in his eyes. “Is this guy giving you any trouble?”
I hesitate, wanting to say yes, but knowing that I can’t. Silas has so much on his plate already. There’s no way I can add to it. Besides, I don’t want to be the kind of girl that needs help from a guy. I can deal with this myself. “Not at all.”
He nods and glances back at Caleb. I follow his gaze to find Caleb staring at the two of us, his eyes dark with jealousy. He throws me a venomous look before he turns and walks away, his demeanor spelling trouble. I sigh and drop my forehead to Silas’s chest, enjoying the way he’s holding me.
It’s insane, and I know this is all fake, but Caleb’s behavior is granting me moments with Silas I’d otherwise never have. “What are you doing here?” I murmur against his hoodie.
“Something about our conversation yesterday didn’t sit well with me, and I wanted to come see you at school, just to make sure you really were okay. As expected, that guy is still pursuing you, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to give up anytime soon. I thought being seen with your alleged boyfriend might make him back off.”
He smiles at me in a way he never has before, and I can’t help but smile back. “You didn’t need to do that for me,” I murmur. My school is really far from the shelter, and I can’t imagine how long it must’ve taken him to get here.
“It’s okay,” he says, the back of his fingers brushing over my cheek tenderly. I swallow hard at his touch. It’s strangely intimate. I know I should step out of his embrace, but I want more of this. I’m not ready to let go of this fantasy. “Your school is pretty close to Astor College.”
I gasp, my eyes widening. “You go toAstor College?” It’s the best school in this state, and it’s my dream college. It’s not easy to get into Astor College, and because it’s a prestigious private school, it’s insanely expensive too. I can’t even imagine how high his student loans must be.
“I do. I study Computer Science. Their programme is among the best in the country, and I’ve always wanted to go there. Some days it’s still surreal to me, to be honest.”
Silas lets go of me and takes a step back. I sigh, missing his touch already. The way he smirks at me makes me suspect that he realizes how I feel about him, but thankfully he isn’t teasing me.
“Let me drive you back,” I murmur, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Silas glances at the car behind me and nods. My dad bought me a Porsche for my sixteenth birthday, and at the time I loved the car, but now that I’m standing in front of Silas, it seems pretentious and shameful. I hesitate for a moment, and then I hand him the keys. “Actually, why don’t you drive?”
He looks at me the way he does sometimes. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve managed to decipher the looks he throws my way. He’s trying to figure out if this is a pity move or not. “Si,” I murmur. “I’ve only been driving for a couple of months, and I don’t want you to judge my driving. You just drive.”
He smiles then, and I breathe a sigh of relief when his fingers curl around the keys. He walks around the car and holds the passenger door open for me, surprising me. I don’t think anyone has ever done that for me before.
I’m nervous as he gets behind the wheel. It’s silly, but I’ve never been in a car with a guy I like. I frown when he adjusts the seat and mirrors with ease. It took me ages to figure out what all the buttons did, and where they even were. “You seem really familiar with my car,” I murmur, surprised.
He smiles at me. “I used to have a Porsche 911 myself. It’s a good car.”
I blink in surprise. “What?”
Silas glances at me as he reverses out. “Alanna… I grew up really rich. My father was the founder of a popular hedge fund.”
I nod, surprised. “I see… but then how… I mean…”
“I don’t know,” he says, his tone strained. “I’m sure something dodgy went down when my father passed away. There’s no way he wouldn’t have had a proper estate plan. He wouldn’t have cut both my brother and me out of his will, and his will couldn’t have been as simple as it was, but I can’t prove that. I couldn’t then, and I still can’t now. One day, I’ll regain everything I lost, but until then, I’m biding my time, studying as hard as I can and working my way up the only way I can. I’m in no position to forcibly take back what’s mine, but one day I will be.”
I nod at him. “I have no doubt,” I tell him. “You’re going to do amazing things, Silas.”
He smiles at me. “So will you, Alanna. I know it probably isn’t easy for you right now. You may not have said much, but I was sixteen just a few years ago, and I have a pretty good idea how much of an asshole that kid must be. Always remember the bigger picture, okay? Don’t get into silly fights, and don’t let him get to you. If you need help, just ask me, all right?”
I nod, refusing to voice the words. I can’t promise him anything. I don’t want to rely on Silas. I don’t want to be another burden to him. I’ll take care of Caleb myself.
ChapterNine
Alanna
I frown when my card is declined at the online dress store I’ve been using for years. I spent weeks picking the dress I want to wear for dinner on my seventeenth birthday, only for the transaction to be declined. My birthday is still several weeks away, but Dad promised to spend all day with me, so I’ve started planning way ahead.
I sigh as I try my card one more time, only for it to be declined again. “That’s weird,” I whisper to myself. Something about this doesn’t sit well with me. I haven’t said anything to Dad, but I’ve noticed the overdue bill notices we get in the post, the one he keeps trying to hide. Each time I make any kind of remark, he shuts me down and tells me not to worry. It’s clear he doesn’t want me to know, but it looks like something might be wrong. Surely the business isn’t in trouble?
I bite down on my lip as I close my laptop and pick up my phone. Should I call Dad and ask him about my credit card? If something truly is wrong, then that’d just add to his worries. I can’t do that. It’s probably better that I bring it up in person.
I check the time and sigh. It’s nearly nine in the evening, and he still isn’t home. When was the last time we even had dinner together? He’s been working far harder than he ever has before, and I can’t help but worry.
I inhale deeply and tighten my grip on my phone as I move from my desk to my bed. On nights like these, I always feel lonely, and I find myself second-guessing my decision to ostracize Caleb. Because I rejected him publicly,multipletimes, I’ve found myself becoming a social pariah. No one talks to me unless they’re talking shit about me. I’ve always been a bit of a loner, so I’ve never really had any friends, but now my chances of ever making any are gone.
I glance back at my phone, my mind drifting to Silas. I wouldn’t say we’re friends, per se… but he’s the closest thing I’ve got.
