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I frown, crossing my arms.
“What kind of information do you have against him that you’re so confident about that?”
“Enough to keep him away.” Ryder tilts his head, keeping his answer vague and limited. I’m intrigued by this. “That’s all that you need to know. Please, trust me on this one. Carter will stay on his lane and will leave you two alone. I promise you that.”
If he does have leverage on Carter, that means that he’s had this contingency plan since the beginning. Maybe that’s why he took longer than what he told us to come up with a solution for our problem. It makes me wonder what kind of connections Ryder has, and who is he really under that façade of the laid-back guy who I consider one of my closest friends.
Sighing, I give up, for now, knowing that he’ll stay true to his promise. I hug him tightly, and I realize that he’s so tall that my head barely reaches his chest, leaving me like a dwarf at his side.
“Thank you for defending me,” I mumble sincerely, backing away. “I don’t appreciate you getting in trouble for me but thank you.”
He laughs.
“Sweetheart, I won’t get in trouble,” he assures, tapping my chin with his finger. There’s a shade of a playful smile dancing on his lips.
Biting my inner cheek, I realize that I’m not ready for all of this. I rushed into this way too fast, instead of processing and making sure that I was okay. I tried to play the tough girl act when I’m not that now. I can be tough later, maybe tomorrow. But today, I want to be away from all of this circus and its carousel of unnecessary drama.
“You know? You were right,” I let Stanley know. “I don’t think that coming here was a good idea.”
Stanley wraps me with one arm, pressing me to his torso, where I remain safe.
“Do you want to skip class?”
“Would it be bad if I did?” I ask, needing him to assure me that it’s not. I need to ease the crippling anxiety.
“You deserve a break from this. Plus, I think that you’re the only one that hasn’t missed a single class. I doubt that one absence is going to sink your grade.”
I giggle at his response.
“I can give her a ride to the apartment,” Ryder offers. “I have to talk to Bree anyway.”
A frown forms in my forehead, and Stanley imitates my expression. However, I doubt that he takes it personally because Ryder and I are friends. I can swear that he has been the cupid of our relationship.
Stanley nods and pecks my lips.
“I promise to write notes for you,” Stan says.
I smile.
“If only you could translate your own calligraphy,” I mention in a dramatic and hopeful tone. He rolls his eyes, but it’s the truth. His letter is the closest thing to a hieroglyph that I’ve ever seen. “Will you come by later?”
“Look who’s clingy now,” he quips.
“You, obviously.”
One more kiss, and Stanley walks away, leaving me with Ryder. I text Karma, letting her know that I won’t be attending class today and that I’d be catching a ride with Ry. She replies with a thumbs up.
“Now, I have a serious question. Who’s the ginger bombshell that has been spying our conversation this whole time?”
I turn to look at Luanna, who has been behind us during all of this mess. Her first official day here, and it’s already a disaster. I wonder if she’s going to hate it or love it because it mixes well with our nature.
“My cousin,” I respond. “Lu, meet Ryder. Ry, meet my cousin, Luanna,” I present them.
Luanna stares at him, analyzing him from head to toe. She has her mischievous spark glowing in her blue eyes.
“Have I been away from civilization that long, or does everyone in this campus is hot as hell?” she inquires without a hint of a verbal filter.
Ryder’s wolfish grin reappears.
