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Pain radiates through my body as I collide with the guy in front of me, who jerks to a stop right in the middle of the sidewalk. He whips around, his arms steadying me. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry for stopping like that.”
I stare at him in horror, unable to process his words. His dirty blond hair, bright green eyes, and blindingly white smile have me frozen in time: an innocent seventeen-year-old girl in awe of the most popular, good-looking guy in school, unable to believe the quarterback was paying attention to her.
He frowns, his smile wavering. “Miss? Are you okay?”
Snapping back to reality, I realize the many differences between him and Shane Reynolds. I breathe a sigh of relief, a nervous laugh escaping me. “Yes, I’m fine. So sorry. You just looked like someone I once knew.”Who nearly destroyed me and made my life a living hell.
He smiles again. “Well, that’s a relief. I thought I seriously injured you for a minute there.” He wipes his brow, flashing me a friendly smile. “I didn’t mean to stop so abruptly.”
“It’s okay. I was lost in thought.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” I wave a dismissive hand at him. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Okay.” Backing away, he shoots me a friendly wave. “Have a good day.”
“You, too.” I watch as he turns around and hurries away, disappearing into the crowd. My smile fades as I stare at the back of his blond head.
God, he looked too much like Shane.
Lost in thought, I’m not paying attention to where I’m going and bump into another person. She spins around, her long, straight, dark brown hair reminding me of silk.
“I’m sorry,” we say simultaneously, then laugh.
“Sorry. It was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention.”
“It’s fine. I’m a bit out of sorts today.” Her smile basks me in genuine warmth. Adjusting her backpack, she holds out a hand. “I’m Sophia Myers.”
I shake her hand. “Lexi Morgan.”
Sophia regards me for a minute. “Are you new to Groveton? I don’t recall seeing you on campus last semester.”
“Yes, this is my first semester. I’m heading to Stevenson for Intro Psychology.”
“With Dr. Boyles?”
“Yes.” I cock my head. “Please tell me you’re in that class.”
She gives an excited squeal. “Yes.” A breathless laugh escapes her. “Sorry. That probably seemed weird. Most people are snobby and stuck up. But I can already tell you’re different.”
I fall in step with her, a genuine laugh coming from me. “I’m not snobby or stuck up.” I admire the posh campus as we walk before my gaze flickers over Sophia’s outfit. She’s a couple of inches taller, and her long, lean legs go on for miles beneath her short white shorts and wedge sandals.
Holding the door of Stevenson open, she gestures for me to go inside. “What other classes do you have?” She says as she falls in step with me.
Pulling up my schedule on my phone, our heads bent over the screen. She squeals when she sees the Biology 100 class on my schedule. “I’m in that one, too. Oh, I’ve heard there was a last-minute instructor change. Instead of Jameson, it’s now being taught by Dr. Huntley. He’s a young, arrogant asshole who delights in torturing students by making his class as hard as possible. I’ve been told he delights in making them cry.” Leaning closer to me, her eyes dart around. “Rumor has it, he often convinces female students to come to his office hours and coerces them into giving him head for a better grade.”
I gasped, staring at her with wide eyes. “That’s awful. Why doesn’t he get in trouble?”
Sophia laughs. “Oh, Lexi, your naivete is refreshing.” Patting my shoulder, she says, “He’s rich. Decent looking. And his father donates a lot of money to this school, which is how someone his age got a tenure-track teaching position.”
Spotting the classroom ahead on the right, I shake my head. “Yeah, I’m still figuring out this crazy world. My mom unexpectedly remarried a billionaire.” My voice trails off as I gesture for her to go first and follow her inside. I roll my eyes. “She married Preston Whitmore. What’s worse is she and Preston insist I use Whitmore as my new last name.” My gaze locks with familiar gray eyes. I jerk to a stop, the blood draining from my face.
Why is everything conspiring to haunt me in the daylight?
“You mean Evan Whitmore is your stepbrother?” Sophia’s eyes bore into my profile before tracking my stare. “Oh… What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know.” I bite my lip as my gaze trails over him, wishing Evan weren’t so damn attractive. I force my hormones to behave, letting the anger wash over me instead.
