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He winks at her before sighing dramatically. “It will be tough, Becky—real tough. But the quicker we drop you off, the quicker we’re alone,” he tells her.
I flush at his suggestive comment but find myself not wanting to correct him—to let her think we’re together. She hasn’t asked me outright, so I’m not lying.
“You, dawg. Just try to keep your eyes on the road,” Becky warns him. “I promised my mum I wouldn’t die before I was thirty.”
“Thirty? But it’s okay after?” Banner asks, rearing back. I have to admit, Becky is a little much, but it’s why I like her. You can never predict what she’s going to say next.
“She’ll probably be gone before then,” she states bluntly, before giving him a dry look. “So, you gonna be okay?”
“Always. Precious cargo and all that.”
She looks at me, her eyebrows raised. “Is he always so charming?”
I exhale with a sigh. “Yep.”
“Great!” she mutters, zipping her coat up.
Banner wraps his arm around me, pulling me close. We’re nearing his car when I feel someone watching me once again. Discretely, so I don’t alert Banner and make him worry, I look around the car park. There’s a few people around, one getting into a taxi and another into a car waiting to pick them up, but I don’t feel like it was one of them watching me. I scan the area, concerned Darren is out there, probably hoping I’d be alone.
I get frustrated when I don’t see anything.
“You gonna get in?”
I jump, glancing away from the dark to Banner’s concerned face. “Yeah.”
He doesn’t need to know I keep feeling like someone is watching me, or that my teacher is making me uncomfortable. He’d want to protect me and probably end up doing something stupid.
And if there is anyoneIwant to protect in my life, it’s him. I won’t let him risk his degree over me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I ignore Banner’s questioning stare as I walk around my bed and to my desk to pack my bag. I’ve been cranky the whole day, fearing and stressing about tonight’s class.
Last night we went to bed early. Banner fell asleep next to me within minutes, but after tossing and turning for four hours, I gave up and headed to the living room to finish the novel I’ve been working on. It gave me the escape I needed, and I managed to fall asleep for a few hours before I woke up to Mark leaving for work.
“Are you okay?”
With my hands on my hips, I spin around to face him. “I said I’m fine. I wish you’d stop asking,” I snap, instantly feeling bad. “I’m sorry. I’m tired. I couldn’t sleep last night.”
His gaze softens. “I know. I heard you leave the room last night.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I came to keep you company, but I saw you engrossed in your laptop.”
I feel worse hearing that. I’ve been a bitch to him all day, moody and snappy. “I’m sorry.”
“Is there something going on? Is Darren worrying you? If you want, I can talk to him again, tell him to leave you alone.”
I walk over to him, crouching down and placing my hands on his thighs. I hate the sad expression on his face. “I’m fine. This isn’t about Darren. I’m sorry for being a bitch to you. I’ll tell you what’s bothering me later. Right now, I just need to find my book before I’m late.”
I close my eyes when he runs a finger down my cheek. “I don’t care about you snapping at me; I’m a big boy. I’m worried aboutyou. You’ve not been acting like yourself for a few days.” He glances away before staring deeply into my eyes. “Is it because I told that lad you were taken?”
I suck in my bottom lip. I hate lying to him. But I can’t let him think it was because of the lad from class. “Banner, I don’t even know his name. There is no way I would go out with him. Plus, you said we were getting married,” I tease, before being serious. “I promise, after you pick me up, we can come back here, and I will tell you everything.”
He cups my cheek, a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re the only one I’d marry,” he teases—well, I think he is anyway. “And I can wait. Just don’t shut me out again.”
Breathlessly, I answer. “I won’t—I promise.”
