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“Send me her address and I’ll send a bouquet of lilies with my condolences,” I mutter, glancing over my shoulder again to see the girl peeking at Zane.
When she sees me looking, her eyes widen and she darts her gaze away. “Come on, Z. She looks as innocent as anyone can get. She won’t fit in with our lifestyle.”
I expect to get some kind of negative reaction out of him, but he just smiles wider. “No. She’s just like me.”
“Huh? Crazy, you mean?” I chuckle.
Zane does frown at that. He hates any hint at the fact that he isn’t completely right in the head. “I now prefer psychologically divergent.”
I nearly choke on my own spit at that and find him smiling at that damn girl again. This time, she keeps her eyes on Zane and forces herself to straighten her shoulders. She smiles back, and I’ll be damned, but I do see it. There’s a soft gleam in her eyes, similar to the one in Zane’s.
He looks back at me and winks before falling back into the group until he’s walking beside her. They talk in soft, hushed voices, but a few people give them weird looks before they’re subtly shuffled to the back of the group with a wide berth. What the hell are they talking about to get that reaction?
I try to focus on my task at hand and lead the students to the second floor of Huron Hall. “All sociology and criminology classes are in this hall. Is anyone taking Intro to Sociology this semester?” I ask the group. All the sociology students raise their hands, and so do a few of the criminology students, including the girl Zane is convinced he’s going to marry. “You all will see me in class then. I will probably not see the rest of you again. This is my last year and the only time I’ll be aTA.” We walk a little further down the hall. “Here are the sociology classrooms.”
I let the students peek into the classrooms. We pass by the offices that I know Bowing and Price are hiding in. “Here are the criminology classes.”
“Is it true that Dr. Price quit the F.B.I to teach criminology here?” a soft voice asks, making a shiver go down my spine.
I look over my shoulder to find everyone looking at the girl next to Zane. I step forward through the students until I’m standing in front of her and Zane. “Yes. And you are?”
She doesn’t back down from my larger size. Instead, she meets my eyes head on. “Viv.”
“Well, Viv, don’t get too excited. He’s kind of an asshole. So watch yourself, honey,” I warn her, even though I shouldn’t since I can see Cain’s door is cracked open.
Viv smirks, and it’s almost as vicious as the look Zane gets when he’s got his eyes set on a child abuser. “I’ve spent my entire life surrounded by assholes. I’m sure anyone is a sweetheart in comparison, but thanks for the warning, sweetie,” she claps back and Zane laughs.
A door creaks open. “An asshole? Really, Nox? And here I thought we were friends.”
I raise a brow at Viv and tilt my head in the direction of Cain’s voice. “Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”
I almost don’t believe my eyes when her lips tilt up in a small smile. Her head shakes. “He’s the reason the entire Moretti family was arrested, and he was just a rookie assisting on that case. They were malvagio1. The world’s a better place with them behind bars. He can be an asshole all he wants.”
Zane leans into her so his arm is pressed against hers and my brows raise. Zane never lets anyone touch him and yet he looks so comfortable touching this practical stranger. Cain steps out into the hall. “Tu parli italiano?2”
I just look at him blankly because I have no idea what he said. Viv goes pale at his words. “Poco.3” She tilts her hand back and forth before crossing her arms over herchest stiffly.
Zane places his hand on her shoulder and she relaxes.
“Shame, I’ve been getting rusty,” Cain says, watching Zane like he’s a zoo exhibit.
“That’s just cuz you’re old. Did you hear her call you a sweetheart, Cain? It was almost as funny as her calling Nox sweetie.” Zane smiles easily over at Cain while Viv scowls up at him.
Her elbow jerks out into Zane’s ribcage and I almost jerk her away from him, but then I realize he’s smiling down at her. “I did not call him a sweetheart. And he called me honey.” She crossed her arms over her chest, making her breasts lift with the motion. “Testa di cazzo,4” she murmurs under her breath.
I decide to ignore her since she probably assumed I couldn’t hear her. Seriously though, I’m a guy. I know how to cuss in at least seven languages. “This is Dr. Price. He is the head professor of criminology,” I introduce as the other students stare with wide eyes at Cain.
He’s used to the reaction at this point. People just stare at him the first time they see him. As a straight guy, even I can admit he’s attractive. A lot of the girls blush when he gives the students a wave, but Viv just looks back like she’s seen him a million times. These girls may think he’s hot now, but that will fade by the end of the first week when they realize I wasn’t lying when I said he’s an asshole. “I look forward to having you all in my class this semester,” he says and backs into his office, watching as Zane wraps his arm around Viv and she just leans into him, allowing it.
Maybe he was right when he said she was just like him. The guys and I can barely handle Zane’s particular brand of crazy for extended periods of time. “Well, that’s all I’ve really got for you guys. Any questions?”
One of the blushing girls raises her hand. “How can I change my major?” The girls around her giggle.
I sigh, realizing she is one of the sociology students on my list. “Go to the Student Center. They’ll help you there, but I warn against it. He’s a tough professor.”
She gives me a nod and looks unsure as the rest of the students break off. “Where are you going now?” Zane asks, leaning closerto Viv.
Viv shrugs her shoulders. “I’ll probably head over to the Greek thing to meet up with Sandy.”
