Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
I stare at the red mark of failure and swallow against the lump in my throat. This isn't my first bad grade in this class. I've been struggling to find time to do the required work and focus enough to take in what little I have been doing.
I glance around the room at the other students. Some are happy. Others, like me, have furrowed foreheads and grim mouths. Elias is at the back, packing away his things and smiling. Did he seriously pass this? It was tough. Our eyes meet—it's the first time I've seen him since our night together—and he raises his eyebrows expectantly. He wants to know if I passed. I shake my head, and his smile fades into a concerned grimace.
I turn back to force my notepad and pen into my stuffed bag. When I follow the crowd from the room, Elias is waiting for me in the hall.
"Hey."
I move with the stream of exiting students, inadvertently forced to stand close to him. His scent is different today. Something woody with an orange undertone that floods my senses. When he touches my arm, I'm overwhelmed with memories of him naked and fierce, looming over me and thrusting powerfully. "You didn't pass?" God, his voice is just so rough and deep.
Shaking my head, I stare down the hallway, embarrassed to meet his gaze. He's going to make fun of me. I know he is, but I can't avoid answering. "I'm flunking," I say. "It isn't just this test."
"Why didn't you say something? We could study together."
I blink, surprised. Where are his usual snarky comments? This isn't like Elias at all. "I didn't think to….you know...because we're not…"
I want to finish the sentence by saying 'close' or 'friends,' but that sounds ridiculous in light of what we did a few nights ago.
And in the past.
Not close enough to share class notes, but close enough to share bodily fluids.
My life is ridiculous right now.
"You're happy to ask me out on a fake date and do stuff with me, but not to tell me you need help with a class?" His confused expression makes me flush hot with embarrassment.
"No one wants to own up to flunking."
Elias tips his head to the ceiling and blows out a long breath. "You know, this makes no sense. I can help you. All you have to do is ask."
"Yeah, well, asking for help isn't exactly easy. Especially when people don't reply." I pretend to look down at my watch rather than face him.
"I wanted to talk to you about that."
"You know what, Elias? Don't worry about it. Forget I asked. It's fine. And I don't need help studying. I'll manage on my own."
I turn away before he can reply and speed-walk through the building until the doors to the exit are in view. He doesn't follow, but I don't expect him to.
When Gabriella and Ellie turn up at my dorm with a bottle of wine and a massive bar of chocolate, my instinct is to tell them I'm fine and they can go home to their men. All I want is to be left in peace so I can curl up on my bed and stare at the wall. But their faces are so overly bright, and they seem so pleased with themselves that I can't find it in me to reject their efforts to help me through a dark time.
"So, Colby said this is a good wine. I know nothing about wine, but since he's been working, he's picked up some adulting skills that are coming in useful."
"Soooo mature and grown up." Gabriella wrestles with the expensive bottle of wine, trying to pull out the cork.
I find three plastic tumblers for us to drink out of. "Would Colby cringe if he saw these glasses?"
"Probably." Ellie unwraps the chocolate, breaking it into long rows and places it on my desk. "He does like things to be done properly, which is mostly a good thing."
"If he puts as much effort into sex as he does into choosing wine, you're onto a winner." Finally pulling the cork from the bottle, Gabriella holds it up and whoops. "I thought that fucker was never coming out."
We all giggle as Gab pours us almost overflowing cups of wine. I gulp mine with more enthusiasm than I should, bearing in mind I'm supposed to be cramming to improve my grades.
"So, Gab told me about Eddie and Abbey. How are you feeling about it?" Ellie bites off a chunk of chocolate, chewing it with her eyes focused on me.
"You know how I feel."
"Well, Dornan mentioned you asked him out for another fake date?" She eyes me carefully as though she's conscious that she might be pushing too hard but feels justified in doing so. Her friendship with Dornan dates to kindergarten, so I get why she might feel protective.