He stilled, then he moved, grazing his nose along mine. “I don’t believe you even for a second.”
“You don’t know me, Theo. You have no idea what makes me afraid.” I braced my hands on his chest and shoved. “Back the hell off.”
He took a step away, not because I pushed him, but because he chose to. I was strong, but not strong enough to move him on my own.
“Thank you,” I mumbled.
“You’re not escaping. You can, you know. I’m not holding you prisoner.”
I let my head fall back on the wall, meeting his eyes. God, they even sparkled when he was angry. What was that?
“You obviously want to speak to me, so get on with it, then we can be done with this.”
He backed up another step and turned his head away from me. The corner of his jaw ticced like he was grinding his teeth hard.
“I have your skateboard,” he spit out.
“I know.”
He faced me again. “I could fuck you over, Helen. You know that? You chose to fuck me over. I could return the favor.”
I huffed. “Oh, please. Like Daddy’ll even notice a bit of broken glass. I don’t—”
His hand slammed on the brick beside my head. “You say I don’t know what makes you afraid—you don’t know the first thing about me either. You have no idea what my father can do.”
“Is that a threat, Theodore?”
He hit the brick again, so hard, I wondered if he drew blood.
“You aren’t listening. He’ll want your name, which I now have, and I won’t give it to him. There will be consequences for that, which I’ll face.”
I sucked in a breath, absorbing what he was saying. It didn’t make sense. There was absolutely no reason for this guy to sacrifice himself for me. Unless he wanted something.
Now, I got it.
“What do you want in exchange? Because, honestly, I’m short on cash and out of favors.”
His head dropped, and he groaned. “I don’t want anything. I’m just talking to you, but you’re making that really, really difficult.”
I pushed his forehead, bringing his head up. “Then go. I’m not keeping you prisoner”
He jerked at me echoing his words. Then his eyes dropped to my mouth. “Not yet.”
My breath hitched as he moved closer. He was going to kiss me, just like he’d started to outside the T. And I...I couldn’t let that happen.
Raising a hand between us, I pressed my fingertips to his lips. “Don’t kiss me, Theo.”
His body went rigid, then he wrapped his fingers around my wrist and yanked my hand away. “Don’t act like you don’t want me to, Little Tiger.”
“I don’t.” I shoved him again, and this time, I took the opportunity to stoop and grab my skateboard. “Even if I liked rich boys, I don’t like cheaters. Your girlfriend probably really doesn’t like cheaters. Poor thing.”
My board clattered to the ground, and I pushed off, away from Theo’s silence, back to my dorm. Hopefully it would be empty so I could stew over a plate of dining hall mozzarella sticks in peace.
* * *
Our suite smelled different. Like rare flowers and imported vanilla. I flung my backpack on the couch and placed my to-go box of mozzarella sticks on the coffee table.
Z emerged from her room with wide eyes. “Our roommate is here.”
My eyes went round like hers. “Bad?”
She bit her lip, her eyes avoiding mine. “I’ll let you be the judge. I don’t want to color your opinion.”
The door to the previously empty room suddenly opened. “Did I hear a new voice?” A blonde emerged, a big, white smile splitting her perfectly symmetrical face. “Hey, I’m Ele—”
“You’re absolutely kidding me.”
Elena Sanderson’s fake smile wiped from her face faster than it had appeared.
“You’re kidding me,” I repeated.
Elena’s manicured hands hit her hips. “Is this a joke?” She glanced at Zadie. “This is a joke, right? Are there cameras? Because this has to be a joke.”
Zadie’s eyes darted back and forth between us. “Do you know each other?”
I snorted. “Elena was the queen bitch in high school.”
Elena smirked at my assessment. “I’ll take that title gladly. It’s far better than town whore. Isn’t that what everyone called you?”
“Wow.” Slowly nodding, I gave her a long once-over. “It’s nice to know some things haven’t changed. Even in college, in the throes of adulthood, you still remain a child. Go you, Elena.”
Elena and I hadn’t had many personal run-ins in high school. For one, our school had been massive, with over four-thousand students. For another, she’d been in classes aimed toward getting her into the best school while I’d been vying to make it out whole and alive.
I’d gotten it half right, at least.
But I knew who she was and the kind of things she had done. Elena was the type of girl who laughed at others’ misery. She provoked for her own entertainment. She’d screwed with my friends and looked down on people who weren’t born with a silver spoon up their asses.
Elena Sanderson was a monster in angel clothing.
“Is it possible to start over?” Zadie asked quietly.
Elena rounded on her, and I braced. If she was a bitch to Z, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to hold myself back.
“I don’t think I noticed when I came in, but wow, you’re stunning.” Elena dragged her knuckles down Zadie’s cheek. “Your skin feels like you murdered a few virgins and bathed in their blood. Is that your secret? Do tell.”
Zadie’s blue eyes widened, and honestly, mine did too. Who the hell was this girl being all funny and nice to Z? I didn’t trust it.
“I-I...no. I just use this lotion my mom bought me. It’s Korean,” Zadie answered.
Elena snapped her fingers. “First, I love that you took my question seriously and answered it. I’m totally relieved you don’t bathe in virgin blood. Second, you’re going to need to hook me up with the bottle, babe. Don’t hold out on me.”
“Well…” Z’s eyes slid to me, then back to Elena. “Well, okay. My mom buys it by the case so I can give you one of my extras.”
Elena pressed her hands together. “You’re a doll baby. Has anyone ever told you that? Because you are.” She draped her arm over Zadie’s shoulder. “Now, tell me, has Helen been nice to you? She’s not known for her couth.”
Zadie didn’t hesitate. “Helen’s amazing.”
Elena swung her gaze to me. It’d been over a year since I’d last seen her, and I could honestly say I hadn’t thought of her once. Okay, maybe she’d flitted across my mind since she was my friend Penelope’s cousin, but that was it. A passing idea. Nothing more.
“Is she?” Elena sounded like she didn’t buy it. “I don’t know about starting fresh, but I don’t intend to be here a lot. When I am, I want my home to be peaceful. As long as Helen keeps up her end, I’ll keep up mine, and we can coexist.”
I measured my words. Peace was good, but coexisting with Elena Sanderson wasn’t my idea of a good time. I was pretty sure I couldn’t switch rooms, though, and I’d never leave Zadie in the clutches of Elena. She’d probably have all the cool sucked out of her.