Page 228 of Hide and Keep

I have to attend my classes, that’s it.

So I walk right past my clones, acting as if they don’t even exist,wishingthey didn’t.

Don’t they wish they could be themselves? Or are they as trapped in their own false reality as I am?

Paris scoffs while Bradford calls out, “Munreaux, we’re over here!”

I know. I’m not blind. I’m exhausted. Not from my weekend with Crue. But ofthem. Of who I amwiththem.

I much prefer who I am with Crue, who I get to be, who he lets me be.

I peek at him over my shoulder.

Staring stoically ahead, he pretends like he doesn’t notice.

He waits until I face forward again to murmur, “Change of routine this morning, miss?”

My body no longer needing directions, I huff and pick up the pace.

What’s the worst that can happen?

The clones will complain to their parents.

Their parents will mention it to my father.

My father will punish me.

That’s not new. He’s already furious with me. Has been since that dinner with the Larsons. The only reason he hasn’t followed through on the threat in his gaze every time he pins me with it is because he hasn’t had the opportunity to. Crue’s been glued to my side around the clock, even during dinners. He used to sit on the opposite side of the table from me, but lately he’s insisted on sitting right next to me.

The thing about Arthur Munreaux though, numbers are his sole focus. As soon as my bodyguard’s out of the picture, my father will collect his pound of flesh—and not just figuratively—for all the transgressions I know he’s keeping count of.

Honestly, a couple pinches on top of the dozens already coming my way are worth missing the clones’ inane chatter for a day. They go to the same school I do, one of the best in the country, and yet the only subjects they’re ever interested in discussing are the superfluous goings-on of the elite.

Oh, and our outfits.

I wonder what they’d think if they saw what I was wearing all weekend? The fact that Crue’s sweats were about seven sizes too big for me didn’t stop me from wearing them between our numerous sex sessions. They were raggedy and faded, but theywere soft and smelled like Crue and felt like having an extension of him on me. If I can pull it off, I fully intend on stealing a set just to keep after—

There I go again. Worrying ahead instead of enjoying the present. What good has that ever done anyone?

The present is all I have, all I might ever have.

Passing my first class of the day, I head for a room about four…or five…doors down.Was it six?

I walk past door after door, craning my neck to scan inside without breaking pace. I know one of these is empty. I just don’t remember which one…

“What are you doing? Your class is back there.”

Ah. Finally, one with the lights out.

“I have to grab something first.”

“What?” Crue asks as he follows me into the empty lecture room.

Spinning around, I close the door and fist his shirt, shoving him into the wall beside it.

His lips spread into a grin as he takes hold of my hips, bringing me closer.

“Call me miss again and I’ll put a yellow jacket nest in your room.”

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