Page 51 of Hide and Keep

“Had. It got ruined.”

Because of the accident.

My eyes find the scar on his cheek.

“That got ruined, too,” he says.

So that’s how he got the scar.

It doesn’t ruin his face at all. I’d tell him, if I could, that pristine art never sells as well as the messy, chaotic pieces because perfection isn’t real, it’s manufactured, then replicated. People settle for replicas, but what everyone really desires is an original. Crue is a true one of a kind.

And he’s about to find out that I’m not.

I sigh. “Let’s get this over with.”

Outside, Crue automatically heads toward the driver’s side of his Bronco before stopping suddenly, backing up, then veering left. Without a word, he opens the passenger door and waits for me. I get in with a frown on my face but a smile on my heart. Major Danger opens my doors now.

Despite Ever’s complaints, it doesn’t take me long to find a parking space. Littoral University is extravagant but smaller than I expected. The campus consists of a handful of Gothic buildings clustered around a large lawn area. All are made of stone. Some have stained glass windows. And the center one, the tallest, has a tall clock tower I’ve only seen from afar.

Ever doesn’t move to get out right away, just gives me an expectant look, reminding me Her Majesty requires certain assistance when exiting a vehicle. Allegedly. Suddenly. Yesterday she didn’t have such demands. Yesterday she was a pain in my ass. Today she’s a royal pain in my ass.

Visibly sweeping the area while walking over to her side, I open Ever’s door for her. She gets out without thanking me. Or acknowledging me.

I assumed her outfit was some sort of school uniform, but looking around at the other students in the parking lot, either everybody else is in violation of the dress code or there isn’t one.

In addition to the high-waisted hunter-green plaid skirt, she’s wearing a cable-knit sweater with a turtleneck underneath, the white collar doing a good job of hiding the hickeys on her neck. Her high heels make her look more woman than girl as do her taut calf muscles.

Needless to say, Ever pulls off the schoolgirl outfit well. Very fucking well.

Even if her skirt is still too short. She might’ve pulled it up higher since I told her so. I can’t be sure. I’m trying very hard not to stare at her hemline.

I wish I would’ve thought of thatbeforeI threw her on a bed.

“I’ll meet you right here after,” she says, eyeing the hat now on my head.

I could let her walk in by herself. It’d be easier. There’s gonna be a lot of people. There already is.

But…that’s not what’s best for Ever.

With shaky hands, I close her door, then grab my coat from the backseat. I have to jog to catch up with her but what’s new? At least this time, I actually do.

I stick to my protectee’s right, no less than an arm’s length away…just like I read how to do last night.

Ever stops in her tracks the moment my coat touches her shoulders. “What did you put on me?”

“My coat. It’s cold out and you’re not wearing…a lot.”

With a flick of her middle fingers, my coat falls off her shoulders to the ground.

“I don’t wear that brand.”

She doesn’t know what brand it is. I don’t even know what brand it is. I think my dad got it for me a couple Christmases ago, and the thought to check the tag never even occurred to me. I don’t give a shit about those kinds of things.

I scoop up the coat with a tight, “Fine.”

Neither of us moves.

“Well… Leave.”

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