Page 11 of Knot Mine

It was only a study session, so I’d thrown on my navy high-neck sweater and the jeans from Saturday night because actually, I liked how long they made my legs look. My glasses were long gone, probably at the bottom of Colton’s pool but that was okay because they weren’t prescription anyway. I looked like myself, but also different. As I try pushing up my sleeves, narrowing my gaze at my reflection in the mirror as I try to work out what’s changed.

Throwing back their head, Bell laughs. “Everyone does it, Shilly.”

Bell often teases me for being an odd duck. And by odd duck, they mean someone who needs the world to make sense.

People go to college to learn. They do the projects and hand the assignments in, instead of looking for an easy out. At least, that's how it should be but Oakley university was filled with people who had more influence and money than morals. It was essentially a marriage mart for wealthy and powerful omegas and alphas if you thought about it cynically.

Tugging down the neck of my sweater to check if my mark has faded any more, I roll my eyes. “Don’t call me that.”

“It’ll grow on you,” Bell teases as they pull a large blanket over themselves and start streaming another romcom. I don’t miss the way they’re eyeing up the half-finished pack of pretzels I left on the coffee table.

“No. It’s not a bacteria or fungus. It won’t grow on me, and if it did, I’d go and see a doctor.”

Bell makes a purring noise, “Hmmm your doctor is cute.”

Blinking, I stare back at my reflection. Cute? Zion Strange has been my doctor since I was a teenager, and while he was a young doctor, I still wouldn’t call him cute. Especially since, weaning me off my suppressants was his favorite topic of conversation every time I stopped by for my refill.

Quickly grabbing my satchel, checking I have everything, before snatching my keys off the hook. “Zion is not cute.”

“Mmmmhmmmm. He’s got that salt and pepper thing going on.” Bell’s attention back on the movie as they call over their shoulder. “You’re going to be late.”

“Shit!” I hiss, grabbing my scarf and coat.

I rush over to campus, speed walking when no one was around just to make sure that I wasn’t the last to arrive, even if I wouldn’t be the first. Beneath my clothes, I can feel my skin turnsticky and slick with sweat as the coffee shop finally comes into view.

It turns out I needn’t have worried.

I’ve been sitting by the coffee shop window for twenty minutes already, my Frappuccino turned into nothing more than a melted slush at the bottom of the cup when I notice a shadow being cast over my workbooks.

“Where’s everyone else?” Zale Blackwood glares at me, a textbook in one hand, the other clutching his phone like it’s a lifeline. His hair is damp, and given the gym bag slung over his shoulder, I assume he’s coming back from a workout.

Even if my twin wasn’t dating Zale, and he wasn’t in my business class, I would have had to live in a blackhole to not know who he was and where he fitted into the hierarchy at Oakley.

While he wasn't a quarterback, that was Blake King, Bell explained that he was an Alpha cornerback, which meant he was quick, both physically and mentally as it was his job to anticipate the quarterback and defend against offensive running plays. He was important, at least in the collegiate football scheme of things.

Outside of that, he was the heir to Blackwood Tech, an empire that started off developing digital healthcare systems and branched out into computer services and hardware. He came from wealth and power, and when he surrounded himself with people like Sadie, I knew everything about him I needed to.

Shrugging, I return to looking at my books, “How should I know?”

I should have left fifteen minutes ago. Kicking myself internally, I ignore the way his gaze burns into my skin. My skin flushes, and I find myself rubbing my thumb beneath the neck of my sweater.

There were supposed to be six of us in the group. Me, plus Zale…well, that's two. Who knows where the other four are? Family emergencies? Maybe they simply vanished into another dimension. Maybe they’ve all been struck down with the same bug. Right now I can’t find it in me to care. I just wanted him to leave me get on with my work.

“Maybe they’re just running late…” Zale coughs awkwardly as I raise a brow at him.

“All of them?”

He takes a seat opposite me, fingers tapping against the cover of his textbook as if he’s anxious. “Maybe they’re–”

I hold my hand up to cut off his words. “Not coming.”

“Shit.” He leans back in his seat, sliding one of his huge hands through his blond hair.

Ignoring him, I go back to making notes. When it becomes obvious he isn’t leaving, just sitting there, staring at me, nostrils twitching every time my highlighter scratches against the paper. “You don’t have to stay.”

His tongue flicks out, and he licks at his bottom lip looking away. It’s awkward. Everything about this whole interaction is. “But we need to do this stupid project.”

Clicking the lid back onto the pen, I sigh. Why did it have to be Zale of all people? Just the other week I ‘wasn’t worth the effort’ and now I can’t seem to get rid of him.

---