Page 11 of Voices

“Said she had to talk to someone. She hadthatlook in her eye.”

Have I mentioned how determined she can get when she sets her mind to something? The woman is a force to be reckoned with, and I never want to be on the receiving end of it. I love her, but she can be…a lot.

“You gonna get some food,” Noah asks with a mouth full of bread.

Cringing, I shake my head and look around.

A group of rowdy jocks are sitting a few tables over, laughing and talking animatedly. I’m reminded of the guy from yesterday. He had the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. They remind me of a clear summer sky. He was tall and lean, but I could tell that he either worked out or, as he told me, played a sport.

Right. He’s a hockey player. Can’t go there no matter how hot he is.

Benji doesn’t know that I’m gay and even though I don’t think he’ll tell Father, I’d rather not risk him finding out by sleeping with one of his teammates.

Since starting at Gannon University, we’ve slowly drifted apart. He found popularity quickly and seemed to decide there was no longer room in his life for his introverted brother. We don’t cross paths much, which makes it easier, but that doesn't stop the pain of watching my twin slowly turn into our father.

A shiver runs down my spine. I’ll never survive if Father finds out. He’ll wait until Benji leaves, then let me have it. He’s the biggest homophobe I know. Always saying how the “gays” are destroying our country and how if he ever comes across one, he’ll make sure they disappear.

Right as I’m about to tell Noah I’m going to head out, the café door slams open and in walks Lily. Dragging the tall, sexy guy in a backwards hat behind her by his shirt.

My heart stops.

I forget how to breathe.

My eyes get huge as she walks towards us.

What the fuck is she doing? And why does she have a crazed smile on her face?

Chapter Four

Shane

“You can let go of my shirt now.”

I have no idea who this girl is. She came out of nowhere, looking at me like I had personally offended her somehow. But I’ve never seen her before. She’s short, has beautiful light brown skin, a head full of wild, curly black hair that goes past her shoulders, and the most pigmented blue eyes I’ve ever seen. She’s cute, and I would havedefinitelyremembered if we had hooked up.

I was on my way to one of the art buildings to drop off the sketchbook when she ran up to me and started talking so fast that I couldn’t understand her. When she finally stopped to catch her breath, I asked if she was okay. She huffed, rolled her eyes, and then grabbed my shirt and told me to come with her.

When I realized she was walking towards the cafeteria, my stomach growled, reminding me that I missed breakfast. I stopped trailing behind and walked next to her instead of being dragged.

She gives the door a shove so hard that it bounces off the wall.

“Damn. What’d the door ever do to you?”

She smiles at me and walks through the threshold with her head held high.

This girl is crazy. I’m sure of it.

I spot a group of football players being obnoxious off to the right. As we walk past them, I spot Johnston, the QB, as he raisesan eyebrow at me. I wink at him and keep walking. His face flushes as he quickly looks away.

Gotta love how college brings the bi-curious guys out to play.

I turn my head away from Johnston, and I lock eyes with stunning golden-brown orbs.

I stop in my tracks.

It’s him.

The girl tugs at my shirt. “Don’t stop now, Sticks. The table is right over there.”

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