Page 16 of Limbo

I grab a pen from the desk next to me and write back,No,before returning it.

The paper crinkles on the other side of the door.

“But thank you,” I add quietly. Because, as I’ve been drilling into Cate,manners matter.

“All right, beautiful,” Jordan says, his voice soft. The corner of the paper slides back under the crack. “If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I grab the note and go back to my bed, highly doubting it. The male obsession with breasts confounds me, but even so, I can’t imagine him enduring another day of rejection just for a chance to see mine again.

It’s not until I’ve finished my reading and run through my nightly routine that I crawl into bed and look at the note.

Save as Jordan the Irresistible.Then his phone number.

I smile, sinking into my pillow that still smells like him, and for the second night in a row, I try like hell not to think about Jordan Waters. The more time I spend around him, the more I believe he planned it that way all along.

Seven more minutes until I am ten dollars richer. The money, however, interests me far less than delivering a smugI told you soto Felicia.

Cam packs her bag to return to her girlfriend’s apartment while I tie my sneakers. It’s back to living like a single, except maybe a day or so a week. She drops the bag by the door on her way out to the common area and closes it behind her.

I recheck the time. Five minutes. Of course, if Jordan doesn’t show up, I need to survive without coffee until after class. An undesirable scenario, given my less than charming mood, but better than chancing Jess’s latest experiments with flavored blends.

My heart lurches when the door flings open.

Felicia pops her head in, beaming. “Jordan’s here.” Then she’s the one mouthing the coveted,I told you so.

I flip her off before she disappears, and he takes her place. He knocks on the doorframe and rests a shoulder against it.

“Back for more ego-shrinking?” I say on my way over to him.

He hands me the cup I seek. “Hopefully you do a better job today. Yesterday wasn’t that impressive.”

I smile at his challenge but then switch on my game face. He watches me watch him, my finger tapping the cup. Maybe it’s time I work the system a little. Use my stable boy to my advantage.

“You owe Felicia ten dollars.”

“Youowe Felicia ten dollars,” he counters. “You should never bet against me.”

Unsurprised she told him about our wager, Team Jordan and all, I alter my tactic and turn around. “Fine.” I bend over further than necessary to pick up my bag, giving him a perfect view of my ass. When I straighten up, I stare him down. “I’ll find time between classes and studying to go to the ATM. You’re doing a superb job of making my life less complicated.”

He holds my stare, but I won’t back down first. Jordan Waters might be stubborn, but he’s never gone toe-to-toe with me. His arm moves, and once he looks down, I glance to see the wallet in his hand. Almost too easy.

When his eyes come back to mine, I try to take the ten-dollar bill he pulled out, but he rips it away and holds it over his shoulder where I can’t reach.

His lips turn up into a smirk. “Do you need a ride to class?”

“No.” My voice stays low, our gaze locked. “I also don’t need a ride after class. Thank you for the coffee and settling my bet, but you shouldn’t waste your time.”

I lean closer until his breath hits my face, coffee and mint. Once I can reach, my focus shifts to his hand, and I swipe for the cash again. A miscalculation on my part. The second I look away from his face, he drops his lips onto my forehead.

“See you after class, beautiful,” he says, walking away.

I’m both surprised and irritated at how easily he turned my distraction around on me. Before leaving, he stops in the common area to talk to Cam.Just great.Felicia has already sworn her loyalty, Jess hopes to one day join his harem, and now he’s set his sights on my sweet Cam. At his current rate, he’ll recruit everyone in my life to help him sleep with me by the end of the day.

Determined to gain the upper hand, I text Felicia.

What’s the name of that soup I like from the deli?

I’m tucking my phone away as Jordan leaves, and Cam cranes her neck around from the couch.

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