Page 41 of You Were Never Not Mine

“Damn.” He swivels his head in my direction and I see the misery in his dark eyes. “Does that mean I lost my chance with you?”

Poor silly Tim. I can’t believe he thought he still had a chance after he fucked my roommate and only friend on this entire campus.

“Definitely,” I tell him and he hangs his head in defeat.

“I was hoping?—”

“Yeah, no. I’m not interested. I can’t imagine going out with you and Rafe and Elise on a double date. Next thing we know you’re all going to try and convince me to join in during your sexual—escapades.” I sound like an old lady, calling what they did escapades but my God, this is embarrassing.

“We wouldn’t do that, I swear.” His tone turns pleading. “Come on, Sinclair. It was—we were feeling wild that night. I don’t know how to explain it, but we swore it would never happen again.”

Elise never mentioned that part. Pretty sure she wants it to happen again.

“She knows how I feel about you. I didn’t lie when I toldLancaster I’ve been trying to get your attention since day one of school.”

I hate that he brought up August. I don’t want to think about him.

I can’t stop thinking about him.

“And now you’re telling me the dream is over? I’ll never get a chance to take you out again?” Tim rests both hands over his heart, like he’s in pain. Or praying, I can’t tell. “Come on, Sin. Give a guy a break.”

“Okay, first of all, do not call me Sin.” I hate it. At least, I hate hearing the nickname come from Tim’s lips. That’s August’s thing, not his. “And second, no. Your dreams are dashed because we are definitely not going on another date.”

Elise even told me she was hoping they could turn into a throuple, but maybe that’s not Tim’s plan. I’m so confused.

“That’s too bad.” Tim exhales loudly. “I could’ve rocked your world.”

I almost laugh and thankfully I’m saved by our professor striding into the classroom. She immediately starts talking and I turn to face the front of the room, relieved I don’t have to continue our conversation.

And did Tim really say he could’ve rocked my world? Please. I’ll let his experimental ass stay with Elise. He can continue rocking her world because I don’t want anything to do with him. He’s a nice guy but really? We had no spark. Plus, there’s the fact that he’s literally been inside my roommate and came on her tits—a direct quote from Elise—so yeah.

No thank you.

Class is almost over when I feel my phone buzz in the pocket of my hoodie. I discreetly pull it out to see what it is—our professor hates to see us on our phones—and I frown when I see it’s a number. One I don’t recognize. The message says:

I can’t stop thinking about you.

I glance over at Tim who is literally dozing. His eyes are closed and everything, so he definitely didn’t send it. I can’t imagine August admitting something like this either, and he doesn’t even have my phone number.

Feeling brave because I’ve got nothing to lose, I respond to the mysterious text.

Me:Who is this?

But I get no reply. Probably a wrong number.

Figures.

Chapter Twenty

AUGUST

We’re at a bar on a Thursday night, Cyrus and me. One pretty far off campus so there aren’t a lot of college students in here, thank Christ. I want to drink my bourbon in peace. Not surrounded by a bunch of rowdy frat boys and their overly made-up girlfriends whose tits are practically falling out of their shirts.

I sound like an old ass man. Cyrus tells me that too after I grumble about something minute, like the way the server winked at me after handing me my drink. She’s practically my mother’s age for the love of God.

“You need to ease up,” Cyrus tells me once the server is gone. “You’re tense as fuck.”

I say nothing. Just sip from my glass and let the irritation simmer in my gut.

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