Page 9 of False Assumptions

Gathering her jacket and bag, Layla headed for the hallway, figuring she’d give Evan a few minutes to get Abby’s phone number or whatever. To her surprise, he was right behind her, stopping when she did so she could put on her jacket.

He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning one shoulder against the wall, his eyes scanning over her as she slipped her arms in the sleeves of her coat, cinching the tie at the waist to keep it closed.

“Couldn’t get her number, huh?”

His blue eyes clashed with hers, his brows wrinkled together. “What?”

She gestured back toward the office. “Abby. I figured with the way you were smiling at her and so focused on her that you’d want her number.”

He ran his tongue over his teeth and bit his lower lip while he stared at her for a second. “And how was I smiling at her?” His voice quivered as he spoke.

It was her turn to wrinkle her brows. “You know. The way you smile at all the girls when you’re flirting.”

The laughter he’d been holding back burst forth. He straightened from the wall, one hand covering his mouth, but his eyes never leaving hers. “You think …” He stopped and rubbed his jaw. “Christ, you think I was flirting with her?” He laughed again.

Layla crossed her arms and let out a huff. “I don’t see what’s so funny. I’ve seen you flirt with anyone and everyone before. I just wish you wouldn’t do it while we’re supposed to be working on our project.”

His laughter came out completely unchecked now, and he bent over with the force of it, bracing his hands on his knees.

She watched him with her arms crossed, waiting for him to calm down. When he didn’t, she rolled her eyes and hitched her bag higher on her shoulder. She didn’t have time for this.

“I’ll see you next week. Read the book this weekend. We’ll figure out when to meet next on Tuesday.”

Uncaring if he’d heard her over the sound of his laughter, she started to walk past him, but he caught her arm.

“Layla. Wait, wait. Just …” He let go of her, wiping his eyes with both hands. “Hang on a sec.” Shaking his head, he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “You’ve got it all wrong. Abby’s married.”

Layla’s eyes grew wide, and she made a weird choking sound. “What?” Her voice came out an octave higher than normal. She lowered her voice to a loud whisper so she wouldn’t shriek. “You’re hitting on a married woman? What the hell is wrong with you?”

Shaking her head, she turned to storm off once more. Forget this. She knew he was a flirt and player, but a homewrecker? No. She wouldn’t work with him. She’d beg Dr. Rankin to let her work alone. In fact, she’d do that right now.

But Evan caught up with her again, his hand on her shoulder pulling her around. She shrugged it off, but he started talking before she could get away again.

“What? No. No. I wasn’t hitting on her. Or smiling at her any special way. That’s my smile. I smile at my grandma the exact same way.”

Layla narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms once more. “You weren’t hitting on her.”

“Not even a little. She’s married to one of my old teammates. He graduated a couple of years ago. And he’d kick my ass if I ever even thought about hitting on her. Which I wouldn’t. Because she’s married.” He paused, his brows coming together again. “Holy shit. Is that really what you think of me? What’s your problem, anyway? Why do you hate me so much? I’ve never done anything to you.”

She swallowed, dropping her gaze from his stormy eyes, taking in the displeased tightness around his mouth. “No. You’re right. You haven’t. I’m sorry.”

That seemed to mollify him a little, the tight set of his mouth relaxing, his eyebrows almost returning to normal, but his eyes remained stormy. “That’s it?”

Sighing, she dropped her arms to her sides. “Look, let’s just get through this project, okay? We don’t have to be friends to work together.”

“No.” He shook his head. “You’re gonna have to do better than that. You were rude to me on Tuesday when I was nothing but nice, and you just accused me of hitting on my teammate’s wife.”

“Nice? The way you undressed me with your eyes every time you looked at me?”

A guilty look passed over his face, but then his jaw firmed once more. “I was trying to get under your skin. My flirting pissed you off, and I did it more when I realized that since you were being such a b—so mean to me for no reason. It was entertaining.”

She huffed, his last-second change of words not escaping her attention. “Whatever. I know your type. And I don’t have time for your bullshit. We obviously both have time after World Lit, so let’s just plan on meeting on Tuesday after class to discuss what we plan to do. I have to go now.”

Leaving him in the hallway, she went out the nearest door, hoping he wouldn’t try to catch up, since he easily could. He didn’t, though. Thank God. Because she wasn’t disappointed that he didn’t want to spend more time with her either. Nope. Not at all.

The fact that he flirted with her out of spite, and obviously flirted with literally everyone as his default, meant that she needed to stay as far away from him as possible. She’d been there and done that and learned her lesson the hard way. She didn’t need to end up as the exotic notch on anyone’s bedpost again.

---