Page 4 of Ink & Ambition

As I’m already headed toward the staircase to the downstairs level of the library, I hear Edith call my name.So close.

“Actually, Margot, that room is taken,” she says sheepishly. I stop in my tracks. Taken? But that’smystudy room.

While I do know that she can’t permanently hold that room on reserve for me everyday—that would be ridiculous—still…I hoped she would at least steer everyone else toward different study rooms until that one was the very last resort! Is that too much to ask?

“The room was booked online this morning by a group.”

“Wait, you can reserve rooms online now?”

Edith nods excitedly. “Oh yes, part of the new system this year.”

I sigh. Online room booking will be very useful in the future but for today, it’s done me dirty. “Good to know, thanks. Well, I guess I’ll just take any available room then.”

A look of anxiety flashes across Edith’s face.

“You’re kidding me,” I balk. “The semester has barely started yet!”

A chuckle releases from Edith as she smiles proudly. “Apparently people are finally taking their studies seriously this year.” My mouth flattens to a frown and I sigh, backing away from the desk, with a sad wave to Edith.

I could just sit at a table but the noise of passersby distracts me. Going to the newsroom is definitely out of the question. I usually love the quick atmosphere there, but not when I need to focus on school work. I could always just go home and work at the desk in my bedroom, but I came all this way…

“Morning, I booked room G6,” a deep, somewhat familiar voice says, snapping me from my thoughts. There’s a tall, tall man at the desk and while the voice sounded like something I’ve heard before, I can’t exactly place him in my mind.

“Right, of course. I’ve got the key for you right here.” Is Edith actuallyblushing?

The man doesn’t speak again but I’m assuming he gave her a megawatt smile based on the way she all but melts in front of him.Well now Ihaveto get a look at him.

As he turns around to face me, I can’t control the way my jaw drops to the floor. Alex, the person-throwing ogre from the party last night, is here, standing in front of me. And he stole my study room.

“I can’t believe I’m about to say this but, you should close your mouth. You might catch flies with it wide open like that,” he smirks at me.Smirks! What an oaf.

I am stunned into silence. Even if I wanted to speak, I have no words to describe the feeling of seeing this man in broad daylight. I do have to give it to Edith though, he is wildly attractive. The sunlight shining through the windows brightens his dark brown irises and his even darker brown hair is tousled in that sexy “just got out of bed” look.

“Problem, sunshine?” I want to wipe that smirk clean off his face using the shirt from the guy that he threw out the door last night.

My anger returns and I’m finally able to muster up a response. “Nope.”

He takes a step closer toward me but if I step back, I’d topple down the staircase so I hold my ground under his scrutiny. “You look surprised to see me.”

“Just shocked you know where the library is,” I reply, regaining my confidence little by little. I still don’t know what it is about this guy that pulls the worst out of me but somehow I feel sure that he deserves it.

Alex chuckles darkly at my comment. “Another joke about my intelligence? Can’t think of anything more original, sunshine?”

“Give me a few minutes, I’m sure I can think of another reason to insult you and why do you keep calling me sunshine?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.

Alex takes another step forward, definitely aware that I have no choice but to stay put. “You never told me your name.”

Taking a deep breath, I look up directly into Alex’s eyes, not letting the bottomless pit of brown lull me into a false sense of security. “You’re right.” I shrug and step around him to head out the way I came.

“Oh come on,” I hear Alex laugh from behind me but I don’t turn back around. I refuse to let this arrogant beast get under my skin anymore than he already has.

Once outside, I finally take a deep breath. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I call the only person who will be able to help me make sense of all this.

“Missing me already?” Danika says lazily.

“That guy I talked to at the frat party. Person thrower. Tall guy…”

Danika chuckles. “Is there a question in there?”

---