Page 96 of Of Flesh & Bone

"Can I be the judge of what I want?"

Cotton looks at me and I can tell that he regrets trying to make a decision for me.He apologizes with his eyes, and I accept it with mine.A small smile graces my lips, and I hold out my hand.He lets out a swift breath, pulling his phone from his pocket, tapping the screen a few times, and handing it over.It takes a moment to discern what I'm looking at, but it comes into focus, and I see Adam.It's a picture with an article attached.The Eden 411.

Eden University's Star QB Has a New Leading Lady

I look back to the picture, and I see a woman wrapped around Adam's body.My heart sinks.I feel the pieces of it clinking to the now metal floor of my stomach.This hurts.It hurts so damn bad.

"When was this?"I squeak out, unable to control the tambour of my voice.

"I'm not sure.The article doesn't say.Do you not remember it?"

"Huh?"Does he actually think that Adam told me about this?

"Are you two wrapped up on each other so often that you honestly don't remember climbing him in the quad?"

I scrunch my eyebrows together and look back at the phone.Adam is flipping the bird to someone behind the girl.That's what threw me off.I never knew he did that.It's me.I'm the girl.Relief is like cool, refreshing air on my skin.Who did he flip off?I look off to the side of the photo and I see him.It's Alton, the guy I met in the library.He looks pissed and Adam looks...vindicated.

That little shit.I bet he didn't expect to be caught flipping off the innocent, nice guy on the steps of the Davenport Library.Something also tells me that he won't give one single damn about it either.I go on reading the article.

Eden's very own resident bad boy captain seems to have a new love interest, or should we say someone seems to have finally kept his interest longer than the standard day.

I'm sure the same question is on the minds of many, "Who is this mystery girl?"Look closely, folks.The love interest is none other than our very own volleyball prodigy, Eve Mason.Eve keeps a low profile, and we couldn't find anyone to comment on her behalf, but the proof is in the pixels.Are Adam Davenport and Eve Mason the new campus IT Couple?Go to my blog and cast your vote.

You may also be wondering who Adam is giving the middle finger salute to and why.As always, your favorite campus sleuth has the deets.Adam is saluting Alton Manchester, heir to the Manchester Hotel fortune.Why is the bad boy so angry at the hotel heir?Well, that could be that he was caught up close and cozy with Ms.Eve Mason only moments before this picture was taken.

Only time will tell the outcome of this love triangle, but one thing you can count on is your favorite campus sleuth to bring you the fresh hot gossip all along the way.

Until next time and the time after that, Campus Sleuth is out.

I'm not sure how to process everything I've just read.I suddenly wish that Eli was still coming to pick me up.My hands feel like needles are pricking them all over and my face feels...bigger.I can't explain it.

"Mason?"

Cotton's soothing voice brings me back to myself.I quickly reel in my composure and respond, "Yeah."

"You okay?"

"Of course.I just...hmm...that's a lot."

"So, you remember it?"

Oh, that's right.The last time I spoke, I acted like I didn't remember what happened in this picture.Cotton is visibly concerned.

"Yes.I just didn't realize he flipped Alton off.It threw me a little."

"He'll be lucky if Adam's done with him.Did he touch you?"

There's menace in Cotton's normally smooth cadence.This is the first time I've heard it and the first time I've seen this look in his eyes.He's upset, maybe even angry.Cotton is as scary as Adam.Wow.I wouldn't have guessed that.He's supposed to be the reserved one.

"No.He di- well yes, but not really.He touched my elbow.It was nothing.He's actually a really nice guy."

Cotton rolls his eyes."Yeah, I'm sure he's nice."He puts a weird emphasis on the word nice.

I'm starting to see that this trio of friends, Cal, Cotton, and Adam, adhere to some kind of intense what's mine is yours and what's yours is ours kind of bro code.I'm too busy processing what this article means for my anonymity to worry too much about poor Alton.I sincerely doubt there's anything that I could do to protect him from these three heathens anyway.

I texted Eli as soon as I got to school this morning and let him know that I drove myself, so I wouldn't need a babysitter pickup.

Big Bear: Ah come on, Evie Bear.It wasn't like that.

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