Page 15 of I Don't Need Your Protection
“‘Impeccable hearing?’ Were you trained with people double your age? You sound like an old man.”
“And you sound like a child right now.”
“Do I at least have privacy in the morning? Or are you going to time me on that, too?”
He’s quiet for a bit and then I hear him walk away.
Now I can’t even mutter to myself due to his “impeccable hearing.”
Shaking my head, I take a deep breath and tell myself to relax. I don’t have to pay attention to him. I can treat him like wallpaper and get on with my life. And maybe once the people who killed my parents are caught, I can kiss this guy goodbye and never see him again.
Ugh. Why did I think the words “kiss” when referring to him?
I mean, sure, the guy is a total hottie and he has a great body, but his personality sucks. And as much as I appreciate a sexy guy like any other girl, I’d prefer a kind and considerate person with a great personality over looks. Which is why I’m waiting for a special guy to fall into my life. Someone who would understand me like no one else does, and I would understand him the same way. But I doubt I’ll find him here.
Another knock on the door nearly sends me to the roof.
“Are you alive in there?” he calls.
“Yes, much to your disappointment!” I yell at the door.
“Why would that disappoint me? It wouldn’t be in my best interest if something were to happen to you.”
“Oh, right,” I grumble. “I’m nothing more than a job toyou.”
“Are you always this grumpy in the morning?” he grunts.
“If my beauty rest is interrupted by a deafening trumpet? You bet your butt I am.”
He’s quiet for a few seconds before saying in a gentler tone, “Or maybe you’re just nervous for your first day of school.”
My lips snap shut and I freeze. I glance at the door, a strange feeling nestling in my stomach. Did he just say something…nice?
He’s right. I guess I didn’t realize how nervous I am for my first day at a new school. Any kid would be nervous for her first day, but my situation is a completely different ball game. I was an average teen who just became an heiress, and now I have to pretend to be an average girl again, which shouldn’t be hard because there’s nothing more I want than to be normal again. But that means no contact with the only family member I have left. And never mind the fact that my parents’ killers want me dead, too. Is it a wonder I’m a ball of nerves?
I guess it’s cool that Caleb noticed that.
I unlock the door to tell him I appreciate what he just said, but he’s back to working out. It feels like whatever moment we had is gone and he’s back to the hard-core, all-business bodyguard he was hired to be. I close the door and start to get ready for my day.
When I leave the bathroom a few minutes later, Caleb is completely drenched in sweat. The dude really did hit it hard—no wonder he’s so buff.
“I’m going to take a quick shower,” he says as he grabs atowel and throws it over his shoulder. “Don’t leave this room. I’ll be back in five.”
“Five minutes for a shower?” I wonder.
He doesn’t respond as he gathers the rest of his clothes in his arms.
“If you’re not back in five minutes, I’ll have to barge into the boys’ dorm and drag you out myself,” I joke.
He heads to the door and opens it, then turns back to look at me. “Don’t leave this room, Addilyn.” He shuts the door behind him.
A part of me is so tempted to defy him, but I’m not in the mood right now. I still have to get ready and my heart hasn’t stopped racing with anxiety for my first day. I think I have no choice but to resign to the fact that Caleb and I can never be…well, I can’t sayfriends, exactly. I thought maybe it was possible to get along with him because of the comment he made when I was in the bathroom, but forget about it. I’ll probably be happier if I just treated him like my shadow.
I’m working on my hair when Caleb teleports into my room—seriously, it feels like he came out of nowhere because he’s so stealthy. I’m about to ignore him, but my jaw falls open when I realize how good he looks in the school uniform. He appears much younger than before, like he’s actually sixteen, and he looks so…how do I say it? Dashing in the white blouse, green blazer and tie, and black pants. Those colors definitely work for him. His blazer makes him look like he’s the heir to a multi-billion-dollar empire.
The only part of him that reminds me of the rugged dudehe was before is his dark hair. It’s quite messy, but in a totally bad boy kind of way. The kind of hair girls beg to run their hands through. It’s such a contrast to the rest of his refined look that he looks so…good.
“You’re going to have a hard time being my shadow looking like that.” I nod at his getup.
