Page 28 of Rejected By My Shifter Billionaire
“HE HASN’T ANSWEREDany of your calls?” Ellie tried but failed to imagine how the oh-so-proper Professor X could ditch her friend just like that.
Kassia gave her a small nod.
“Oh, Kassia, I’m sorry.” Even now, she still didn’t know what to say to make things right for Kassia. As soon as Ellie heard her friend’s shaky voice over the phone, she had come dashing to Kassia’s side, armed with ready sympathy and medication.
She had a feeling that Kassia’s fever had more to do with heartbreak than walking in the rain for over an hour, and when she heard her friend’s story, Ellie knew she was right.
Although she would never admit it to Kassia, Ellie believed the professor was just playing with her friend’s feelings. It was the only reason she could think of to explain the professor’s hot-cold treatment.
Ellie sighed as Kassia let out another sneeze. “You should have let his driver take you home.”
“No.” Kassia sneezed again. “It didn’t feel right.”
“Are you crazy? Can’t you hear the rain and howling wind outside? We’ve got a freaking hurricane on our doorstep, and you insisted on walking." She reached up to touch her friend'sforehead. "Now, you're the one who's notall right.You're burning up with fever."
Kassia's mouth was set in a mulish line. "I don't care." Pain shot through her temple, and she closed her eyes to ward it off. "I just don't understand him, El. If he only wanted me for sex, then he could have had me last night. So why didn't he?"
Ellie winced. “Show a little restraint, Kas.”
Kassia turned on her side, facing Ellie. "What if I'm overthinking this? What if he really had family stuff to do and that's why he had to leave in the middle of the night? What if he's not really avoiding me?"
Ellie was torn. One part of her wanted to lie, just so she could see her friend smile again. The other half of her, however, wanted to be practical and truthful. Professor X was a jerk. It didn't matter if he had a reason or not for disappearing on Kassia. It was Kassia's first time to spend the night with a guy, and even if nothing had happened, the professor should have been there when she woke up.
But he wasn't, which meant he was a jerk and Kassia was better off without him.
"Ellie?"
She opened her mouth to tell the truth.
Then she saw Kassia's eyes swimming with tears.
Crap. She was such a sucker for tears.
Clearing her throat, Ellie said, "I think it's how you feel that matters, Kas. If you think he had a reason to do what he did, well, then...he did."
A relieved smile touched Kassia's lips. "I think so, too."
Ellie returned the smile weakly, thinking that she never wanted to fall in love like Kassia did.
Chapter Seven
Three more flights to go, Kassia. Just three more flights. That translated to thirty-six steps or a total of ten minutes spent climbing the stairs. It should sound easy, especially since she tackled the same set of stairs practically every day, but it didn't.
It sounded like hell, considering how her temperature was still over 100.
Taking another deep breath, she climbed another step. She felt heavy and sluggish, and it felt like she had weights around her ankles. Around her, the world started to dance, but she forced herself to ignore it. She mustn't lose her focus. She just had one test to go. One last test, and it was really important since it was for one of the two subjects she was in danger of failing. She had to pass this one last test, and Alessandro Moretti would be hers.
Another deep breath.
Another step.
Kassia looked up.
Thirty-four more steps to go.
God, she wanted to cry.
A second later, and she realized that a tear had already escaped her eye, trailing down her cheek. Just one teardrop, and it weakened her immensely, making Kassia lean against the wall and clutch the handrail desperately.
