Page 12 of Stay
Crap.
“It was more of a hope on my part,” I reply lightly, searching for an empty seat in the already crowded room.
One empty seat is all I need.
Bingo.
As I scan the lecture hall, I find a girl with long blonde hair waving erratically at Cole. Just in case he doesn’t notice her wild gesturing, I point out the frantic female. These girls are seriously ridiculous. Not to mention, desperate. But hey, I can totally help a sister out. Especially when it benefits me in return.
“You seem to have a fan over there who’d very much enjoy the pleasure of your company.”
He flicks a casual wave in her direction as I start down the thinly carpeted steps. I like sitting front and center in all my classes. It feels as if the students buried in the back of the lecture halls are too busy talking, sleeping, or texting to pay attention.
Just as I step away, Cole slings a muscled arm across my shoulders, steering me toward his friend as he points in her direction.
“Look, there are two open seats. How perfect is that?”
My body tenses at the physical contact as I attempt to shrug him off. “No thanks. I like sitting near the front.”
Apparently, he isn’t as picky about seating as I am because he says, “Okay, lead the way. We’ll sit where you want today.”
Today?
I don’t think so.
This has me skidding to a halt as my brows lower. Probably not the most attractive expression, but I don’t give a shit at the moment.
“Cole,” I say with far more patience than I’m feeling, “there’s obviously a girl over there who would love to sit with you. And just in case you’re confused,” I shake my head before pointing to myself, “I’m not that girl.”
Having said that, I stalk down the stairs toward the front of the lecture hall. Professor Mullens is already standing at the podium, ready to begin. I want to get to my seat and forget all about Cole whatever-the-hell-his-name-is.
Unfortunately, I have a sneaking suspicion I’m going to have a hard time doing that.
This pushy guy brings out the worst in me.
And I don’t like it.
I don’t like the way I react to him.
I don’t like losing control over my emotions.
It’s just one more reason to steer clear of him in the future. I already have more than enough reasons to shoot him to the tippy top of myavoid like the plaguelist. Actually, he’s the only one occupying that list.
As far as I’m concerned, the guy already has three strikes against him, which is three too many.
He’s way too good-looking (strike one).
He’s too easy going (strike two).
And he didn’t flirt, not even a little bit, with that girl (strike three, damn him).
Warning bells are already ringing inside my head, and I didn’t even know the guy existed before last night. That seems like a bad sign.
We’ll just make that strike four.
I slip into a seat parked between a guy and a girl. Neither of whom I know. I can’t help but huff out a relieved breath that whatever little dance was happening with Cole is over. I’ll just have to be careful to avoid him in the future. It shouldn’t be difficult with a campus of twenty thousand students.
Just as I slide my computer from my bag, Cole taps the guy next to me. My fingers still as I wait for his next move. Because he can’t possibly have one. I won this round.
