Page 74 of Wicked Minds
Looking at him now, I find it impossible to believe he truly meant it when he said hate was the farthest thing he felt for me. That glare… It looks a hell of a lot like resentment.
Whatever.
Until he finds the balls to come to my house sober and recite the crap he spouted when drunk, he’s on my shit list.
Besides, it would be impossible for him to ruin this moment, so with a smirk, I give him my middle finger before striding into class.
23
RILEY
“This is a nice surprise,” I say, smiling as I step out of my psychology class on Wednesday to find Logan leaning against the wall opposite, waiting for me.
“I wanted to see you.” There’s a lazy smile on his face as he does a casual sweep of my body before pushing off the wall. He pays no attention to the other students milling out of the hall as he slides a hand through my hair and lowers his face to mine. Our lips meet in an explosion of tangled tongues and undeniable chemistry, and by the time we break apart, the hall has emptied. “Reallywanted to do that.”
I chuckle, a smile splitting my face in two. True to his word, finding out about Aurora has changed absolutely nothing for Logan. Well, if it’s changed anything, he’s even more determined to make it up to me. He still greets me every morning with a coffee and walks with me to campus. I’ve been eating lunch with him and Royce in the food court, and Logan has been joining me in the library when our free times overlap.
“Where are you heading next?” he asks, taking my backpack and putting it over his shoulder before slotting his fingers between mine without a care in the world. “Library. That wasmy last class of the day, but I’ve got a paper to write for my US history course.”
“Sounds boring.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, it’s a little dry. It's definitely not my favorite subject, but it's better than Chemistry last semester… I don’t know why I thought that would be a good one to take. It was like the professor was speaking a foreign language half the time.”
He barks out a laugh. “I can imagine. So you’ll be in the library the rest of the day?” He waits until I nod. “Awesome. I’ve one more class today, then I'll have time to kill until practice. I’ll join you when I’m done.”
“Sounds good,” I say, smiling up at him as we make our way to the library.
“Still no word from your mom?”
He’s asked me the same question every day. It’s endearing how worried he gets when I give him the same answer—no. Logan is a fixer, and I can practically see the wheels turning in his head as he figures out how he can fix this. The problem is, this isn’t a problem he can flash a smile or throw money at and solve for me.
Throwing money at my mom would only make the situation ten times worse. She’s like a dog with a bone. If she had any inkling someone with money gave a damn about me, she’d dig her claws in so deep she’d shred Logan apart.
“I don’t need you to find a solution to this for me, Logan,” I feel the need to say. “This ismyproblem. Don’t go doing something reckless.”
He huffs in frustration. “I hate this for you.”
I squeeze his hand, appreciating the sentiment. “Just, please. I know you want to help, butpleasedon’t interfere. If my mom finds out about you.” I shudder. “It will only make things infinitely worse.”
He blows out a breath, staring down at me with sad eyes. “I promise I won’t reach out to your mom. I don’t want to make life harder for you, Riley. However, promise me, if there ever is anything Icando, you’ll tell me. I know you’re not used to relying on others, but youcanrely on me—and Royce. Wewantto be there for you. To help, if we can. So promise me you’ll tell us if there’s something we can do.”
It’s my turn to huff. He knows me too well. “Fine,” I say with a small smirk. “If ever you or Royce can help me, I’ll let you know.”
His grin is dazzling. “That’s all I can ask.”
Outside the library, he leaves me dazed with another all-consuming kiss before passing me my backpack and striding off to his next class. I watch him go before I regain my common sense and head inside.
Walking past tables with various students sitting at them, I aim for the back of the library where it’s usually quieter. As always, the tables back here are empty, and I have my pick of which to sit at. Choosing one, I set my bag down and lift my notebook out to check over the assignment along with the suggested reading list.
With the name of the textbook in mind, I go in search of it, finding it stuffed on a shelf in an abandoned corner where old, dusty, first-edition leather books that students rarely use are kept. Cradling the book in my arm, I exit the aisle, letting out a squeak when I’m grabbed from behind. The book falls from my arms and the world blurs as I’m hauled into yet another dusty-smelling aisle.
“HEL—” My yell is cut short as a hand clamps over my mouth, and I’m pulled more firmly against a firm chest. Writhing against him, I manage to turn in his hold, only to find myself shoved against a bookstack. With his hand still securely in place over my mouth, he buries his face in the crook of myneck, before growling in a low voice, “Do you have any idea what watching you with them does to me?”
Grayson.
Of course, it’s him.
I suspected as much. He’s the only person on campus who hates me and is insane enough to do something like this.
