Page 58 of Degradation
I send it to myself so I can check McCauly and Baker’s story, and then I delete it from her phone.
I push away and leave her in the stacks without another word, whistling as I stroll out the library doors. I glance at my watch and find I’ve got just enough time to get back for Daisy. I’ll see if she wants to grab a coffee, spend a little quality time with me, so I can start fixing what I broke.
I return to the science building and wait by the doors to the lecture hall for Daisy to come out. I’m only there for a few seconds before they bang open and everyone files out. I see her beyond them, still sitting in her seat with her crutches propped up on the one next to her. She’s talking to Bennet, that hipster fuck whomean girl-edour girl. He’s got a pretentiously booted foot up on the armrest of the seat in front of Daisy, leaning over her a little, eyeing her like a snack. She seems oblivious though, chatting pleasantly. She nods and stands. The fucker passes her the crutches and makes a show of ensuring they’re positioned right. Like she can’t do it herself. She’s not going to like that.
I snort when her mouth turns downward and her eyes narrow. Almost imperceptible to the untrained eye, but I notice. I was right. She’s definitely annoyed at the twat with the topknot.
She leaves the hall and comes straight to me when she sees me, almost as if she wants Bennet to know she’s with me.
I give the asshole a shit-eating grin and step closer to Daisy under the guise of sliding her laptop bag from her shoulder onto mine, since he didn’t bother to help her carry it.
He snorts.
‘I didn’t know you knew Blake, Daisy,’ he says.
‘Oh,’ Daisy looks up at him and smiles. ‘Yeah, uh, we work together. In the lab.’
‘In the lab? I thought Marcus was the assistant.’
‘You didn’t hear?’ I drawl. ‘Marcus is out. Daisy is in.’
‘Must have missed the memo.’ His eyes narrow at me. ‘Weird. I thought Applegate had me next in line for that spot.’
His eyes fall to Daisy, moving over her in a way that makes my blood boil.
I shrug. ‘Things change.’
‘They certainly do. Well,’ he backs off and smiles at Daisy, ‘I’ll see you in the library for our first meeting soon.’
Daisy waves goodbye to him cheerfully, having no clue that he’s pissed that she’s been given the lab spot over him.
‘Why are you meeting him?’ I ask, trying to sound casual.
‘Partner project,’ she says, looking away from me.
I sigh.
So, we’re back to that again. Great. At least she isn’t looking like she thinks I’m about to slit her throat anymore, though.
‘Want to get a coffee?’ I ask.
Her eyes bounce back to me. ‘Together?’
I nod. ‘I’ll take you over to Grinder for an hour and then we can go back to the house or the lab for a while if you want.’
I’m surprised when she nods.
I walk with her back to the Quad and open the door of the coffee shop for her. The wrestling team is gone, and I glance behind me, hoping they’re close by and have seen me walking with Daisy. I want them all to understand clearly that she’s off-limits.
Daisy gives the place a quick once-over, probably trying to find her friend, Lu, but she isn’t here. She does wave at a couple of the other employees behind the counter, though, and sits down carefully in the chair I pull out for her.
I order her a latte and a decaf one for myself, too, and bring them to the table, sitting across from her.
‘Thanks,’ she murmurs, her eyes not meeting mine at all.
Shit, this is even worse than I thought. What can I do to fix this if she’ll barely speak to me?
‘Daisy.’
