Page 55 of Trick or Treat Nurse at My Feet
"What if it just makes him angrier?" I ask quietly.
Sylas puts down his fork. "Then at least you'll have documentation of harassment if you need it," he says seriously. "And we'll deal with it. Together."
Nodding, I take a deep breath and pull up Ryan's contact. I stare at it for a long moment, then hit "Block this Caller."
"There," I say, feeling relief and a strange kind of sadness. "Done."
"Good," Sylas says, squeezing my arm. "Now tell me more about the other frat guys at the car wash on Saturday. Do you think I can bring a lawn chair and watch?"
The subject change is precisely what I need. "Absolutely not," I say, laughing. "You can't just show up to ogle shirtless frat boys. That would be weird."
"How is it weird?" Sylas says, looking genuinely offended. "It's a public event! I'd be supporting a charity while appreciating fine male specimens. That's practically community service."
"It's creepy, and besides, I'm nervous enough without having my best friend sitting on the sidelines with popcorn and a scoring paddle."
"I would never," Sylas says, then reconsiders. "Okay, I definitely would. But I'd besubtle about it."
"You've never been subtle a day in your life," I point out. "Remember when you tried secretly checking out that barista at Grounds for Thought and knocked over an entire display of coffee beans?"
"That was different," Sylas mutters. "He had exceptional forearms. They caught me off guard."
My head shakes side to side. "The point is, no. You cannot come to watch. At least not this time. Let me figure out where I stand with Tyler before introducing him further to your particular brand of chaos."
"Fine," Sylas sighs dramatically. "But I expect a full report. With photos. And a detailed breakdown of which frat brother has the best abs. For research purposes."
"You're the worst," I say, fighting the twitch at the corner of my mouth. Giving Sylas the satisfaction of making me smile would only encourage his particular brand of lunacy.
"Yet somehow still your best friend," he counters cheerfully. "So, what time is this wet t-shirt extravaganza starting?"
Tuesday passes without incident,and I think maybe the blocking worked. But on Wednesday, as I'm crossing through the science building to reach my anatomy lab, I see a familiar figure at the end of the hallway. Ryan's head turns, his eyes locking with mine for a brief, electric moment before I duck into a side corridor and take the long way to my lab.
My heart pounds the entire way, adrenaline making my hands shake even as I tell myself I'm overreacting. It's a public building. He's allowed to be there. It doesn't mean he's following me.
But when I catch another glimpse of him outside the library where I'm studying that evening, the coincidence feels too deliberate to ignore.
Tyler
Hey
Tyler's text lights up my phone, a welcome distraction.
Tyler
How's your week going?
Now I'm smiling for the first time all day.
Better now. How about yours?
Tyler
Busy with midterms. But looking forward to Saturday
Me too. Spent way too much time deciding what to wear
Tyler
Wear whatever you want. You look good in everything
