I Hate You - Ilsa Madden-Mills Page 0,35

Chaz instructs.

We lock eyes and try to hide our laughter. I take advantage of her distractedness and poke my foil at her shoulder.

“Your turn,” I say as I pull back.

“To poke you?”

“To tell me something.”

“I just told you all kinds of stuff about my pop and some stupid guy! Hardly anyone knows that except Penelope!”

“Tell me something good.” I poke at her and she dodges.

“Fine. I love horror movies, even though blood grosses me out.” She plunges her foil into my chest with proper form.

“Really? You like being scared? Huh.”

She nods. “Being terrified is kinda the point, to be sucked into the mind and body of the lead character to the point where you feel what they feel and hurt when they hurt. What’s your favorite movie?”

“Say Anything with John Cusack.”

“STFU.” She drops her foil to her side, and I take the opportunity to lunge toward her and hit her in the leg.

I grin. “First love really gets to me, and John’s character…man, he went all out when it came to winning the heart of the girl everyone told him he couldn’t have. Dude had balls, and I admire that. Plus, he had a kickass sister and a cute little nephew he taught kickboxing to. I watched a lot of movies growing up.”

“Just a movie buff?”

“Mostly enjoyed seeing families on TV, you know, how they interacted and cared about each other.”

She gives me a stunned look, her mouth parting. “Because your parents died?”

“Yeah.” I’m surprised the admission about my preference of movies came out of my mouth. I never talk or hint about how it was for me growing up. But it’s her. And things feel different since the grocery store.

“Less talk, more work, students!” Chaz says, clapping his hands at us.

We move around each other, each of our foils raised as we continue the poses. She seems distracted, and I am too, thinking about her past and mine and how it’s shaped both of us.

“Put your foils on the rack and dream about the stiff ones we’ll have next time in class,” Chaz announces.

“He’s doing it on purpose! Has to be!” Charisma whispers, and we chuckle then put our swords away, grab our bags, and head out of class.

We stop on the steps. “What’s your next class?” she asks.

“History of Rome. You?”

“I have a break.”

“I’ll see you in psych on Wednesday then.” My eyes search hers; I’m not sure what I’m looking for.

People spill out of the buildings and walk around us, yet we’re unmoving.

She chews on that lip. “I actually took that Rome class last year as an elective and loved it.”

“Great. I could use some help with it. You free soon?”

She stiffens. “Oh, I’m really busy—”

“Come on, help a guy out.” I’m not sure what’s come over me, but she gave me an opening, so I’m jumping in and taking advantage.

Her eyes fly up to mine. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Blaze.”

“It totally is a great idea. You’re smart, and I struggle. I—I usually go over notes the day after classes and before the next one. I mean, I hate to be presumptuous, but are you free to help me around eight tomorrow night?”

She thinks on it for a while, her gaze averted as she looks down at her books.

Shit. What am I doing? She and I…we need to stay away from each other.

“I mean, if you’re busy, it’s cool.“

Her chest rises. “The library? Tomorrow?”

“Hell yeah,” I say, feeling breathless.

She gives me a curt nod. “Okay. No funny stuff though, Blaze. Just studying.”

I smirk. “Course not. Just me and you and a textbook. Friends, right?”

She pauses, her face unsmiling. “Right…friends.”

11

I’m lifting weights when Ryker and a man I don’t recognize waltz into the gym. The guy he’s with is tall, maybe forty, and wearing a slick gray suit. Big and bulky, he looks like a former player.

Ryker sees me and throws up a wave as they make their way over to me.

I let the weights go and stand up taller, straightening my shoulders.

Ryker slaps me on the back. “Blaze Townsend, meet Cedrick Clemmons.”

I nod at the smiling man and shake his hand. Big money, no doubt. I feel it oozing out, from his expensive leather loafers to the styled hair and spray tan. “Sir. Nice to meet you.”

Ryker smiles. “He’s a scout for the Giants and came down to talk to me. They get the number one pick this year.” He waggles his brows. Dude is flying high with all the attention he’s getting. Rightly