You're the Reason - J. Nathan Page 0,9
as I stood and hurried out of the room without even looking at my damn partner.
CHAPTER FIVE
I stayed in my room most of the day Saturday doing homework and watching movies while Chantel was off preparing for more rush events. She didn’t come home that night, likely spending quality time with Chase.
I ate breakfast with Valerie Sunday morning then returned to my room where I remained in yoga pants and a T-shirt for the entire day watching football, something my dad and I did religiously. He didn’t get the son he obviously would’ve liked to have, so I got to do all the guy things with him—and I wasn’t complaining. I loved sports, especially football.
Just after seven, there was a knock at my door. I crawled off my bed and walked to it, pulling it open a crack.
Unexpectedly, the door pushed all the way open, causing me to stumble back. Chase pushed his way inside my room.
“Whoa,” I said, spinning around to face him. “Chantel’s not here.”
“You know where to find me,” he said, using my words on me.
“I…”
He crossed his arms and leaned his ass against my desk in low hung grey basketball shorts, a tight-fitting navy T-shirt, and a backpack on his back. “Well, here I am. So, grab your shit and let’s go.”
I crossed my arms. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“It’s my grade too, partner.”
I let out a shaky breath. No matter how much I hated this—and no matter how much the universe was working against me—he’d been the one who was rude. Not me. I wouldn’t play his game. I was better than that.
I gave a sigh of resignation and walked to where he stood, stopping in front of him. “Move.”
He didn’t, his eyes now on my television. “Why are you watching football?”
I tilted my chin up. “Because I like it. Now move.”
He still didn’t budge, but something unfamiliar flashed in his eyes.
“I need my stuff,” I explained, knowing we’d stand like that all night if he thought I was kicking him out.
He pushed off my desk with his signature glare and moved to the other side of the room. “You changing?”
I spun to look at him. “Oh, I’m sorry. Are yoga pants and a T-shirt not good enough for frat boy?”
His eyes narrowed. “I meant do you need me step out so you can change.”
“Oh.” Idiot. I snatched my backpack off my chair and tucked my laptop inside. “Let’s go.”
He followed me out the door, closing it on his way out. We walked down the hallway in silence, two strangers—and enemies—trying to co-exist. I wasn’t short, but he was a full foot taller than me and I felt the height difference as we made it down the three flights of stairs and outside into the dark night. I hadn’t explored the library yet, so I didn’t even know where to head. Sensing my confusion, he began walking to the left of my dorm.
I kept pace with Chase’s long strides. He said nothing, so I did the same as we crossed the nearly deserted campus to the library. Lights filtered through the windows of the glass exterior of the tall modern building—such a contrast to all the older buildings that surrounded the quad. Vast stone steps led up to the entrance to the library. When we reached the front door, he pulled it open and walked through, letting it practically close in my face. Asshole.
Maintaining my composure, I kept up with him as he walked through the lobby and right to the elevator at the far side. He jammed his finger into the button and we waited, the silence between us growing. The elevator chimed and the doors split apart. We stepped inside and Chase pressed the button for the sixth floor. The doors closed and the tension in the air could be cut with a knife. “Where’s Chantel?” I finally asked.
“Not her keeper.”
“She didn’t come home last night,” I said, looking for a reaction.
He gave none.
The elevator door opened, and we stepped out to a floor filled with wooden tables. Some were occupied by groups studying and working quietly. Others were devoid of bodies but covered with books and open laptops. I followed Chase to the right until we stopped outside a dark room with windows filling the front. One strip of tiny blue floor lights running the perimeter of the room gave off minimal light inside.
As we stepped inside, I glanced around at the cubicles with televisions on desks and comfy chairs in