Elite (Eagle Elite) - By Rachel Van Dyken Page 0,57

didn’t open my eyes. “We were supposed to talk about tonight and why you have guns and… Skittles.”

“Skittles?” He chuckled. “What, you trying to taste my rainbow?”

“I love rainbows.” I smiled.

Huh? I must have been dreaming, because I could have sworn I heard Nixon say. “I’ve always loved you.”

“You too,” I said back, because you know, I was dreaming and it was totally okay to say that back in your dream.

Nixon’s warm lips were on my neck. “I’m glad you’re safe, Trace. Now sleep.”

He felt so good. I snuggled as close as I could and tucked my head into the crook of his arm. It was an amazing dream, being in his arms, being at peace.

****

The sound of my alarm jolted me awake. Almost falling off my bed, I stared at my phone. Who plugged it in?

I had a text from Nixon. Wait, Nixon? Where was he?

SET YOUR ALARM FOR SEVEN JUST IN CASE YOUR OLD MAN WAS COMING EARLY. CLEANED UP SNACKS BUT CHASE WANTED TO LEAVE YOU THE SKITTLES. USE THEM WISELY! HAVE FUN TODAY PLEASE BE SAFE.

My grin was so huge I’m surprised my face didn’t hurt. I quickly texted him back.

THANKS FOR NOT TASTING MY RAINBOW WHILE I WAS SLEEPING. PROMISE TO BE SAFE. PLUS NOBODY WOULD ATTACK ME WITHOUT YOU AROUND. YOU’RE THE GUN MAGNET! SEE YOU TONIGHT?

I anxiously wrung my hands together while I waited for him to respond.

LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON J

With a happy sigh, I sent him a smiley text back and looked at the time. It was just after seven. I had plenty of time to shower and make myself presentable.

I grabbed my shower tote and threw on my flip flops and bathrobe.

The bathroom was pretty busy. Luckily, one of the showers was open. I snatched it before anyone else did and washed my hair. The hot water was therapeutic against my sore back. Why would my neck be sore? I rolled my head around and gasped. Nixon. I’d fallen asleep against his arm. No wonder my neck hurt.

I was still smiling when I toweled off and gathered my stuff to go back into my room. Making my way to the bathroom door I pulled it open and nearly ran into one of my dorm-mates.

“Skank.” She pushed past me.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” She sneered. “You’re a skank. Two guys in your room last night? Really? You know Nixon and Chase are just messing with you, right? They’re Elect and you’re a nobody. A charity case. Besides… word around school is that you’d give it to anyone.”

“Hmm.” I put my free hand on my hip. “I wonder what Nixon would say about that.”

Fear flashed in her eyes for a brief moment before she shrugged. “Tell him whatever you want. Because in a few days it won’t even matter anymore. He’ll get bored. They always do. You’re like the shiny new toy, and believe me when I say, Nixon really loves to play. Good luck finding any guy who will talk to you after he breaks you and puts you back on the shelf.”

Stunned I stared as she stomped off. Girls shoved past me. But I couldn’t move. Dread filled my stomach. What if she was right? I hadn’t known him very long, and wasn’t it kind of weird how close we had gotten? It wasn’t normal. Even I wasn’t backwoods enough to think anything about our relationship was normal. It was odd, but it worked, right?

I chewed my lower lip and walked back to my room.

Monroe was sitting on her bed looking like she’d been thoroughly kissed the night before.

“I take it Tex was attentive?” I decided not to tell anyone about my run in with the chick in the bathroom and put my stuff away while I waited for Mo to answer.

“He’s so…” She sighed happily. “Perfect.”

“Tex?” I laughed. “We are talking about Tex, right?”

“Shut up!” She threw a pillow at my head and giggled. Oh gosh, she had it bad. Right, like I could talk. I did in fact just sigh while reading a text not even a half hour ago. “He’s just so sweet and my family totally approves, which is a huge deal!”

My hands froze over my bathrobe. “Your family kind of strict?”

“Kind of?” She snorted. “The last guy I dated ran away screaming, and I’m not joking. My family is all about appearances and connections. Luckily, Tex is everything my dad actually likes.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, for starters, his parents just bought out a multi-million dollar software