it means opening yourself up to be hurt by her. You’re trying to protect yourself.”
Fuck. Am I? “I’ve fucked this up.”
“No. Get your shit together, and let her in.” He stood, holding the tray. “Just don’t leave it too late.” I saw an expression that could almost pass for sadness flicker in his eyes, gone before I could work out if it was really there or just my mind playing tricks on me. Then he was gone, and I was left alone with my thoughts.
Trust.
It went against everything I’d known. But then, the only people I did trust all trusted her. Maybe it was time to take that leap, and yeah, that was a scary as fuck thought, but the thought of Winter not being in my life? Or being with another man? Those were thoughts I wasn’t even willing to entertain.
Time to man the fuck up and put myself on the line for my girl.
TEN
My first day back at university, and I was itching for some normality. I’d managed to keep up with everything I’d missed, thanks to my lecturers sending me notes and assignments. In actual fact, we were so close to the end of the semester that the workload had eased right off. I only had one week left, and I’d be done until January.
After my morning lecture, I headed to the library, then met Cassius and Kinslee to get lunch.
As we entered the cafeteria, a hush descended on the room. People stopped talking. Literally stopped mid-conversation and turned to stare at me.
What the fuck?
Then the whispers started, growing in volume until they were too loud to ignore.
“I heard she gave James Granville a blowjob in the library.”
“No, you’re wrong. She had a threesome with James and his cousin. You know, the TA?”
“Yeah, he’s hot. I’d have a threesome with them.”
“What’s so special about her, anyway?”
“Fucking slut, cheating on Caiden Cavendish.”
“Who would even cheat on him?”
“I sucked his dick once. It was so big, I couldn’t fit it all in. Made my jaw ache.”
I gritted my teeth, straightening my spine.
Fuck them all and their rumours.
“Want to get out of here?” Kinslee whispered to me.
I shook my head. Better to face them, rather than run away like I was guilty.
Holding my head high, I continued making my way through the room to the lunch line. I chose and paid for my food on autopilot, answering Cassius and Kinslee without really hearing them.
As I slumped in my seat with a sigh, my skin prickled with awareness. I was so attuned to his presence that it felt like a magnet was pulling me in his direction.
I turned my head.
Over on the far side of the room was Caiden. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at him. His raven hair was all tousled, the muscles in his arms flexing under his tattoos as he leaned forward, planting one hand on the wall and shoving the other into the pocket of his jeans. He was so sexy, so assured, confidence radiating from him as he effortlessly commanded my attention, without even being aware he was doing so.
I wanted him.
So much.
It was taking everything I had to keep him in the friend zone, but I couldn’t—
Wait a minute.
My eyes slid from Caiden to the person he was talking to. Until that moment, my entire focus had been on him, until I saw the slim hand landing on his arm, sliding up his bicep.
Hot, raging jealousy filled me, and I gasped aloud at the force of it. If I’d ever doubted my feelings for him, there was no doubting them now. My whole body vibrated with tension, desperate to race over to him and pry Portia’s claws from his arm and claim him as mine.
Mine.
I couldn’t tear my gaze away. I watched as he smiled down at her, watched her toss her perfect hair, batting her perfect eyelashes, thrusting her perfect tits towards him.
It hurt. Way, way more than I thought it would.
“Winter,” Cassius hissed, bending his head to my ear and putting his arm around me. “All isn’t as it seems.”
“Isn’t it?” I laughed bitterly. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like Portia’s making a move on him, and he isn’t doing anything to discourage her.”
“That’s your jealousy talking, babe. I shouldn’t have to tell you, but he likes you. A lot. I knew it before either of you, and now he knows it, too.” He gave me a smug smile. “There’s no way he’d fuck things up. Plus,