Page 59 of Twilight of Embers
I forced a smile. “Here you go, Professor.”
I set the plate down and moved to quickly back up, but I wasn’t fast enough.
Brent caught my arm. His hold wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t loose either. “Thank you, Hayden. When we’re not on campus, you can call me Paul. I’d like us to be friends.”
Sweat gathered along my spine as panic began to set in. How the hell did I answer that?
“Hey, Hayden,” a loud, booming voice called across the restaurant.
At the sound, Brent’s hand dropped away, and a whoosh of air left my lungs.
I quickly turned toward the voice. It was one of the men at the counter. One of the football guys. I had no idea how he knew my name, but I was grateful. I headed right in his direction to see what he needed.
But I knew I’d have to face Professor Brent eventually, and dread settled in deep at the thought.
29
HAYDEN
I sighed as I dropped my fancy new backpack on the chair in my room. It had been a week. Between trying to avoid Professor Creeper, a mountain of schoolwork, and Knox acting all sorts of weird, I was exhausted.
It wasn’t just Knox behaving strangely. It was all the guys, except for Cáel. Knox would show up each morning with hot chocolate and breakfast. He’d kiss my forehead and then immediately step back as if I had some communicable disease. He’d keep a foot of distance between us at all times after that.
Easton just kept his distance in general, unless he was glaring at me in one of our two shared classes. Maddox only ever called me Ms. Parrish, and when he did, he never made eye contact. Cillian texted occasionally but only to ask how I was feeling.
Thank God there was Cáel. He and I had taken to late-night study sessions in the library together. He’d walk me back to my dorm each night, wrapping me in a hug so tender it would make me want to cry. Then he’d kiss me on the temple and say goodnight.
But even with his kindness, I was left completely and utterly confused. What did any of them want? I was beyond tired of all the second-guessing.
Maggie grinned at me as she crossed the small room and dropped something credit card sized on my desk. “You’re coming with us this time.”
My brows pulled together as I took in the nicer one of Delaney’s friends. “Coming with you?”
Delaney scowled at me. “Not dressed like that, she’s not.”
I picked up the tiny object. It was the same photo that was on my student ID, but this one read The State of Wyoming and had a different name and birthday.
I turned to face Maggie. “What is this?”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you want to have a little more of a life than living in the library?”
My cheeks burned. “I have to get good grades to keep my scholarship.”
“And is going out one night going to stop that?”
No, it wouldn’t. The truth was, with all my study time with Cáel, I was ahead in most of my classes. I stared down at the ID.
“She doesn’t want to go,” Delaney snapped. “Leave the nerd here.”
“Come on, Hayden,” Maggie pushed. “Live a little. You can invite Knox and Cáel, too, if you want.”
There it was, the real reason for the invite.
“I’d rather not,” I grumbled.
Delaney’s eyes brightened. “Trouble in paradise?”
“I could just use a break.”
