Page 135 of Ruthless Court

“You’ve asked it six different ways.”

“Because you keep dodging it.”

“Take the hint.”

“Why don’t you play?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m vertically challenged with poor eyesight.”

“You miss nothing.”

She pulls the Twizzlers from my hand and shoves them into her bag, followed by her notebook and pencils.

“Study session’s over.”

“Because I asked you hard questions?”

“Because our two hours are up.”

She checks her phone, and whatever she sees adds urgency to her movements.

“I have to go.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere you weren’t invited.”

She shoulders her bag, rolls her neck, then stretches both arms overhead. The hem of her sweater lifts, exposing a narrow strip of skin above her leggings.

I look away too late.

Hannah catches me.

“Did you need something?”

“Your explanation.”

“You’ll survive without it.”

She glances toward the reserve shelves.

“I need Aldridge’s book before I leave.”

We cross the reading room together. She tries to pretend I’m not following, which only makes me follow closer.

The reserve section sits between two rows of shelves tall enough to hide us from the rest of the library. Hannah scans the spines, then grabs the rolling ladder.

“You’re not climbing that.”

She steps onto the first rung. “I wasn’t asking.”

“The wheels aren’t locked.”

“I can see that.”

“Your record with stationary objects isn’t strong.”

She climbs higher.