Page 47 of Fractured Fate

Well, that confirmed her suspicions of his whereabouts.

Charlotte:

Where are you?

When several minutes passed without response, she started to call him, but another message popped up.

Aiden:

Someone told me where it is. Hang on.

Hang on? How long did he want her to wait? The campus was huge. He could be anywhere.

She moved away from the main entrance, seeking shade from the bright sun beneath a tree while she waited for his call or text.

“Did you get his number?”

“No way. I couldn’t ask him that.”

“He was gorgeous. I would have asked for it.”

“Did you see his eyes?”

“His eyelashes are better than mine.”

She rolled her eyes as she listened to the feminine voices approaching from behind. How nice it would be to giggle and gossip about college boys instead of looking over her shoulder for threats. She envied them.

The two girls passed her tree and then paused on the walkway, glancing behind them.

“Oh shit, he’s coming this way!” The one on the right giggled.

“Shhh! He probably can hear you,” the other chastised, swatting at her friend. “Of course he’s coming this way. He asked for the Tate Building.”

The one on the left covered her mouth, and they took off at a brisk pace. Charlotte suspected they didn’t want to be caught gossiping.

Moments later, Aiden passed her, striding toward the Tate Building’s main entrance with purpose.

She couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face as she watched him look all around himself searching for her. It made her feel good.

“Aiden!”

He turned as she strode toward him, but her steps faltered at the scowl on his face. He shoved his phone in his pocket and came toward her.

Without a word, he reached out and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, pinning her arms to her side, pressing her face into his broad chest. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

She laughed. “What are you talking about?”

He smelled like ice cream and cologne. The combination settled her nerves better than her medication ever could. She didn’t even know she needed it until his arms banded around her.

This was new.

When he let her go, she stepped back and looked up at him, pushing her sunglasses on top of her head.

“You seemed really afraid the last time we talked, and I didn’t hear from you at all yesterday. With you mentioning someone following you…” He scratched the side of his neck and looked around. “And we’re out for our summer break as of Friday, so it wasn’t a big deal to borrow Mom’s car because she won’t have classes to teach tomorrow…” He blew out a harsh breath. “I just wanted to see you were okay with my own eyes. Maybe I overreacted. Sorry.”

“Why? You’re fine. You’ve just never hugged me before, that’s all.”

“I haven’t?”