by Frankie Love
“Yeah, there was a bet, but that was before I knew you.”
“You think that makes it better?”
A few heads turn around and glare at me.
“Can you leave?” I mumble. “Please.”
“Not until you forgive me.”
“Fine. I forgive you. Just go.”
The professor starts lecturing, and I pull out my notebook and pen.
“You know I have all my lecture notes from this course. I can give them to you.”
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“See. You’re still upset.”
I exhale heavily. “Being upset means I’d have to care. And I don’t.”
“Shhh.” A girl two rows in from of me shushes before rolling her eyes and turning back to the front.
Spencer leans closer, his breath warm against my ear. “I’ve missed you.”
I grunt, scribbling down what the professor is saying, but I miss half of it because I’m too aware of the way Spencer’s leg brushes against mine.
“Come over to my place after your class.”
“No.”
He chuckles. “You know you’re going to say yes eventually. Why fight me?”
I slam my pencil down on my desk and glare at him. “Maybe you should go ask Winslow. You and she looked pretty cozy earlier.”
Spencer frowns.
“Is there a problem back there?” the professor asks. “Mr. Beckett, I’m pretty sure you’ve already taken this course.”
“And aced it,” Spencer says, giving a cocky grin before sliding out of his seat. “I was just leaving.” He leans down and says, “Come over after class and I’ll give you more than my notes. I’ll give you everything you’ve been dreaming about since you left my place the other night.”
Heat rushes to my face, and I swear some of the people around me heard what he said, because I hear a few sighs, mixed with giggles.
And I’m right back where I started, swooning over a guy who is clearly going to break my heart.
When the lecture is over and I leave the hall, I find Spencer leaning against the wall, waiting for me, and there goes the damn butterflies again, wreaking havoc in my stomach.
He pulls me around a corner, and I’m pressed against the wall, his solid body trapping me before I can even let out a little yelp.
“Spencer—”
His mouth crashes down on mine, hard, fast, his tongue darting across my lips until I open for him.
He groans, “Wasn’t lying, Hayes. I missed you.”
“This is so wrong.”
“Why? Because I make you feel good.”
“You make me feel like I’m spinning out of control.”
He chuckles against my lips and kisses me again. “Cause you’re fighting too hard against me.”
He’s right. But what are my other options? Give in or run as fast as I can from him. The latter would be the smarter choice, but I already know which way my body and heart are leaning toward.
“Come back to my place.”
“I have to study.”
“So do I.” He kisses my neck.
“If we go to your apartment, I know what you’ll want.”
He pulls back and frowns. “I’m not pushing you for sex, Charlie. If I wanted to have you, I would have.”
“So you don’t want me?”
“You have a way of twisting words.” He kisses the tip of my nose. “Yes, Charlie Hayes, I want you. I want to spread that sweet little body of yours out on my bed, eat that delicious pussy again, then fill you so deep and full with my cock that you’ll be ruined for all other men. But I’m going to wait until I know you’re ready. Does that answer your question?”
I manage to whimper a “yes.”
And right now I feel more than ready. I’ve never wanted a guy like I want Spencer Beckett.
“How about your dorm?” he asks.
I frown up at him. “What?”
“We can go there to study.”
“My roommate might be there.”
“Your other options are the library or my apartment.” He whispers against my ear. “Whatever you choose, there will be some heavy making out going on. So unless you don’t mind public displays of affection—”
“Okay, my dorm.”
He chuckles and squeezes my ass. “Good girl.” Then he tucks his hand in my back pocket, laying claim to me.
As we walk across campus toward my dorm, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and I shiver. Something presses on the back of my skull, a feeling like I’m being watched.
“You cold?” he asks, wrapping an arm over my shoulder.
“Yeah,” I mutter, glancing around. For a second I swear I see a hooded figure in the shadows, but when I blink, it’s gone. “Let’s just get upstairs.”
Daphne is out, so the place is ours. I drop my backpack and begin peeling off my layers. Scarf, hat, jacket, sweatshirt.
“Keep it going,” Spencer teases playfully as he pulls his slim laptop from his messenger bag.
“Haha. I don’t strip for study partners.”
Spencer pouts playfully, falling into my bed like he owns it. He reaches under him and pulls out an envelope. “Sorry, I crushed this.”
He hands it to me, and I frown. After opening the seal, I pull out a note. All it says is Glass slippers can crack. Careful Cinderella, yours isn’t a happy ending. “What the heck?”
“What is it?” Spencer asks as I hand him the warning. He reads it and immediately pulls out his phone. “We need to call campus security.”
“Who would write that?”
“I don’t know, but someone doesn’t like the idea of you spending time with Princeton Charming.”
I press a hand to his phone. Maybe Tatum got really weird about the way I ended things at the party and took things to another level. I don’t think Tatum would do this … but what if his emotions got the best of him and he did this without thinking. Getting security involved, and finding out it was the star athlete, could cost him more than his reputation.
“I think it was just someone being stupid,” I say. “Don’t involve campus security, please.”
“That’s how things get out of control, Charlie. We have to report this.”
I exhale. “Please? I’ll tell you if anything else weird happens. I promise.” Then lifting my eyebrows I say, “What were we saying about stripping?”
He laughs, setting his phone on the bedside table. “We were saying it’s way too hot to study fully dressed.” He reaches for me, and his hands run under the hem of my shirt. A thrill washes over me as his fingertips brush my skin.
“How do you like to study?” I ask, laughing.
“In my boxer briefs, obviously.” His grin is so damn irresistible.
“Fine, but I’m keeping my bra on.”
He pulls my shirt off, over my head. “You are so bossy, Charlie Hayes. I like it.”
“Why do I get the feeling there won’t be much studying taking place today?” I laugh, as his hands run over the lacy cups of my bra.
“Oh there will be studying all right,” he says, looking me over. “Me studying every inch of your perfect body.”
“You’re so cheesy, Spencer Beckett.”
“And you’re an easy A.”
13
Spencer
After a study session with Charlie that ends with me blue balled harder than I’ve been since I was fifteen years old, I decide the next time I’m alone with her, I’m not holding back. She wanted to sleep with me instead of reviewing my old lecture notes - but there was no way in hell I was going to take Charlie’s virginity on a twin bed in a shared dorm room.
She deserves a hell of a lot more than that. She asked for romance, didn’t she?
Still the next week goes by in a blur. She cancels on me once because she has a job interview, and half my weeknights are filled with school commitments. By the time the next Saturday rolls around, I am dying to see her, but I promised my sister we’d Christma
s shop.
Me: You can come with. Ava won’t mind.
Charlie: Thanks, but I’ll pass. Prescott told me about a law office hiring, and I want to get my resume up to par.
My brow creases. Why is he all up in Charlie’s business?
Me: Prescott, huh?
Charlie: Yeah, awesome right? He emailed me about it this morning.
Refusing to sound like a jealous ass, I think of a chill response.
Me: Sounds good. How about dinner tonight?
Charlie: Sounds great. Text later?
I haven’t exactly had a girlfriend since Winslow, and I’m not saying Charlie is mine, but it feels like we could get there. When we text, it’s like we’re in a relationship. Like there is mutual trust, respect, courtesy.
And it’s really fucking with my mind.
When I pick Ava up from her campus dorm, she can tell something is on my mind.
“You look a million miles away,” she says as we drive toward the mall.
“I’m not. I’m right here.”
“Yeah? Well good because I need to talk to you.”
“Everything okay?” I look over at my little sister, concerned with her tone.
“Not really,” she groans. “Mom and Dad found out about my little hospital visit and they are pissed.”
“When did this happen?”
“About ten minutes before you picked me up.”
“Ah, makes sense why I hadn’t heard about it yet.”
“Well sorry, but you will. They seem to think I need more boundaries.” She makes air quotes.
“Which means?”
She scoffs. “They said something about an allowance.”
I roll my eyes, turning on my blinker to pull into the crowded mall parking lot. “They think money motivates everyone.”
Ava smirks. “Well it motivates you.”
Frowning I ask, “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh come on, Spence. You always want the fanciest cars, the most expensive clothes, and the most high-end vacations.”
Turning off the ignition I look over at my sister. Fendi booties. Gucci bomber jacket. Bottega Veneta handbag. She is wearing twenty grand in clothing, easy.
“Right, I’m the one who is obsessed with money.”
Ava rolls her eyes. “Mom buys me this shit. I don’t care about it.”
We get out of the car, neither of us in a great mood. And as we enter the mall, Christmas music blaring, it doesn’t exactly get us in a festive spirit.
“If you don’t care about flashy items then why are we at the fanciest shopping center in Jersey?” I ask her.
“Because our mother will hold it against us on Christmas morning if we don’t get her something with a label she approves of.”
“Fair enough. Then can we just get what we need and get out of here? This mall gives me the creeps. Everyone is so plastic.”
Ava twists her lips. “So maybe there is some meat to the rumor about you and your scholarship girl?”
I lift my eyebrows, incredulous. “You know her name. God Ava, she saved your life.”
“I know.” She smiles, slugging me in the arm as we wind our way through Bloomingdales. “I was testing you, wanted to see if you’d come to her defense. And you did. You like her.”
“Yeah.” I clench my jaw. “I don’t know what the rumors say, but Charlie deserves more than speculation.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t like the idea of people talking about her behind her back.”
We pause at a jewelry counter. “Well, she’ll need to get used to it if you plan on spending more time with her. Winslow’s claws are out and it’s only a matter of time before Mom and Dad get involved.”
“Mom and Dad are not getting involved with this,” I warn.
“Sure, just like we thought they wouldn’t find out about my little trip to the ER. They have eyes and ears everywhere. And they will not be happy about your relationship with Charlotte Hayes. She’s a sweetheart, but not at all in your league.”
“Ava, you’re my sister, but that’s too far. You can’t put her down, and if our parents come after you for information about her, promise me you’ll have my back. Charlie means something to me.”
Ava’s eyes widen. “Wow, you really like her.”
I nod. “Yeah, she’s really … special.”
Ava gives me a hug. “Of course I have your back, Spencer. You’re my big brother.” Then she smiles, eyes twinkling. “So what are you getting her for Christmas? Those earrings are gorgeous.” Ava points to a pair of solitaire diamonds. “Any girl would die for them.”
I smile to myself - yeah right, as if Ava isn’t motivated by money.
“No, not Charlie. She’d balk at them.”
“So what would she like?” Ava asks. “A Hermes purse? Oh, a cashmere Burberry scarf?”
I shake my head. “We won’t find what she’d want here. But I have an idea of where we could go.”
Ava’s eyes are bright. “Okay, let’s finish shopping for Mom, Dad, and Gran and then go get your girl her Christmas gift.”
My girl.
It sounds about right.
Later, after the mall shopping is done, Ava and I park in downtown Princeton.
“A record store?” Ava asks as I pull open a door.
“Charlie’s a collector.”
Ava frowns. “You know Mom and Dad will never approve of her, right?”
I stiffen. “She could win them over.”
My sister squeezes my arm. “Oh Spencer, you are so screwed.”
Stepping into the record store, I shake my head. I’m falling for Charlie Hayes and my parents are not going to get in the way of that.
14
Charlie
Daphne stands in front of her open wardrobe in her bra and underwear. “I have nothing to wear,” she moans.
I roll my eyes, reviewing the open document on my laptop. My resume is as good as it’s going to get. There is no way I’m qualified for the job Prescott mentioned. I never interned anywhere impressive and my work experience is the waitress gig and working at my uncle’s used car lot back in Michigan. And I wasn’t even a salesman. I made coffee runs and took out the trash.
Sure, I have spent tons of hours volunteering over the years - it’s in part why I was accepted to Princeton in the first place. I was awarded a Presidential Scholar, but this is a job at a law office and I’m guessing they want more experience than a glowing transcript.
“Charlotte, are you even listening?”
“What?” I ask, focusing on my half naked roommate.
“What should I wear tonight?”
“Where are you going?”
She groans. “You are so out of it. What has you so distracted?”
I close my laptop and sit up. “I still haven’t found a job.”
She frowns. “I can give you money.”
“I don’t want your money.” And I don’t. It’s not that I’m above help, but Daphne’s handouts have strings. She doesn’t even want the money back, the currency she is most interested in is time.
“Well if you change your mind.” She grabs a skin-tight black knit dress and pulls it over her head. “You should come out with me tonight. I miss you. And you’d love Kai and Caleb.”
“The crew guys?”
“Yeah. And they are so yummy.” She wiggles her brows at me. “And there’s plenty to share.”
I can’t help but laugh. She’s shameless.
“I think I’m going to meet up with Spencer.”
Daphne sits next to me on the bed. “Really, I thought you were over him?”
“I thought so too, but then we met up last week to study and…”
“You share the same class? I thought he was a grad student.”
“He is, he was just helping.” I feel heat rise to my cheeks, remembering our study session… we spent more time exploring one another’s bodies then we did reviewing any notes.
“You like him?”
she asks.
I shrug. “I mean... yeah? Honestly, I think if it comes up … I’ll sleep with him.”
“Wait, what!” Daphne's jaw drops. “You’ll part with your V-card if Princeton Charming wants it?”
“It’s not just about what he wants. God, Daph. I want it to. I mean, he’s really hot.”
“And arrogant. And cocky. And way too conceited. You need someone wholesome, someone with morals and—”
“Hey! You don’t get to judge. You’re going to have a threesome with two jocks tonight.”
“Yeah, but I’m not Charlotte Hayes. Homegrown sweetheart with more class than half the girls at Princeton. You’re too good for Spencer Beckett.”
“Seems like everyone thinks the opposite.”
Daphne purses her lips at me and takes my hand. “You really don’t see it, do you?”
“What?”
“You.” The way she looks at me makes me feel uneasy, but I’m not sure why. “You’re just—”
There’s a knock at the door and it gives me the perfect excuse to pull my hand away and stand.
Tatum is pacing in the hallway when I open the door.
“Hey.” I frown up at him, remembering the cryptic note I found under my pillow. I haven’t seen him since, and the way he fidgets nervously now, my suspicions that he’s the one who left it are strengthened.
“Hey.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Look, I feel like I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“I’ve been...” He winces. “I guess I’ve been jealous since you started hanging out with Beckett.”
“Just cause I’m seeing him, doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”
“So you are dating him?”
“I don’t know. But I like him.”
“The guy is a player, Charlie. He’ll hurt you.”
“Maybe, but that’s my choice.”
He shakes his head. “Charlie—”
“Tatum, I’m a big girl. I appreciate you worrying about me. But, it’s not necessary.”
He grunts. “Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when you come crying to me. It won’t end well.”
His words are similar to what the note said. Careful Cinderella, yours isn’t a happy ending.