“Well, apparently she has a key.” My jaw clenches, and I fold my arms over my chest and flick my gaze over to him. “So what is she doing?”

I see his muscles tighten up as he gets out of my car. Supporting his weight on the open door, he leans down and gives me a warning look. “Don’t you think about moving. I’m going to settle this and figure out what’s going on.”

Biting the inside of my cheek I follow his toned back as he stalks into his house. As each second passes by my face grow hotter and hotter in shame until my entire body feels like it’s on fire. There’s nothing quite like sitting outside a guy’s house—a guy I fully planned to sleep with—as he tries to diffuse a situation with his former girlfriend.

If that’s even what this is.

Who’s to say he didn’t ask her over himself?

Finally, when there’s still no sign of either of them and my stomach pitches violently because of the road my thoughts have swerved on, I jab my keys back into the ignition and drive away.

Chapter Fifteen

“Hey, do me a favor?” I stop Nathan just before he walks into sight singing the next morning. Side-stepping a girl who’s trying to get into class, he turns to me and waits for my request. “Can you text me the assignment? I’ve got a migraine from hell, and I’m going to run back to my room and take something before my afternoon class.”

He turns his lips into a sympathetic frown and nods. “Feel better. I’ll let you know if you miss anything important.”

Moving away from the door so a few people can walk through, I give him an appreciative look before heading down the hallway toward the stairs. Although I’m still pissed at Rhys, livid actually, I’m honestly not avoiding sight singing because of him today. I fully intend on going to our lesson this afternoon and telling him exactly what I think of him—as soon as I get rid of this headache. I’m massaging my fingers over my temples with my eyes partially closed, so I’m caught completely unaware when a strong hand closes around my wrist and pulls me into the concert band’s instrument room on the first floor.

Fear spirals through me. I pound my fists against a rock hard chest until fingers feather across my cheek and tilt my face up and Rhys’ beautiful blue-green eyes stare down at me. Sucking in a breath to calm my speeding heart, I close my eyes. Then I hit him one more time. To my satisfaction, he winces and backs up.

“You scared the hell out of me,” I gasp. He’s a couple feet away from me now, in front of a metal shelf lined with woodwind cases, with his dark eyebrows drawn together over his eyes. I settle my gaze directly on his eyes, and I quickly realize it’s a stupid, careless mistake.

An angry scowl creases his forehead. “You left without even telling me you were going.

“Our lesson isn’t until this afternoon. And you’re supposed to be teaching.” I cross my arms over my chest, digging my fingernails into the backs of my arms. “So what do you want?”

“What happened to you last night?” His voice is low, and when I don’t answer he strides over to me and cups the side of my face. There’s no hesitation in the fingers splaying over my skin, no asking for permission. My body betrays me almost immediately, and I turn my head, letting his palm mold against my cheek. “Evelyn?”

My breathing comes out in shallow spurts, and my chest feels like it’s about to explode. Everything is weighed down because of this boy—no, this man—and it shouldn’t be.

“Your girlfriend showed up,” I say hotly, taking a defiant step toward him. My breasts brush up against his chest, causing his body to jerk. “I wasn’t going to just sit there twiddling my thumbs like an idiot.”

“You are impatient.” He traces his thumb over my upper lip. “As soon as I sent Cari on her way—and we’re not together, nor did I touch her last night—I came out to get you. I meant what I said about wanting you. Imagine my surprise to find you gone.”

“How the hell could you be surprised when—”

Drawing my lip between his thumb and forefinger, he shakes his head. “Again, Cari’s not my girlfriend. I had no issue telling her that and telling her to leave.”

Running his gaze over the full length of my body, one corner of his full lips tilts into a smirk. His warm breath tickles my face when he says, “You stood me up again.”

“It was on your personal time, so I’m pretty sure it’s not against the rules.”

Dropping his hands to my hips, he yanks me to him so hard we stumble back against one of the shelves, sending a box of reeds tumbling to the floor.

“You didn’t give me a chance,” he tells me again. He crushes his mouth against mine in a kiss that’s too short and yet far too long. A kiss that tastes bittersweet, beautiful, and makes my chest seize up in the worst pain I’ve felt in a long time.

Rhys drags himself away from me, leaving me dizzy, and I trace my nail around the outline of my lip. Once he catches his breath, he leans close to me again. “But since you asked, yeah, it’s sure as hell against the rules. Everything with you is against the rules, and I’m kicking myself for breaking them. You’re eighteen—”

“Nineteen,” I correct breathlessly, “My birthday was August tenth.”

“Still, you’re almost five years younger than me,” he growls, “And yet, all I can think about is you.” He shakes his head, and I’m unsure if it’s at me or himself, before he tells me, “When you’re ready to finish this, just tell me.”

***

“I’ve missed you, woman! God, it feels like I haven’t seen you in years!” Kendra shouts four days later, on Friday, when I meet her at the front of my dorm. She all but tackles me as she launches herself into my arms.

“It’s only been six weeks,” I point out, laughing, but I hug her back as tightly as I can. I pluck her duffel bag out of her grip and swipe my student ID over the scanner by the front door. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you—I’ve been a mess without you.” And I have. Ever since Rhys pulled me in that music room four days ago, I haven’t been able to think clearly.

We take the elevator up to my room where we find Corinne trying on outfits for one of the many parties that will be going down tonight. When I shut the door behind us, she pops her head up, grinning broadly. “This must be the fantastic Kendra.”

“Oh God.” Kendra’s brown eyes shoot over to me. “What’s she been telling you about me?”

“Not nearly enough,” Corinne promises her before holding up two shirts for my inspection—one black and lacy and the other a fluorescent pink tube top. I point to the black one. “So, where all are you two going tonight?”

There are several bands scheduled to start playing in the next couple hours, and after that, I’ve been invited to parties all over campus—from Baseball House to the music fraternity and even to a few in-room parties from people I know from class. “It kind of depends on what she wants to do.” I glance at Kendra who lifts her shoulders slightly before I ask Corinne the same question. “What about you?”

She rattles off a list of parties she’ll be hopping to with her friends, and I get dizzy just thinking about it. After she finishes dressing, she stands in the center of our room and spins in a circle, and I give her an approving nod. “Be safe tonight,” I say, sounding exactly like Kendra, who gives me an amused look.

Grabbing her room keys, Corinne waggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Always. Have fun tonight, Evie.” To Kendra, she waves and says, “I hope we’ll be able to do something tomorrow so you can tell me all about Evie—she always tells me to piss off when I ask questions.”

As soon as my roommate is gone, Kendra spins in my computer chair, taking in Corinne’s tropical-themed side of the room before she rubs her chin thoughtfully. “She’s very nice,” she tells me carefully, but I clearly hear what she’s trying not to say.