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I’m not sure I’m ready to be here, yet at the same time, I know it’s what I need. I’m sure once the first night passes, things will get easier. Besides, Paulie, who I met on my introduction day, told me he is going to take me to all my classes tomorrow and show me around. I have one class with Pervy Pete, a teacher I have been informed is very handsy, which I’m not looking forward to, but I’m certain he’ll only try to grab my bottom once.
Following Addi out of the dorm, we meet Spike out front. He’s standing by the truck, arms crossed, glaring at everyone that walks past. Addison snorts, muttering, “Why does he have to look like that? We’re trying to make friends here.”
I chuckle. “That’s the only way he knows how to look.”
Reaching him, I stretch out my fingers and run them down his cheek. He flinches, and his eyes meet mine. He’s doing his best to support me, and I know he’ll get used to it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not hard to leave him. “It’s only two days,” I murmur.
“Know that,” he mumbles, his voice low and croaky.
“It’ll be okay, I promise.”
“Know that, too.”
Addi excuses herself, letting me say goodbye to Spike. He releases his arms from their firm crossed stance and pulls me into him. I exhale, pressing my face to his chest and breathing him in. I’m going to miss him, but I know this will be the best thing for me. I’ve lost who I am, and I need to find it again. The only way I can do that is to branch out a little and get myself the career I always wanted.
“Anyone looks at you the wrong way, speaks to you the wrong way or fuckin’ breathes on you the wrong way, you tell me, yeah?”
I pull back. “I’ll tell you.”
I won’t, but it makes him feel better.
“Love you,” he murmurs, taking my chin in his hand and bringing my lips up to his.
I kiss him, soft but deep, and then pull back, my eyes burning with unshed tears.
“Don’t go cryin’ on me, Tom Cat, can’t handle that.”
“I’ll wait until you leave.”
He growls, kissing me again, then he releases me and turns without looking back. I’m glad he does that, because if he were to look back, I think I’d break, and I can’t break. This is what I want, and I have to honor it.
Even if it hurts watching him drive away.
Everything will be okay—I have to believe that.
“IF YOU GET LOST, YOU call me. It’s only a small campus but I know how scary it can be on your first day,” Paulie tells me as we stop at my first class the next day.
It happens to be straight up with Pervy Pete.
“I will,” I say, finishing punching his number in my phone. “Should I be scared about going in here?”
Paulie laughs. “Not even. If that old perve looks at you, just give him a stink eye so bad that he will be too scared to come near you. He preys on the weak, so don’t be weak. The rest of your teachers are amazing, you’ll love them.”
I exhale, clutching my laptop to my chest. “Wish me luck.”
“You’ll smash it out of the park, and later, we’ll go get some drinks to celebrate. Go, show the world who you are.”
I like Paulie, he’s a great person to have on your side.
Offering him one more smile, I walk into the class. Pete is standing at the large blackboard, watching the students roll in. His eyes move to me, and I don’t miss how they run over my body. Oh, yuck. I take in a deep breath and walk over, stopping in front of him. He’s not as old as I thought, maybe late forties, but he has a slimy look about him. His glasses sit at the end of his nose as he looks down at me. His eyes are a murky green and his brown hair is slicked back. His suit sucks, and I don’t like him already.
“You must be Ciara, welcome.”
He’s staring at my boobs.
How does a man like this actually get a job?
“I am. Where do I sit?”
