By the time my last class on Monday ended, I was wound so tight I was liable to snap at the next person who looked at me funny. Of all the days to be late to class, I had to pick the day Professor Meyers assigned us our major presentation. Some asshole had blocked our driveway this morning, and I hadn’t been able to get my car out. I’d had to walk to school, which put me way behind schedule.
And of course Kai Alexander would also be late. My pulse sped up as the image of him smirking at me flashed in my mind. The asshole hadn’t even recognized me, which only added insult to injury.
My hands ached, and I slowly unfurled my grip. I needed to work some of this agitation out, but the gym wasn’t an option. Working out when I was pissed was fine when I had a buddy to keep me in check and spot me, but going alone was dangerous when I was in this headspace.
The last time I’d gone to the gym mad, I’d nearly been crushed when I’d tried to bench out my anger. Thank fuck a guy working out nearby had seen me struggling and had grabbed the bar before it could fall on me. I was reckless, but I wasn’t stupid. I’d learned my lesson.
I could go for a run, but again, that wasn’t smart. I was too angry to pay attention to my surroundings, so I was liable to run into traffic or break my ankle on a treadmill.
On a whim, I pulled out my phone, pausing near the entrance to The Daily Grind so I didn’t walk into anything while I was texting.
Alex: want to hit the gym?
Beck should be home now. I had no idea if Finn was in class. Maybe Beck would be able to pry himself away from his boyfriend and hang out with me.
I slipped my phone into my jeans pocket and walked toward the house. I’d skipped lunch again and was feeling a bit shaky on top of being pissed, but didn’t stop to get anything. Sugar and caffeine would only make things worse.
Zzzzzz. Zzzzzz. Zzzzzz. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I hurried up the steps to the house.
Beck: went earlier
I gritted my teeth so hard my jaw cracked. Of course he had.
Beck: wanna study for macro tonight?
I nearly stumbled through the door. He usually studied with Finn. Was I pathetic for the little flutter of happiness that shot through me? Probably, but whatever.
Alex: yeah
Alex: I’m at the house now. Where u at?
Beck: library waiting for Finn
Alex: let me know when you’re ready to study
Beck: will do
Closing the door behind me, I put my phone in my pocket and headed to the kitchen to get something to eat. The living room was empty. Maybe I could game for a bit? Work shit out that way.
Ignoring the TV, I walked into the kitchen, where Eli was standing over the sink with a plate of cut-up fruit in his hands. I’d noticed he was into clean eating. He didn’t keep junk food on his shelves, and I’d never seen him eat anything that wasn’t healthy. That explained his ridiculous body.
“Hey.” I pulled the fridge open and grabbed a tub of leftover pasta from the night before. Carbs and cheese should help me feel better. Or worse. Who the fuck knew at this point?
“Hey. How’s it going?”
“It’s been a day,” I sighed and shoved my container into the microwave.
“You might want to take the top off or at least crack it open so it doesn’t explode.”
I opened the microwave and pulled off the top. “I swear I’m not this much of a moron.”
“We all have our days.” He leaned against the counter.
He really was making an effort to be more social. The first few months, he’d either been holed up in his room or out. I’d spoken more to him in the last week than I had in the last two months.
“How’re you?” I pulled a container of milk out of the fridge and opened it.
“Can’t complain.” He grinned sardonically. “Well, that’s not true. I can always complain. But I’m fine.”
I chugged some of the milk, then put the container away and grabbed a Coke off my shelf.
“That’s not going to mix well.” He smirked and chewed on a few blueberries.
“Probably not.” I popped the top. “Thank fuck for my iron gut. I swear I can eat anything, and it won’t bother me.”
“Lucky.” Eli’s voice was heavy, his eyes clouding over for a second. “Must come in handy when you’re drinking.”
I grinned. “It does.”
My smile faltered. Did Eli drink? I’d never seen him at a party, but then again, we didn’t exactly run in the same social circles. In fact, I had no idea what circles he ran in.
“So, what are you studying?” I asked just as the microwave beeped.
“Biochem.”
“Wow. What do you want to do with that? Med school?”
He shook his head. “Medical research.”
“Damn. That’s cool.”
He flushed. “What about you?”
“Business with a finance concentration.”
“I guess that’s pretty self-explanatory.” He smiled.
Eli had a beautiful smile. It lit up his face, highlighting his delicate bone structure and impossibly green eyes.
“Kinda.” I pulled my food out of the microwave.
Carefully I carried the hot container over to the counter and set it down. Eli opened the cutlery drawer next to him.
“Thanks.” I grabbed a fork and stabbed some pasta.
We ate in silence, but it wasn’t strained. Eli was an enigma. He could be so cold and aloof, but then he’d seem shy and so damn young.
“How old are you?” I asked.
He blinked. “Nineteen.”
“Are you a sophomore?”
“Senior.” He put the last apple slice in his mouth.
“Really? Did you skip a grade?”
He nodded. “Third and sixth.”
“Shit. You must be smarter than Finn.”
He shrugged and dropped his gaze. “The guy is going to be an astrophysicist. That’s pretty smart.”
“A medical researcher isn’t exactly something to sneeze at.” I shoved a big bite of pasta into my mouth.
A blush painted his cheekbones. “Lots of intelligent people don’t skip grades, especially if they go to a good school. My school didn’t know what to do with me, and my teachers hated me. They pushed me ahead so I’d be someone else’s problem.” He got up and rinsed his plate, his posture stiff.
I didn’t know what to say to that.
“Where are you from?” I asked.
“Here.”
“You’re a townie?”
“We prefer the term local.” He shot me a small smile.
“Sorry. You’re right. That’s a rude term.” I stabbed some more pasta. “How come you don’t live at home? Or in the dorms?”
“Dorms are way more expensive than shared housing.” He busied himself with drying the plate. “And home isn’t an option.”
Shit. I’d upset him by being nosey.
“Where are you from?” He put the plate away and closed the cupboard door.
“Burlington.”
“Vermont?” He cocked his head to the side. “This must be quite the change.”
“It is.” I chuckled and stirred my pasta to try and distribute the heat. “I’m loving the no-snow winters.”
“Not into winter sports?”
“Hell no.” I snorted. “We used to go all the time in school, and my buddies were all about snowboarding. I’d do one, maybe two runs so no one could say I wasn’t participating. Then I’d be in the lodge with a hot chocolate and a book.”
He perked up. “You like to read?”
“I don’t do it as much anymore. Too much schoolwork. You read?”
“I like pretty much anything, but especially high fantasy.”
“I’m mostly into dystopian books now, but I read a lot of fantasy stuff in high school.”
He opened his mouth like he was going to say something, but the ringing of a phone cut him off. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and glanced at the screen. His face hardened. “Gotta get this.”
I nodded.
“What do you want?” he said, his voice eerily blank, and stalked out of the kitchen.
Who was that? Staring after Eli, I stuffed another bite of food in my mouth. Whoever it was, they clearly had some animosity between them. Whatever. I liked the guy, but I had enough of my own shit to deal with without wondering about his.
