Page 33 of Jump on Three

Me: I like your study playlist.

Angel: Good. You can use it when you’re studying in room 1 or 2.

It was exactly what I needed. She had me smiling as soon as I’d opened the chat.

Me: You’re repeating yourself, little angel.

Angel: And you’re making a nuisance of yourself, Squatter.

Me: You’re really adorable. I think we are becoming friends.

Angel: Not friends. You are my nemesis.

It had not been difficult to figure out Evelyn Kastanos was the original room three occupant. After our first anonymous texting conversation, I’d simply waited at a nearby table. When she’d hurried by, directly into her room, I had not felt surprised.

If anything, I had been pleased. It made this little game all the more fun.

I was careful not to go too far. I wanted Evelyn to have fun with me, not drive her crazy. This was the reason I continued letting her have room three.

Even though it was driving me fucking crazy. One was an icebox, so I was in two today, where there was an inexplicable window in the door.

That meant when Veronica saw me going inside, she continuously passed by, stopping and looking in at me from time to time. I pretended not to notice her, but it was impossible not to.

I had shit to get done before tonight. If she passed by again, I would have to cover the window with a piece of paper. I did not need her big face staring at me while I was trying to write my English literature paper.

Swiping my phone’s screen, I opened Evelyn’s Spotify page. The moment she’d given me the link, I’d done a deep dive of her playlists. She’d made them for her moods and times of day. Her music taste was remarkably similar to mine but different enough to be interesting.

I selected her study playlist, popped my earbuds in, and hit play. The songs were all beats, no lyrics. Steady and repetitive, they became background noise as I typed on my computer.

Never thought I’d be studying to EDM, but it worked. I got the shit done that needed to be done then lay in wait.

Evelyn left her study room around dinnertime. I’d situated myself so I’d run into her as she was leaving the library.

“Hello, Evelyn.”

She started, her shoulders rising around her ears. “Hello, Ivan.”

“How are you feeling?”

I had not seen her up close since she’d pulled free from my arms yesterday after thanking me for rescuing her and promising she was all right. The only reason I’d let her go was because I’d been too shaken from the sight of her going under. I hadn’t had it in me to stop her.

“I’m okay.”

I laid my hand on her arm. “You are not hurt?”

She shook her head. “A little stiff, but not hurt.”

Fuck. She’d hit the water face-first, like running into a brick wall. When it had happened, I almost couldn’t believe it. That cunt Layla had pushed Evelyn off the platform with no regard for the consequences. Who did that shit? Then again, there had been no consequences for Layla. She cried “accident,” and our teammates and coach had accepted it when it had been really fucking obvious she’d put a mighty force behind her shove. She’d been out to hurt and scare Evelyn for some perplexing reason. I could not fathom what Layla could have against Evelyn, but it was clear there was something there.

“Did you sleep well?” I asked.

“I slept fine.” She turned toward me but didn’t quite look at me. “And you? Were you out late last night?”

“Not too late.” This was true, but I defined “late” differently than most.

“Where did you go?”

“I had some things to do for my father.” I cupped her shoulder. The bones were delicate, but there was an undeniable power in the curve of the muscles she used to propel herself through the water. “Are you certain you aren’t hurt?”