Page 73 of Now You're Mine

“You could do worse than him. He’s Hayden Bennett of House Judicial, the First of His Name, King of the Law, Wrecker of Pussies, the Father of Calista Baristas, the Attorney of the Great Courtroom, the Breaker of Hearts.”

“I can’t believe you!” I take a pillow and throw it at her. She catches it with a laugh. “How long did it take you to come up with that?” I ask.

“One class period of marketing. Look, I was trying to sell the idea of him, okay?”

“You’re ridiculous.” I sit on the bed next to her with a sigh. “I’m nervous.”

“Yeah, I would be too. That Mr. Bennett is cray-cray.”

I shake my head. “Not that. The midterms.”

“Oh, right.” She pats my hand. “I totally forgot they were this morning. I think I studied too hard. Or was it partied too hard? Either way, it’s going to be a rough day.”

“I understand the university wants us to take them in person to avoid cheating, but I wish that didn’t apply to me.”

She gives me a look. “Listen, just go in there wearing a hoodie and sunglasses like every other student who thinks they’re a badass, and you’ll blend right in. Take the test and then you’re done until the end of semester finals. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.”

“More like stressed, depressed, lemon zest.”

She laughs and bumps my shoulder with hers. “I forgot about that version. But seriously, it’s going to be fine.”

I shrug. “I hope so.”

It’s been two months since I ran from Hayden, leaving nothing behind except a note and my necklace. Two months of hiding and attempting and failing to sort through my tangled emotions. Two months of embracing the life growing within me.

I’ve been hopeful that Hayden would eventually stop looking for me, at least long enough for me to get my head straight, but deep down, I know better. He promised he’d always chase me, which means hewillfind me.

And learn about the baby.

“Come on,” Harper says, getting to her feet. She pulls me into a standing position before opening her dresser drawers. “Try this one. No, this.”

I take the Columbia University hoodie and smile at the permanent marker on the sleeves. “I’m not lazy, I’m just motivationally challenged,” I read aloud. “I like this one.”

She grins at me. “I’m a genius. What can I say?”

A few minutes later, we’re both dressed and ready for class. I take a deep breath and follow Harper from the dorm room, keeping my expression blank despite the nervousness flowing through me. She links her arm through mine as we walk across the quad toward my first class.

“You’ve got this.”

“There are so many people.”

She wrinkles her nose. “I know, right? People. Eww.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, that’s whatImeant.”

I help but grin at the disgust in her voice. My amusement quickly fades, and my footsteps slow as we approach the lecture hall doors. Harper stops and turns to face me.

“Hey, look at me,” she says gently. When I meet her gaze, she gives me an encouraging smile. “I’ll walk with you to every class, and we have the last one together, so you won’t be alone all day.”

I take a shaky breath. “I’m being stupid. It’s not like I saw him or anything.”

“That’s right. You’ve got this. Now go and kick some ass. I’ll see you afterwards.”

With a final wave, she walks down the hall. I turn toward the door, grip my backpack strap, and push the door open. I step over the threshold, scanning every aisle and every corner. When I don’t see Hayden anywhere, relief flows through me.

I make my way to the back of the room and settle in, arranging my pens and pencils on the small desktop. The professor walks in a few seconds later. The students fall silent as he folds his arms.