was groomed for bigger and better things.
The son he’d actually wanted.
As opposed to the one he’d damned to hell.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“What?” Mel asked. “You’re really quiet.”
I shrugged. “Well, it’s just… it’s funny, I guess, that they would want you… I mean, you have shit grades, and, let’s be honest, you’re not that smart.”
Mel’s eyes filled with tears before looking away. “I got a really high score on my ACT.”
I laughed out loud. “Well, that explains it.”
She grinned. “I studied really hard.”
“No.” I shook my head at her innocence, at her trusting nature. “I mean, clearly they messed up and swapped your scores with someone else’s. It’s the only explanation.” —The Journal of Taylor B.
Lisa
B Y THE TIME I filed a report…
I was late. Of course, I was late! To the one class I wasn’t supposed to be late to. My RA had taken pity on me, and the campus security had written me a note, but I was still nervous about barging into Tristan — Mr. Blake’s class, feeling his heated gaze, knowing I’d be in trouble… again.
Gaining confidence, I opened the door to the classroom and stepped in. All eyes darted in my direction. The flame of heat burst across my cheeks as I slowly approached Mr. Blake.
His face was stern; his mouth formed a straight line as he put his hands on his hips and looked down, literally looked down at me. “Lisa? What time is it?”
I paused and looked down at my feet, note clenched in hand. “It’s nine forty-five, but my room was—”
“What?” he addressed the class. “Your room was dirty, and you had the sudden inclination to do a bit of spring cleaning before coming to class?”
“No, but—”
“Do you truly believe I care what you do during your personal time? And should that personal time directly affect your ability to be at class at the scheduled hour?”
Shaking my head, I found my voice. “No, my personal time isn’t important, but if you would just listen—”
“I think we’ve all heard enough. Now, if you’re done giving me excuses and interrupting my time, the time I use to teach, you can find your seat. If this truly is becoming your habit, then you’re more than welcome to find the door.”
He dismissed me with his hand, just as I was trying to set the note on his desk. It fluttered to the ground. Instead of picking it up, I turned on my heel and went to the closest desk possible so I could disappear. Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I kept them in. For the next hour, I kept them in and took notes, never once looking up from the desk.
When class was dismissed, I grabbed my bag and bolted for the door. A hand gripped my arm.
“Rough.” It was Jack, and his easy smile put me at ease. “The guy really hates you.”
“Wow, that was encouraging,” I murmured. “Thanks.”
“Tell you what.” Jack fell into step beside me. “Let me buy you coffee, and I’ll walk you to your next class.”
“Um, I don’t really think that’s a good idea. I don’t want to be late to another class and—”
“Coffee?” His brown eyes twinkled. “I swear, nothing more. You can even take the coffee and bolt, but you look like you could really use it, and I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He leaned in and whispered, “I work at Starbucks, so I have the power of the employee discount.”
At that I laughed. “Wow, you’re like the president.”
“Only better looking.” He winked. “So what do you say? And before you answer, just remember, nobody should ever say no to coffee. It’s a crime punishable by law.” He nodded and took a step back. “Okay, your verdict?”
I took in his gray hoodie and fitted jeans. He was cute, a boyish cute, his hair dark and messy. Something about the way he smiled made me think I knew him, which probably meant I’d seen him around campus and never actually seen him.
I checked my phone and nodded. “Fine. One quick cup, but we need to go
The son he’d actually wanted.
As opposed to the one he’d damned to hell.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“What?” Mel asked. “You’re really quiet.”
I shrugged. “Well, it’s just… it’s funny, I guess, that they would want you… I mean, you have shit grades, and, let’s be honest, you’re not that smart.”
Mel’s eyes filled with tears before looking away. “I got a really high score on my ACT.”
I laughed out loud. “Well, that explains it.”
She grinned. “I studied really hard.”
“No.” I shook my head at her innocence, at her trusting nature. “I mean, clearly they messed up and swapped your scores with someone else’s. It’s the only explanation.” —The Journal of Taylor B.
Lisa
B Y THE TIME I filed a report…
I was late. Of course, I was late! To the one class I wasn’t supposed to be late to. My RA had taken pity on me, and the campus security had written me a note, but I was still nervous about barging into Tristan — Mr. Blake’s class, feeling his heated gaze, knowing I’d be in trouble… again.
Gaining confidence, I opened the door to the classroom and stepped in. All eyes darted in my direction. The flame of heat burst across my cheeks as I slowly approached Mr. Blake.
His face was stern; his mouth formed a straight line as he put his hands on his hips and looked down, literally looked down at me. “Lisa? What time is it?”
I paused and looked down at my feet, note clenched in hand. “It’s nine forty-five, but my room was—”
“What?” he addressed the class. “Your room was dirty, and you had the sudden inclination to do a bit of spring cleaning before coming to class?”
“No, but—”
“Do you truly believe I care what you do during your personal time? And should that personal time directly affect your ability to be at class at the scheduled hour?”
Shaking my head, I found my voice. “No, my personal time isn’t important, but if you would just listen—”
“I think we’ve all heard enough. Now, if you’re done giving me excuses and interrupting my time, the time I use to teach, you can find your seat. If this truly is becoming your habit, then you’re more than welcome to find the door.”
He dismissed me with his hand, just as I was trying to set the note on his desk. It fluttered to the ground. Instead of picking it up, I turned on my heel and went to the closest desk possible so I could disappear. Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I kept them in. For the next hour, I kept them in and took notes, never once looking up from the desk.
When class was dismissed, I grabbed my bag and bolted for the door. A hand gripped my arm.
“Rough.” It was Jack, and his easy smile put me at ease. “The guy really hates you.”
“Wow, that was encouraging,” I murmured. “Thanks.”
“Tell you what.” Jack fell into step beside me. “Let me buy you coffee, and I’ll walk you to your next class.”
“Um, I don’t really think that’s a good idea. I don’t want to be late to another class and—”
“Coffee?” His brown eyes twinkled. “I swear, nothing more. You can even take the coffee and bolt, but you look like you could really use it, and I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He leaned in and whispered, “I work at Starbucks, so I have the power of the employee discount.”
At that I laughed. “Wow, you’re like the president.”
“Only better looking.” He winked. “So what do you say? And before you answer, just remember, nobody should ever say no to coffee. It’s a crime punishable by law.” He nodded and took a step back. “Okay, your verdict?”
I took in his gray hoodie and fitted jeans. He was cute, a boyish cute, his hair dark and messy. Something about the way he smiled made me think I knew him, which probably meant I’d seen him around campus and never actually seen him.
I checked my phone and nodded. “Fine. One quick cup, but we need to go
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