Can you believe she’s my GTA?
That’s the raging bitch that flipped out on me.
As they round the corner, Jahlani is so wrapped up in her head she doesn’t notice him stop, and she walks into his solid, well-defined back.
“Sorry.”
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. I’m fine,” she says, stepping back. Looking around, she sees that they’re in the same hallway from last night. Romanstands against the opposite wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.
She wipes her hands against her jeans again, feeling more nervous than before. “I don’t want to keep you long. I just … came to apologize for last night and to give you this.”
She starts rifling through her bag. Straightening out the bills, she holds the money out in the space between them.
“Here.”
He blinks down the two twenty-dollar bills in her hand, unmoving.
She clears her throat, shuffling on her feet. “It’s not much, but I figured it’s something to pay for dry cleaning since I probably got makeup on your clothes … and for the drinks.”
He continues to stare, unmoving. Jahlani sighs, dropping her arm when it begins to burn.
“Roman, I’m really trying here,” she says toward her feet, unable to look him in the face. Two girls walk by giggling, disappearing into the restroom three feet away from them.
“I don’t want your money,” he says finally, once the door closes behind them.
She grits her teeth. “Take the money. I know it’s not much, but it should cover most of it.”
Pushing from the wall, he runs both hands through his hair as he towers over her. “You’re infuriating, you know that?”
Her eyebrows draw together, heat spreading through her. “Well, take the money and I’ll be out of your way.”
He bends closer. “I don’t want it.”
“Fucking take it,” she whispers through clenched teeth, slapping the paper against his chest. His hand immediately closes around her own. Warm and possessive. He traps her fingers, his jaw ticking as he looks down at her. Gently, he turns her palm over, removing the crushed bills, slipping them back into her bag.
“I don’t want your money,” he says again, his voice low.
His hand is still holding hers, and she knows that she should pull away, but she can’t bring herself togive a fuck, because it feels nice. Really nice. She exhales, licking her lips, noticing his hand tightens in hers.
“What do you want?” she asks, the cotton of his shirt shifting under her fingertips.
Suddenly, the bathroom door swings open again, and the two girls walk back out. Jahlani pulls her hand back, creating a crater for them to walk through. One of the girls stops, facing Jahlani.
“You both aresocute together.”
“We’re not together,” Jahlani says immediately, holding his gaze across the space. He looks away, his jaw ticking, and she’s almost certain she saw a flash of disappointment cross his features.
We have a thing.
Except, no. They don’t. They can’t.
The girl frowns, seemingly confused, then moves to catch up with her friend.
Jahlani digs her nails into her palms, leaning her head back against the wall. “I didn’t come here to fight with you. I just came to apologize. Take the money, or don’t.” She rubs her forehead. “Just please, don’t say anything to Professor Jackson. I really need?—”
“Why would I say anything to Professor Jackson?”
