New rule. As long as we’re engaging in this dynamic, you’re loyal to me. No other men. You only play with me.
I stare down at the text for several seconds, equally thrilled at his need to claim me as his and confused as to why when he created the rules about no feelings and only solving my problems. This feels like more than that. Like monogamy.
Where is this coming from?
Do I have your total submission on this?
A cloud of water vapor escapes my mouth when I huff out my frustration. This hot-and-cold is tiresome, and yet I crave his approval. Yearn for him in a way I never have before.
Yes, sir.
“What monologue are you going to do?” a voice asks from behind me.
I startle. “Mother of pearl!” I fumble with my phone as I hold my gloved hand against my scarf.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” He comes up next to me, a boyish smile on his face. He’s got a beanie on, his wavy blond hair poking out around it, making it look like a halo.
“Jeremy, right?”
He beams as he looks down at me, his blue eyes twinkling. “You headed to the caf?”
I nod, breaking eye contact, suddenly nervous from his attention.
“Mind if I join you?”
“Sure.” We carefully make our way on one of the few sidewalks that has been shoveled and salted. There are patches of ice every so often, and I walk gingerly, careful not to fall. Each time we approach a treacherous patch of sidewalk, Jeremy shoots an arm out to offer me assistance, but I ignore it, not ready to share my touching hangup with a stranger.
“So… monologue? Any thoughts on which one you’re picking?”
I mull it over in my mind before answering. “I’ll probably just do one fromRomeo and Juliet.”
“O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” His voice is way too high as he mimes dramatically looking for someone.
“That was terrible. You definitely shouldn’t do that one,” I tease.
“So, the balcony scene, then?”
“Actually, I was going to do one of her last ones, right before she takes the drugs. It’s a powerful scene where she’s wrestling with her decision. Plus, I did it in an English class in high school and already have it memorized. What about you?”
He holds out an arm, and I interrupt him before he starts. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to do theHamletspeech.”
“Why not?” There’s a hint of disappointment in his face, and I worry I’ve offended him.
“I’m sure you’re great at it, but every guy in our class is gonna do that one, and then we’ll be sitting through like ten dudes talking to skulls.”
He barks out a laugh. “You’re probably right. What do you suggest then?”
“Ooh, there’s a good one inRichard III. It’s in Act One, I think? It starts, ‘Was ever women in this humor wooed,” and it’s Richard talking about how he’s just wooed Anne after killing her father. It's deliciously dark and evil, and it would be really fun to play.”
“That sounds good, I’ll have to check it out.”
A throat clears behind me, and I turn my head, not paying attention to where I’m going. “You totally sh—” I start, but the words die on my tongue when I suddenly slip on a patch of ice and my arms flail out, spinning in circles as I try to keep from falling. It feels like everything happens in slow motion. My legs fly out and I fall backwards as I scramble to grab something to keep myself upright.
I end up grabbing the bottom of Jeremy’s coat, pulling him down with me as I go. His body twists and his legs go right, while he goes left and when we land, we’re in the shape of a T with his chest draped over my stomach.
Hysterical laughter bubbles out of me and I can’t stop it, no matter how hard I try as I squeeze my eyes shut. I can feel Jeremy chuckling against me too as we lose it on the sidewalk.
I hear a growl, and my eyes fly open. I’m met with a pair ofmurderous brown eyes. Professor Ali is standing over us, his penetrating gaze locked on mine as his fists clench at his sides.
