“I’ll see you around.” She backs out of the room and then adds, “Oh, and don’t prop open the exterior doors. It’ll trigger a silent alarm if it’s left open for too long.”
I nod and hop up onto my loft bed ready to cuddle up with my book for the night.
When I wake up a couple hours later, my book is propped open on my chest where I must’ve dropped it when I fell asleep. Looking around my solo dorm room, I realize that I don’t have much to eat. Options for food delivery are limited out here so far from the city, and I’m not in the mood for pizza or Chinese.
Reluctantly, I pull on some clothes and head out to my car to go to the store to get some groceries. There’s not a lot in my bank account, so I remind myself to text my mom to make a deposit later.
When I get back to the dorm, arms loaded up with several bags, I swipe my keycard and it doesn’t work.
Son of a bee sting. I totally forgot I have to text Lindsey to get into the building this week.
Fumbling with the bags, I pat down my pockets for my phone and come up empty. I set my groceries next to the door and run up the pathway back to my car. Once I find my phone, I’m walking back on the sidewalk, not looking where I’m going as I text Lindsey.
It feels like I run into a brick wall, but when I look up a familiar set of green eyes peers down at me, and I take several steps back.
“You really should watch where you’re going, Em,” Trent says, taking a step closer to me.
“I told you not to call me that.” I attempt to step around him, but he throws his arms out, preventing me.
“Aw, I thought we were going to play nice. Fine, if you’regoing to be a bitch about it, I don’t really give a fuck what you say.”
“Classy.” Hiding my phone behind my back, I call Daddy Dom’s number. I really hope he picks up, or this is going to be a weird voicemail to explain.
Trent takes a step closer to me, and I back up again. “Don’t come any closer, Trent.” My voice is a little louder, and I hope he thinks I’m just trying to draw attention from anyone nearby and not that I’m hoping my phone will pick up my voice. Not that anyone would hear me on campus right now since it’s a ghost town.
“Poor little Emma, all alone. Didn’t your daddy ever teach you not to walk alone at night?”
I can’t believe I ever dated this turd of a human in high school. Girding my loins, I stiffen my spine and cross my arms over my chest, keeping the screen of my phone facing me so he can’t see it. “You don’t scare me. You’re a bully, just like you were in high school.” When I look down, I see the call has connected and I pray that he’s listening on the line. “Still mad I wouldn’t sleep with you, so you have to slink around campus at night and prey on me when I’m alone?”
“Listen, you stupid bi?—”
I cut him off with a finger, pretending I’m getting a call as I hold the phone up to my ear. “Hey, Daddy, I’m just walking back to my room.”
“Where the fuck are you, pet?” Daddy Dom’s voice growls into the line.
“I just left the parking lot, and I’m on the way back to my dorm now. I sent you my location.” I try to keep my face neutral as I continue my lie, hoping it will scare Trent off. If he thinks my dad’s tracking my movements, maybe he’ll be less likely to try something.
“Are you alone?” Daddy Dom asks.
“I’m not alone.” I make eye contact with Trent. “You’llnever guess who I ran into. Do you remember that guy Trent that I dated in high school?”
Trent’s eyes shift nervously side to side.
“Laugh and pretend I just made a joke about the sorry fuck.”
I laugh, looking at Trent again. “Itisthe guy who took me to senior prom, and I agree his tux was too small for him.”
“Put me on speakerphone.”
“Sure, hold on.” I hit the button. “He wants to talk to you.”
“Hey there, Trent. I hope you’re watching out for my little girl on campus.” He affects the most chipper voice I’ve ever heard him use, sounding nothing like the man I know.
Trent shoves his hands in his pockets. “Uh, hi, Mr. Black. You don’t have to worry. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Excellent. Are you headed back to your dorm, sweetie? You know how your mom worries about you.”
“I’m headed that way now.” I step around Trent, shooting him a stern look.
