I get why those girls downstairs were going feral, because this Greek statue come to life would stir the dead from their graves. I shake myself mentally for even noticing how hot he is. He’s my stepbrother.
Family.
Off-limits.
James passes us and heads into the room right behind us with a wave.
I turn my attention to Liam and take my luggage from him.
“Thanks for your help,” I say.
Chase crosses his arms and leans against the doorframe watching.
“Melody, I presume?” I don’t miss the way he says my name with a biting tone. He’s not pleased about me being here. Noted.
“And you’re Chase.” My eyebrow arches in a challenge.
He grunts, eyes trailing my body, then fixes Liam with a stare that can only be categorized as withering. These two clearly have a history. My curiosity is peaked wondering what this enigma of a man could have done to earn Liam’s ire.
“Here, this is my number in case you need it,” Liam says, pulling out a card. I take the embossed paper and marvel at being handed a card. Normally, guys just take my phone and enter their number into it. I guess in this world, they have their own business cards. How very Patrick Bateman of them. I don’t know whether to be impressed or intimidated.
“Uh, thanks,” I smile brightly at him.
He returns the smile with one of his own and I feel myself blush.
“See you around, Melody,” he nods at me and goes back in the direction we came.
Okay. I can do this. I think to myself as I stare at the open door in front of me. In truth, everyone’s reaction to Chase has me a little unsettled. I’m already nervous to start school here, but now I feel even more so. What kind of man must he be to have everyone so on edge at just the mention of his name? I fear I already know the answer, having seen his type in the bar more times than I can count. Spoiled rich little shits, with a huge ego and no empathy to be found anywhere.
Guess there’s no time like the present to find out for sure, though. I enter the space and my gaze sweeps across the expansive room. There’s a baby grand piano in the middle of the room, a black suede couch, a large tv mounted against the wall, and a full kitchen area that I can see from where I stand. I’d always assumed dorm rooms were tiny, but this place would fetch a pretty price as a whole apartment in New York.
The thought of the city I left behind sends a pang through my chest.
My friends, my life I’d carved out, all upturned with my mother’s new marriage.
I close the door behind me, and it leaves Chase and I alone.
We stare at each other for a beat, not knowing how to handle the situation. It’s not every day that I find myself with a new stepbrother.
“So…” I begin, feeling so unbelievably awkward. I’m dead on my feet, needing to find my room soon before I pass out.
Chase takes several steps towards me until he’s towering over me. He has a cruel twist to his lips as he stares down his prominent nose, pinning me with an intimidating gaze. I take a clumsy step back, eyes wide wondering what the hell he’s doing.
“I don’t know what you and your whore of a mother think you’re going to get from me, but don’t except any niceties from me. You may have gotten my father to get you into this school, but he’s not here. I am.”
My hands find my hips as I stare up into his hard gray stormy eyes. “I don’t want anything but to know where my room is. I’m tired. I’m hungry. And I have no patience for a spoiled little shit like yourself.”
His smile widens and what little space there is between us is eaten up as he places a finger under my chin. “Your room is right here, princess.”
My eyes widen. “Wh-what?”
I yank myself away from him and scan the room again, snagging on the glaring obvious problem. There’s only one bed.
“I’m not staying here,” I say crossing my arms over my chest. The motion snags Chase’s attention and I catch him glancing at my sizable assets. That only angers me further. “Eyes up here, Milford.”
His nostrils flare at being caught out. “I’m not stopping you from leaving. The door’s right there. Don’t let it hit your scrawny ass on the way out.” He stalks off to his bed and sprawls out along the plush looking comforter where his laptop is propped open.
Hands shaking, I dig out my cell and text my mom.
