“Well, stop.”
I turn and keep walking. He follows again, and I growl in frustration. I swear this guy never knows when to leave me alone.
“Do you need a ride?”
“No.”
“So you’re just going to walk all the way back to Brighton? It’ll take you hours.”
“Fuck off, Alex.”
His footsteps get faster and then his hand is on my shoulder and he’s in front of me.
“Jordan, just fucking stop,” he says harshly.
“What?” I bark. “What the hell do you want?”
“Just let me give you a ride.”
“I don’t need a ride.”
“Yes, you fucking do!”
I grit my teeth.
“And I don’t fucking care that you do. I have to head up that way anyway, just let me bring you.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s on my way—”
“No, why do you need to go that way?”
I feel like he’s lying. Just saying it to be nice. I don’t need him to be nice to me. I don’t need him to take care of me, and I definitely don’t need him to flaunt his fucking money at me.
“I have to pick up some stuff for Austen.”
I narrow my eyes, not sure I can believe him. But walking homewilltake hours. Calling a car isn’t an option. It seems like the only option I have is Alex. All the other guys left already, and asking Austen is out of the question since it’s completely out of his way and I’m sure he has shit to do since the wedding is tomorrow. Maybe Alex is telling the truth.
“Fine, whatever,” I grumble, turning around and shoving him away from me as I head back to the parking lot, toward his shiny dark blue Volvo.
I stare out the window the entire drive, ignoring his every attempt to start conversation. He fusses with the radio every five songs, changing it at every red light. I have nothing to say to him, and so I keep my mouth shut the entire time. It also helps so I’m not constantly breathing in his cologne, which smells better than it should. The only thing I do say is “thank you” once he pulls up in front of my dorm.
“If you need anything—”
“Fuck off, Alex,” I growl before slamming the door and hurrying up the steps.
Fuck him. I don’t need his help.
“See you tomorrow then,” he calls out the open car window, but his voice fades on the cold wind as I throw open the doors to my dorm building.
When I get back to my room, I need something to do to stop myself from flying over the edge. I’m enraged for no reason at all. Other than life sucking. I’m tired of everything being a fight all the time.
Going to the gym may help, so I dig through my bag from Vegas to find some shorts. I haven’t unpacked because I’ve been so busy getting caught up on homework. My favorite shorts are in here somewhere, so I keep digging. Only I don’t find my shorts. What I do find is a small box on the bottom of my bag that isn’t mine. It’s small and blue and wrapped with a satin ribbon. I have no idea what it is, so I open it. My jaw drops when I see what’s inside.
Cufflinks. The exact ones I was looking at in Vegas. I know who they’re from before I even look at the card inside.
When in Vegas.
