Let them fucking look.
But then I spot Nolan from my former frat staring at our joined hands like Haven’s something he scraped off his shoe.
I try to ignore the way my stomach clenches.
The Jordans started out poor, but we clawed our way up. Made a name for ourselves. Started mattering in a town like Agony Hollow. Now here I am, holding hands with a girl from the trailer park I pretend I never lived in. The girl whose dad was the town junkie.
Despite the sweat prickling at the nape of my neck, I tighten my grip on Haven’s hand, lacing our fingers together properly.
Fuck ‘em all.
If being with Haven risks my reputation, then so fucking be it.
I lock eyes with Nolan, bring Haven’s hand to my mouth, and kiss her knuckles. His incredulous flinch has me grinning all the way inside the building. I don’t even care that two sorority girls immediately duck their heads and start rage-posting about us on VibeFeed.
Haven’s fingers tighten around mine. She doesn’t say anything, but the way she presses closer to my side says plenty.
We stop in front of Nora’s empty reception desk.
“Should we wait?” Haven murmurs, fidgeting with the strap of her tote bag. That’s another thing I need to get her besides a phone—a real bag to keep her shit in.
“Fuck that.” I head for the stairs, tugging at Haven’s hand until she follows.
“Don’t we like need an appointment or?—“
“Guess we’re about to find out.”
We climb the stairs, our heads swiveling toward the lecture hall where Rooke’s class will be starting. Weird that he hasn’t arrived yet, but maybe he’s running late.
Jesus, why the fuck do I care?
Because I wanted him to find us. Me with Haven. I wanted him to know she’s mine now. I wanted…
His respect?
His approval?
“—where we’re going?”
I turn to Haven, blinking hard when I realize I’ve come to a stop on the landing. “Offices are one floor up.”
As we emerge on the top floor, Haven’s steps slow. “I really don’t think this is a good idea. What if?—“
“No what-ifs.” I tug her around to face me. “Look, I know you’re scared. I’m fucking terrified too. But we can’t keep letting him pull the strings.”
She nibbles at her bottom lip, and I can see her cycling through every worst-case scenario.
Classic Haven. Always assuming disaster.
“Hey.” I tip her chin up. “We’re in this together. You and me against the world, remember?”
She takes a shaky breath, grip tightening on her tote bag’s strap. “Together.”
“Damn straight.”
I think about last week at the beach house. How excited she got when I surprised her with those marshmallows. Same thing happened when we were kids. I’d sneak out a packet from the gas station in my ratty hoodie, then she’d melt them over our little fire in the woods.
She always burned her mouth on the first one, too impatient to wait for it to cool.
