Chapter 13

chapter thirteen

Quinn

"You okay?" Ava asks, tossing a pillow at me from her bed. "You've slept the entire weekend away."

I told her everything, and it felt good to have a girlfriend in my life again. Sure, we'd just met last week but we live together, so I might as well let her in. Plus, I really like her. She's hilarious and a breath of fresh air, I need that in my life.

"I'm okay," I assure her, as my phone chimes for the hundredth time.

"Do you want me to throat punch him?" She growls, "Cause I will absolutely throat punch him. Or break his perfect nose?"

She makes me giggle, "No. I promise, I'm fine."

With an eye roll, she slides out of bed and slips her smiley face slippers on. "You know what they did was really shitty, Quinny. Don't let him gaslight you into believing any different."

I smile inwardly at the nickname. "I know, but he swears they didn't cheat."

She raises a brow, "What does your gut tell you?"

"That they lied about this, so why not lie about that."

She shrugs, "You may never know the truth. What are you going to do about him harassing you?"

I smirk, "Block his number."

"Good idea," she grins. "Now come with me to get some brunch. It'll be our new Sunday tradition."

I like the sound of that way too much. I stand and quickly follow her to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

Two hours later, we are full on chicken and waffles and she drops me at the dorm so I can get my backpack and head to the library. It's only week two but I decide tonight is as good as any to read ahead and get some notes taken. It's nearly eight o'clock and the library is silent, practically empty.

I unload the contents of my backpack on a wooden table near the window and cram my airpods in my ears. A hand on my shoulder causes me to jump, but I'm relieved when I see Remi standing next to me.

"Geez, you scared the shit out of me." I sigh, pulling one airpod out. "What are you doing here?"

"I just got done with a tutoring session."

"Tutoring?" I ask. "How nerdy of you."

A lazy grin lines his lips as he takes the seat next to me. "Pays the bills."

"Did you not get a football scholarship?"

I'm immediately embarrassed that I even asked that. "Oh my god, I'm sorry. That's none of my business."

He shakes his head, "Nah, It's okay. I'm not here on scholarship. I play football because I love it, but I'm here for an education."

I'm impressed, "What's your major?"

"Pre-med."

"Wanna be a brain surgeon?" I tease.

"Nope, a Rheumatologist."

I tilt my brows together, "That's oddly specific."

"My mom has Lupus. It took her six years to get diagnosed and it took her an entire year to even be seen."

"Geez, that's a long time," I sigh. "So you wanna help people like your mom?"

"Yeah," He shrugs. "When I asked why it took so long to get into the doctor, they said there was a shortage in that specialty. So I'm gonna learn everything I can about autoimmune disorders. And after med school, that's where I'll spend my residency."

His story warms my heart. "You're a good son."

He grins, "She's a good mom, too. So what do you wanna do?"

I think about my plans for the future, but pause. Should I tell him the truth?

"I've always wanted to go to law school," I chuckle. "Watched Legally Blonde one too many times."

He laughs, "You change your mind?"

I cringe, "Not really, just changed plans a bit by coming to school here."

"Where were you going to go?" He asks.

"Yale," I admit.

"Yale?" He croaks. "You got into Yale and didn't go?"

"Yeah," I sigh. "I wanted to stay close to Grayson, but that didn't work out and it was too late to change my mind."

"So what's the plan now?" He asks.

I groan, "I don't know. Make the best of it, I guess. Graduate and try my best to get into law school."

"You can do it," he quips. "You seem pretty focused. After all, you're at the library on a Sunday night."

"Good point," I agree. "I just keep telling myself that everything happens for a reason, even though I'm a pessimist."

He shakes his head, "Well, I'm gonna be your optimistic best friend."

My lips tilt upward. "Sounds good."

We both sit there for a long time in silence, reading some of the textbook for the History class we're both in, and finally I head back to my dorm. The night air is a little chilly and I'm wishing I'd brought my coat.

"It's almost eleven o'clock, what are you doing walking around campus?"

Grayson's voice sends a chill down my spine.

"The better question is what are you doing on campus? You don't live on campus."

He smirks, "I was looking for someone. Didn't find him."

Part of me wonders if the him he's referring to is actually a her, but the other part of me doesn't care.

"Well, I'm headed back to my dorm."

"Where were you?" He noses, taking a quicker step to catch up.

I cross my bare arms over my chest, feeling the wind. "I was at the library studying with Remi."

"That guy is a fucking joke, Quinn. You deserve so much better than that idiot. Plus, he didn't even walk you back to your dorm."

I am nearly fuming, "He didn't walk me back because I didn't want him to. I don't need someone constantly holding my hand."

The fact that he's here right now makes me even more angry and I feel my entire body ignite with emotion. He basically kept me under a rock for two years and for the life of me, I'm not sure whether it was because he didn't want to hurt me or he didn't want me to tell anyone the truth and hurt Raelynn.

I don't even know who he was protecting.

"I know you don't," He acknowledges. "Just promise me that you'll be careful. I don't want you to get hurt. I know the guys on my team, babe, and they aren't the kind of guy you want."

I raise my brow, "And you are?"

He shakes his head and his eyes fill with regret, "I want to be, Quinn. I want to get back there."

The way he stares at me feels so familiar and I can't lie and say that it doesn't make me feel comfortable. Because it does.

I hate that.