Chapter 9

NINE

I t's been two days since I've been at school, and my phone has been blowing up with texts from my friends and emails with assignments I need to catch up on. It keeps me busy but not busy enough that I don't remember what happened the other night.

Was Alek Anders really here?

If it wasn't for the medicine and food he left, I might have thought it was a fever-induced fantasy, but no, he was here, and he stayed all night, looking after me. Why? Because Alice asked him to? Part of me wishes it was because he was worried, but I know that's stupid. Men like Anders don't worry, especially about people like me. The sad part is, despite him being forced, he is the only person who has ever looked after me. Usually when I was sick, I had to stick it out alone, so having someone there was nice.

Fuck, I'm pathetic. Talk about mommy issues.

I'm so distracted by my spiraling thoughts I nearly throw my board when a familiar beep sounds. My head jerks up, and I see a grinning Alice climbing from Alek's muscle car. She waves happily as the brooding asshole pulls his shades down, peering at me from the driver's seat. His eyes are red and puffy, and he looks exhausted, but I wave. He ignores me, pushing his shades up and peeling away without another glance.

He's still an asshole. Was he really the one who looked after me the other night, or does he have a doppelganger? One who's nice and holds my hand through a fever.

Alice's hand slides through my arm as she smiles up at me. "We've missed you the last few days."

"Course you have, cupcake. I'm a delight," I tease, kissing her head as we maneuver down the path toward the building our classes are in. At the door, I glance back at where Alek's car was.

Why was he so tired?

Why am I worried?

He's not mine. He made that very clear.

Classes were exhausting in a good way. I had a lot to catch up on, but I'm a fast learner. By dinner, however, my energy is waning. I'm still not a hundred percent after being sick, so I grab copious amounts of coffee and fill my tray before slumping into a seat at the table.

Lally and Tommy are out filming today, so I'm mostly alone, which sucks, but the quiet is nice. At least I don't have to join in and smile and laugh. I can just be tired in peace. Sipping my coffee, I look out of the window for a moment when I hear a loud exhaust. It's just a car shooting past, though, and not the one I seem to look for everywhere.

"Hey." The happy voice brings me from my thoughts, and I smile as I turn around to see Alice flopping into a seat opposite me.

I have no idea how two siblings could be more different, but they are. Alice is pure sunshine while Alek is like midnight. "How were your classes?" I ask, sitting up straighter as she starts to cut her food.

"Good. I think I made the right choice." She nods, smiling up at me. "You?"

"Tiring, but good. That reminds me, thank you for sending Alek with the medicine. It really helped," I tell her. When I went to bed, I hadn't even thought about going out to get medicine—okay, I had, but I didn't have the energy. I was being selfish and just wanted to feel sorry for myself.

Alice blinks at me, her fork halfway to her mouth. "Alek? Medicine?" She blinks as she stares. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, uh, the other night . . . Just, thank you," I say, blushing slightly.

"Evan, are you sure you're feeling alright? Maybe you came back too quickly. I didn't send Alek with any medicine."

I just stare, and she stares right back.

Alice didn't ask her brother to check on me? Then why did he, and how did he know to bring me medicine and food?

Did Alek Anders come to look after me and lie about it?

If he did, he'll only get pissed off if Alice knows, so I force out a laugh. "Shit, sorry, I haven't been sleeping well. Must just be brain fog."

She nods slowly, chewing her mouthful as she peers at me. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, just tired." I toast her with my coffee. "Nothing some caffeine can't fix." Swallowing, I lean in with my signature grin. "So, are there any boys or girls you like so far?" I wiggle my eyebrows, and when she blushes with a small laugh, I know the distraction worked.

I spend the rest of dinner doing that, hoping she forgets my random question. If she brings it up with him, he'll kill me, yet part of me wants to know why and how this will turn out. You don't look after somebody you hate, which begs the question—does Alek Anders really hate me, or does he just wish he did?

I guess it's time for me to find out. I never was one to back down, not if there's something I want, and I want tall, dark, and broody. It seems I might actually get him after all.

Game on, Anders.