Strength (Mark of Nexus #1) (6 page)

“Yeah,” a male voice muttered, followed by a distinct
zipping
sound. “I’m out.”

I nearly snorted, tossing my bags beside what felt like my bedpost.

“Jinx, wait!” Gabby called, her voice rough with desperation. Something hit the floor, and I heard the pad of hurried footsteps. A second later, the light flicked on.

I recoiled, throwing an arm up to block the light.

There, standing two feet from the door, was a man who could’ve easily passed for some celebrity stunt double. His skin was smooth umber poured over hardened muscle, a delectable treat for the eyes. As he bent to shove his socked feet into boots, he snatched his shirt off the floor. “I’ll call you.”

He wasn’t going to call her.

With that, he swept out the door, leaving the two of us alone. I slid my gaze back to her, raising one eyebrow. She was clutching a sheet around her body, and her dark hair was mussed, sticking every direction. Smudges of mascara circled her eyes, where it’d rubbed off like a raccoon. The girl was a mess.

“Rena!” Her eyes lit with Latin fire. “Didn’t you see the scrunchie?”

“Saw it, left, came back.” I bent to paw through my gym bag, sorting out things to toss in the hamper. “And did you seriously just sleep with someone named
Jinx
?”

She huffed, smoothing her hair back. “His name is André Jenkins.
Jinx
is his stage name.”

“God help us all.” I turned away from her, sorting through my supplies. “Stage name for what?”

“He’s a dancer,” she replied. “I’m dressed.”

I couldn’t stifle a snicker as I straightened, moving to stuff a load of packaging into the bin. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

She rolled her eyes and flopped back on her bed. “Whatever. So, why’d you come back early?”

I carefully blanked my expression. “I just didn’t feel like hanging around Aiden’s place anymore. Sorry.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean? I was tired, Gabby. I’ve been running around all day.” I opened my dresser and rooted around for something to wear as pajamas. It wasn’t like I was lying. I really
was
tired.

“Did something happen?” She walked over and threw the deadbolt on the door. “Did you guys get into a fight?”

“How often does Aiden fight?”

She considered it for a moment. “Good point.”

I couldn’t tell her about Wallace—that he was every bit the nightmare we’d imagined him to be. The shock was still fresh. I hadn’t processed it yet. The only thing I did know was that I’d been wrong.
Again.

Chapter Seven

I sat in Social Policy Analysis, chin resting in one hand, pencil poised in the other. My eyes were closing of their own accord, and every few seconds, I jolted in alarm. It wasn’t the most exciting class I’d ever taken.

We’d spent the first hour going over the syllabus and the second hour digging into a PowerPoint.
Bleh.
The material was dry, and the textbook smelled like binding glue. It was a wonder I didn’t pass out sooner. Why couldn’t I substitute the class for field work?

Just when I’d given up all hope of staying attentive, the last slide projected onto the screen. I perked up, embracing my second wind as the professor strode down the center aisle.

“All right. It’s 11:40 A.M. I’ll give you the last ten minutes to start your homework. You can either do it here or take it—”

The screech of twenty chairs, as they were pushed back in near-perfect synchronization, interrupted her speech. I gathered my things and crammed them into my messenger bag. With any luck, I could get to the dining hall before the big rush at noon.

I stood up and hastily buttoned myself into my purple, clearance-special pea coat. It pleated at the waist and had big, funky buttons down the front. I’d gotten it for thirteen dollars after Christmas and wore it like a victory medal.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and merged into the line for the door.
Go, people.
I hate loiterers. It’s one thing to have a legitimate reason to hold up the flow of traffic—like, maybe someone is on crutches or something. That’s fine. Well, except for them. It sucks for them. But pausing to have a conversation in the doorway? I blew out an aggravated sigh.
Un-ac-cep-ta-ble.

“A little impatient today?” a smooth voice cut in, interrupting my thoughts.

Was someone talking to me? I cast a quick glance over my shoulder and found a pair of amused brown eyes taking in my every move. My cheeks burned. “Uh, yeah, I guess.”

The guy grinned, studying me like he had some kind of divine insight. Laugh lines creased the corners of his eyes, and his warm gaze smoldered. “And it’s only the first day of class, sweetheart. How are we going to make it through fifteen weeks?”

I blinked. Was this guy for real? Who starts up a conversation like that out of nowhere? I wasn’t shy or anything, but the familiar language was throwing me off. “I guess we’ll have to manage.”

“Of course we will.” He leaned back against one of the tables as the line started to filter past him. His sandy blond hair was a little on the shaggy side, with stray tufts sticking out beneath his knit cap. Where I’m from, we call it a toboggan, but up here, they call it a beanie. Either way, it worked for him.

He wore a wrinkled t-shirt with a plaid button-up thrown over top. For some reason, he’d opted to wear a gray scarf but skipped the addition of a winter coat. If he was going for the casual, unkempt look, he’d achieved it.

I flashed a polite smile and turned around as the line moved forward.
That was awkward.
At least I’d have something to talk about at lunch.

When I finally made it out into the hallway, I started booking it for the west doors. Somewhere, there was a tray full of tater tots with my name on it. I needed to take a shortcut.

“So, what’s your name?”

“R-Rena.” I flinched as the guy suddenly flanked my side, casually strolling with his hands in his pockets.
Curse my little legs and their inability to take long strides!

He nodded. “Maverick.” I must’ve given him the crazy stare because he went on to continue, “I go by my last name. I mean, if your name was Johan, wouldn’t you?”

“Okay.” I laughed, shaking my head. “I’ll give you that one.”

He grinned, jumping ahead to open the thick, metal door. “Ladies first.”

“Thank you.” I squinted at the bright snow, feeling slightly disoriented as we made our way down the sidewalk. “Johan, huh?”

He shrugged. “My grandfather was Swiss.”

“That’s cool.” I shoved my hands into my pockets and tromped through the bank of snow that separated me from the parking lot. I’d sacrifice comfort for my tots.

“You going to the dining hall?” He followed without blinking as I ventured off path.

The cold soaked into my pant legs, and I shivered.

“Yeah, I’m supposed to meet my friends.”
Hint. Leave.

“Cool, cool. I’ve got time to kill. Mind if I tag along?” He put a hand behind my back and steered me around a parked SUV. “Of course you don’t, angel. Let’s hurry. I’ve got a hankering for French fries.”

I opened and shut my mouth like a fish out of water. How did that just happen? And why would anyone choose fries over tater tots? Nothing made sense today.

Maverick started humming, and I zoned out as we made our way to the dining hall. It was just one lunch. Not even an hour. I could do this…

The sound of Gabby’s fake laugh assaulted my ears—the one she used when she was trying to be witty. I blinked, barely remembering getting from point A to point B. We were all seated at our usual table, having already gone through the line, and Maverick was busy making friends.

“So, I said to the chancellor, ‘No, your
hat
is an abomination!’” He grinned and tucked his arms behind his head, stretching his long legs under the table.

Gabby burst into a fit of giggles, nearly choking on her Diet Coke. She’d been leaning in since the first whiff of male pheromone. Of course, to her, it would’ve been the same had it been female pheromone. She gets a little manic around strangers.

I shot Aiden a pointed stare, and he shook his head. He looked pretty uncomfortable with the sudden addition to our lunch reservation. I wish I would’ve had time to warn him.

“That’s so awesome,” Gabby said, exhaling the words in a rush as she stared at Maverick. “So, your family travels abroad every summer?”

Bull.
People with that much money don’t go to school in Ohio.

“Yeah.” He grinned. “Every summer.”

This would be the last time I brought home a stray. It was annoying and disrupted the flow of lunch. I stabbed a tater tot and smeared it through a blob of ranch dressing, idly scanning the room.

The dining area was packed and filled with a hundred simultaneous conversations. I inhaled and took comfort in the delicious, fried aroma. As sad as it was, the promise of tots had gotten me through the morning. It was Monday, and I knew they would be here waiting for me.

Tomorrow would be an entirely different story. They rotated in all kinds of things throughout the week, from pierogies to stir fry. And, of course, there were always classic staples on hand. A salad and baked-potato bar, a deli counter, oven-baked pizza, et cetera. What more could prisoners—I mean
students
, ask for?

I caught a glimpse of movement in my peripheral vision and turned my head.
Ugh.
Of all the people in the lunchroom, I had to hone in on Wallace. He maneuvered through the sea of students with more grace than a man his size should’ve possessed and set his tray down on a table near the wall. I couldn’t tear my gaze away as he sat down, alone, without any guise of preoccupation. He didn’t have his books out or anything.

For a moment, I wondered how he’d never caught my eye before. Even without knowing who he was, I should’ve noticed someone like him. I mean, the man had some serious muscles outlined beneath that thermal henley. The thick, gray material was stretched tight across his triceps and the wide expanse of his back. It was all I could do to keep from snapping a photo with my phone.

I didn’t, of course, because the memory of last night was still fresh in my mind. Maybe it was a good thing that I hadn’t noticed him before. The hot guys were always assholes.

I was about to distract myself with something else, when I noticed someone timidly approach his table. She had porcelain skin and long auburn hair tied back in a ponytail. I cocked an eyebrow. Why would someone wear a dress in the middle of January? Thermal tights are cool and all, but not enticing enough to bust out in the snowbelt.

She plastered on a smile when he looked up, nervously wringing her hands. They spoke for a few moments, and then she laughed.
What the hell?
If his back weren’t to me, I could’ve seen his reaction, too. For some reason, he didn’t strike me as the easily amused type.

Then again, who knew? Yesterday, he didn’t strike me as the grudge-harboring, angry type, but I’d been wrong about that one. I hunkered down in my seat and crossed my arms.
Jerk
.

She pulled out the chair across from him, bright-eyed and animated. Were they going to have lunch together? They certainly seemed chummy.

It hadn’t even crossed my mind that he could have friends. Sometimes, it’s hard to remember that Reid cliques and stigmas don’t always resonate throughout the entire campus. It was entirely possible for others to see him in a different light. She probably took one look at his rugged features and made it her mission to cure his brooding ways.

Heh. Good luck with that, sister.

I felt my brows pull together as I watched them. Were they
together
? Nobody had mentioned anything about Wallace having a girlfriend. Surely Aiden would’ve said something, if he knew.

Wait.

What was I doing? I shook my head and stabbed at my plate again, only to hear my fork scrape against the plastic.
Huh?
I looked down to find nothing more than a white smear where the ranch had been. “What the hell? Who ate my tots?”

“You did.” Aiden gave me a strange look. “Or rather, you inhaled them. You totally zoned out on us for a minute.”

I laughed in a strained, awkward tone. “Wow. I guess I did.”

Gabby grinned at me, programming something into her phone. “Girl, there’s something wrong with your head. Did you hear Maverick invite us to hang out Saturday night?”

“I, uh…no.” I rubbed my wrist, feeling sheepish all of the sudden. “Sorry.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I told him we’d come. Aiden’s gotta go home this weekend to see his sister’s play, so he can’t make it.”

“Oh. Okay.” I took a sip of my water and swallowed a little too loudly. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Maverick. I just wasn’t used to diving into the deep end of the friendship pool. I was more of a wader.