The Scammer(78)

“I can feed myself, sheesh.” I grab the spoon and pop in a scoop. The spicy flavors take over my mouth, warmth entering my belly. He stares at my lips and I look up at him, expectantly.

“Oh! Right. Uh, first . . . I’m sorry for the way I acted during Thanksgiving. Well, after it. Thanksgiving Day was . . . amazing! Having you there with my family, my real family. It was fun.”

He pauses, nodding at the gumbo. I eat another spoonful.

“It was . . . also a lot for me to take. Seeing you, in my room, at my house. You’re right about the boomerang. Any time I talk about Ashley, it’s like it comes up all over again. I can still hear the gunshots, like a never-ending echo. But it wasn’t the shot that gave me nightmares. It was the silence that came right after it. It’s why I have trouble sleeping without noise.”

He tilts his head at the spoon and I eat another bite.

“I don’t just want to be friends. I want to watch Love Island with you. I want to kiss you whenever I want. I want to kiss you now. But . . . I don’t know if you’ll forgive me for being an ass.”

Those silly heart flutters. I feel them again and eat another spoonful.

“But whatever happens between us, I want to do everything in my power to make sure you’re safe. Including using my school government perks and calling Student Housing myself to find you a new spot ASAP.”

I hold the spoon midair. “Really? You’d do that?”

Nick kneels down eye level with me, hands gripping my knees.

“Jordyn, I’d do anything for you,” he utters. “I just . . . can’t lose someone I care about again. It would break me. And all this . . . really scares me.”

Those bright, childlike eyes. I can lose myself in them forever. I free up my hand to push a piece of hair behind his ear.

“You’re not going to lose me. I promise.”

He gives me a silly grin. “And lastly, truth is . . . I’m having a hard time sleeping without you. It’s weird.”

“See? I’m useful.”

His hands slide up to my waist. “So am I.”





Thirty




FUSA is throwing a holiday party in the ballroom for both students and staff. Nick has invited delegates and board members. Today, he plans to announce his intentions on running for trustee.

“Are you sure you want to show up to your party with the whore of the university?” I ask. “A potential murder suspect? A sexual deviant?”

“Shut up and don’t be ridiculous,” he says, fixing his silver tie in the hall mirror. He’s wearing a charcoal-gray suit and a light blue button-down that brings out his eyes.

I chuckle, patting down my hair. It’s not perfect but I’ve gotten better with the flat iron. It makes me think of Kammy. How she would have had this bone straight. How Loren would’ve had the perfect lipstick to go with the outfit Nick bought me—a green velvet maxi dress with bell sleeves and a slit that stops right at the top of my thigh.

“Nervous?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He blows out some tense air. “But if I can face your dad then I can face anything.”

I laugh. “Just remember your talking points.”

His eyes widen. “You think that’ll come up tonight?”

“The moment you say you’re running, they’re gonna ask why.”

He gulps, pulling at his collar. “It feels like the frat house in here.”

Giggling, I pull him close, fixing his tie the same way I used to see Mom fix Dad’s before work.

“You look pretty.” Nick smiles down at me proudly. “I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think I could do tonight without you.”

What a coincidence. I don’t think I could’ve survived this semester without him.

I stand on my tiptoes and just as I’m about to kiss his cheek, my phone buzzes. An unknown number. Maybe it’s the detective finally calling me back.

“Hey, I have to take this,” I say, rushing toward the door. “Be right back!”

“Okay, meet you in the ballroom!”

I nod and run out into the lobby to catch the call.

“Hello,” I answer eagerly.

“Watch out! They’re coming for you.”

My back goes rod straight. “Loren? What’s going on? Are you okay?”

“They’re coming for you,” she repeats. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The line goes dead. A chill runs down my arms. I stand stock-still, looking out the glass doors. The night breeze flows through the trees on the Quad, kicking up fallen leaves that dance in an eerie circle. I can’t explain it, but someone out there is watching. I can feel their eyes boring into my skin.

Tell Nick.

But tonight is his big night! He’ll go into panic mode. Maybe I’ll leave the party early, just in case Devonte comes and tries to cause a scene. Again. I take a deep breath and slide a hand down my hair to smooth the flyaways.

Someone passes by, clipping my shoulder like a hard body check. I stumble back in my heels, wincing an “Ow!”

The offending girl walks by without a second glance rushing downstairs, toward the Rec. It wasn’t on purpose, I try to convince myself, rubbing my sore shoulder as my stomach begins to turn. Nausea mixing with nervousness.