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“I’m outraged!” Monica looked hurt. “We have so much to offer here! The scenery is beautiful and there are great sightseeing attractions. There’s the cabaret, the Museum of Art and Archeology, the city center and the fantastic campus with the statue of Shakespeare… ”

Woodshill’s attractions seemed to be a favorite topic of Monica’s, so Spencer and I took pains to nod enthusiastically.

“I really like it here,” I said. “The landscape was one of the reasons why I picked Woodshill. I’ve gotten so much fresh air since I arrived that my body must be completely detoxified.”

Monica smiled blissfully. “I think everyone coming from a big city feels that way.”

Ethan came up from behind and wrapped his arm around her. “Is she giving that speech again about why Woodshill is the best city to study in?”

“She’s trying to win over Allie.” Spencer nodded toward me. “Although she already lives here.”

“Hey! You’re the girl from my room,” Ethan said, turning to me. “I mean, of course it’s not my room. As of now it’s your empire, with everything that means.”

I had to smile at how he clung to his girlfriend in order to stand up straight. “Thanks for the shelf and desk, Ethan.”

“Thanks for taking all that stuff. You saved us the trouble of moving it,” he replied, digging his face into Monica’s neck. She broke out into giggles.

An adorable couple.

My gaze wandered on its own past the two of them, toward the couch.

I froze.

Kaden’s dark eyes were fixed directly on me.

That girl wasn’t on his lap anymore, but sitting next to him. He had put his arm over her shoulder and she was murmuring something in his ear. Now I knew why she looked so familiar—she was the girl who was leaving just before I’d come in to view the apartment.

I thought about Kaden’s rules. To stare at him while he was getting it on with someone would be pretty high on the list of things that were absolutely no-go. So I looked away and focused on Monica.

“I like your colorful streaks,” I said to her. “I don’t think I would have dared.”

“Sometimes I honestly wish I were a little less bold,” she replied, with a resigned look. “I never think things over enough when it comes to change. I’m too impulsive and can’t decide—so for example I don’t pick out one hair color but take all of the ones I like at the moment.”

“I like it. The biggest change I made was this one.” I indicated my short hair.

Monica frowned. “So how did you look before?”

“My hair was honey blonde,” I answered. “And went down over my chest.”

Her eyes widened. “But you don’t look like a blondie.”

“Oh, I was. I looked kind of like… ” My eyes wandered through the room until they rested on Kaden’s companion. “Like her, but a bit darker.”

Monica turned to look. “You looked like Sawyer?” She blurted out in surprise—and loudly.

The girl next to Kaden whirled around and stared at Monica. Then she narrowed her eyes to slits and stood.

“Oh no,” mumbled Monica, suddenly looking somewhat smaller.

As Sawyer walked toward us, I took the chance to study her up close. She was very pretty and had a great figure, with curves in all the right places and a neckline that would make any woman jealous.

“I heard my name mentioned,” Sawyer said as a greeting. She looked at Monica, smiling stiffly.

Kaden, who had also risen and in two strides had caught up with Sawyer, seemed to sense the tension in the air. He threw an arm around Sawyer’s waist and pulled her close. But the gesture didn’t have the intended effect. The opposite, in fact. Instead of relaxing, Sawyer shook herself free with a jerk and folded her arms at her chests.

“Is there something you’d like to tell me, Monica?”

“No… Allie just… ” Monica turned toward me, helpless.