Page 58 of I Don't Need Your Protection

His face fills with even more sympathy and that just makes me want to get as far away from him as possible. I don’t need or want his pity.

Just as he makes a move to reach for me, I twist around. “I’m going to class.”

He doesn’t say anything as he follows me to first period. My friends were wondering where I was and I make an excuse that I had to take care of something.

After I sit down, I feel eyes on me. Caleb, sitting in his usual seat where he has a clear view of me, watches me. He doesn’t have that pity expression on his face anymore. Now it’s intense, like normal.

I didn’t have a chance to ask him if anyone is coming to see him on Parents’ Day—fake or real. Knowing him, he’ll probably hide himself while watching over me as I spend the day with my fake parents.

“Mom, Dad,” I whisper. “I miss you so much.”

Tears enter my eyes and I try to blink them away. Through the blurriness, I find Caleb still watching me, but this time, there’s alarm and worry in his eyes. He looks like he wants to leap up and protect me from harm.

Not wanting him to see me like this, I turn away from him, subtly swiping my blazer sleeve over my eyes.

Chapter Eighteen

Addie

“And you’re going to run around town with him?”

I try not to groan as I shove my laptop into my backpack and throw it over my shoulder. “It’s aschool project, Caleb. We’re supposed to convince investors to invest in our company. As you should know, since you have the same assignment.” I lift my brow at him. “How exactly are you planning to get investors?”

“That’s my business.”

“Right.” I make my way to the door. After closing my hand over the knob, I turn to him. “Are you going to follow me?”

He wears an emotionless expression as his eyes focus on me. “Do you even have to ask that question?”

“Don’t you think I’m in good hands with Warner?” I ask with an innocent smile.

His jaw twitches. “I trust that guy as much as I trust a rabiddog.”

I sigh. “C’mon, Mr. Big Muscles. Can’t I have some time alone with him?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “Over my dead body.”

I close my eyes as I release a breath from my nose. I get that it’s his job to protect me, and yes, Warner and I will be going out in public for a few hours, but knowing my bodyguard is monitoring my every move makes me feel like I’m in prison. I wish he could lay off the reins just alittle bit.

“This conversation is a waste of time,” Caleb says. “Can we get this over with?”

I grumble as I open the door and march to the stairs. Since it’s after school hours and Caleb can technically be seen in the girls’ dorm, he doesn’t have to hide in the shadows. But he does so anyway because I bet the last thing he wants is girls getting in his way. Which would be great for me, but obviously not for him.

I’m supposed to meet Warner outside the dorm, but he’s not here. I’m a little early, though, so I fold my arms at the slight chill in the air and bounce on my heels, my eyes straining toward the boys’ dorm for any sign of him.

The door to the girls’ dorm opens and closes quickly, and then a voice says, “He’s not here, huh? Big surprise.”

I spin around to glare at Caleb, but I don’t find him anywhere. When I peek behind the building, I find him leaning on the wall. “For a second, I thought you were able to turn invisible.”

“That certainly would come in handy.”

“Uh huh.”

His eyes search my face. “Are you really excited to hang out with that guy?”

“‘That guy’ has a name.”

“I prefer not to say it.”