Page 6 of I Don’t Need Your Protection (Harrington Bay Academy #1)

Addie

I head to one of my suitcases and start emptying it.

I have a few pairs of the school uniform, which consists of a short green and black plaid skirt and a matching green vest or blazer, as well as a crisp white shirt.

I’ve never worn a uniform before, but I guess it has some advantages.

I hang those up, and the rest of my clothes.

Clothes that I’ll wear outside of school hours, plus my pajamas.

After I’m done, I step back. When my grandfather’s staff helped me pick out my clothes, I thought they’d change my style.

But they were very cool about it and let me buy whatever I wanted.

I was okay with a couple of outfits, but they insisted I buy more, which is why my closet is pretty much filled to the max.

Should I use the other closet? Maybe I’ll have a roommate after all. It’s best I stick to my side of the room .

The knob to my room turns and then the door is shoved open. I back away, wondering who in the world has a key to my room.

Caleb walks in, shutting the door behind him. His fierce blue eyes latch onto mine and he gives me a once over, maybe making sure I’m not damaged?

I inch closer to him. “You’re not allowed in my room. How did you get in here?”

“I am allowed in your room. Everywhere you go, I go.”

I gape at him. “So…you have a key to my room?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ll barge in here whenever you want?”

He sighs, pushing his fingers through his dark hair. “Am I here to attend classes or am I here to protect you?”

I throw my hands up. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if you’re really a teenager or an adult pretending to be one.”

He blinks at me. “I’m sixteen, same as you.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “I never heard of a sixteen-year-old bodyguard.”

“Family business. Your grandfather’s family has been our client for generations and he needed someone your age for this job. I was trained specifically for that.”

“Oh. But you’re a student here, too?”

He dips his head. “Yes, but that’s a cover story. I already finished all my schooling and can focus all my attention on you.”

“So you’re not just my babysitter, you’re my prison ward,” I mumble .

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing. I’m safe now, so you don’t have to stay here.”

He folds his arms over his chest. “Like I said, wherever you go, I go. I’m taking my job very seriously and you should, too. Your life is in danger.”

“I know. But you saw the security around here. No one will harm me.”

He scoffs. “I don’t trust the security.”

“Many of them are undercover agents watching over me, too. Ones my grandfather hired.”

He holds my gaze, not blinking once.

“You don’t trust them, either?”

“I trust myself and my abilities. Now go about your business and don’t mind me.” He drops down on a chair and keeps his gaze on me.

I turn toward my last suitcase, then twist around to face him. He hasn’t taken those icy eyes off me.

“Um…” I pull at my hair. “Are you just going to sit there and watch me?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have to?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t you do something on your phone or watch TV or…?”

“No.”

I puff out my cheeks. “Awesome,” I grumble before lowering myself to my knees and taking out the last few items from my suitcase.

He doesn’t say a word and neither do I. It takes me about an hour to get fully settled in, then I make my way to the dining hall. I guess I’m a little early because there aren’t many students here, just a few seated at the tables. I don’t see Carly, so she’ll probably come later.

I know Caleb is somewhere near me, but I can’t find him. How in the world does he manage to keep himself hidden? He’s like a ninja.

I walk to the long tables lined against the wall that host different varieties of food and drinks. It’s a bit too much, so I just pile a few things on my plate and find a seat at the corner of the dining hall.

As I eat, I look around. The few kids that are here are eating in groups. Some look at me, others pretend I don’t exist. I wish Carly were here. It’d be nice to talk to someone.

At the corner of my eye, I spot a figure at one of the tables.

Caleb sits there, his body hunched over the table like he’s too big for it.

He has a tray with food before him, but keeps his eyes on me as he eats.

The way he gazes at me, one could think I’m the prettiest thing he’s ever seen.

Is it really that necessary for him to watch me like a hawk? I’m fine . No one will harm me here.

Smiling, I give him a small wave, just to loosen him up a little. The guy is way too serious and high-strung. His lips twitch slightly. I hold back a giggle.

Once I’m done, I throw my tray into the discard pile, then exit the dining hall. Some kids pass me and give me looks, but for the most part no one seems interested in me .

I notice a group of girls and some guys gathered around another girl. Maybe she’s one of the witches Carly was telling me about. Or maybe she’s just a popular girl. Either way, I just want to go up to my room, lie in my bed, and think about Mom and Dad.

Someone slams into me, causing me to fall on my butt. Glancing up, I find a guy standing there. He has dark blond hair and bright gray eyes and a killer smile. He’s one of the most good-looking guys I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Sorry!” He holds out a hand. “Are you all right?”

Caleb comes out of nowhere and is ready to pounce on the guy, but he must realize this is a harmless student and steps away, disappearing into the shadows.

“That was completely my fault,” the guy says. “Can I help you up?”

“Sure, thanks.” I place my hand in his and let him yank me to my feet.

He smiles. “I’m Warner.”

“Addie.”

“You’re new, right?”

I laugh lamely. “How can you tell?”

He holds his smile. “I’d never forget that face.” He winks. “So, how are you liking Harrington so far?”

I shrug. “It’s big.”

He chuckles. “That, it is. Are you headed to dinner?”

“I just ate.”

“Too bad. I’ll see you around, Addie. ”

“Yeah, see you.”

He nods with a smile before turning around and heading into the dining hall. I watch him go, my heart lifting a bit.

“You should be careful whom you associate with,” a voice says on my right.

I turn to face Caleb. “He’s a student just like I am.”

His lips press together as he peers into the dining hall. “That may be so. Still, be vigilant.”

I lift a brow. “Isn’t that your job?”

He grunts before slipping away. I know he’s nearby, maybe hiding behind one of these stone statues in the hallway.

Shrugging, I make my way to my room and drop down on my bed. No more than half a minute passes before the door opens and shuts. My warden has arrived.

He plops down on the same chair as before, and I swear I can feel him watching me. But not in a creepy way. That guy’s thoughts are focused on one thing only—my protection. He probably doesn’t even see me as a person, more like an object that needs to be watched over at all times.

I lift my head and look at him. “I think I’m going to turn in for the night. So you can go to your dorm and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’m staying the night.”

My mouth drops open. “What?”

He just keeps his eyes on me.

“But you’re not allowed to be here!”

He raises both brows. “Are you going to tell on me?”

“But…but don’t they check the rooms or something?”

“When they check the rooms, I’ll be gone. But I’ll return and stay the night to watch over you.”

This is too insane. I can’t help but gawk at him. “And when will you sleep?”

“I’ll sleep when you sleep. Look, I can’t protect you if I’m not here. What if someone breaks into your room during the night? My being in the boys’ dorm won’t help you.”

The thought makes a shiver pass through me.

“It’s not a pleasant thought, but it can happen,” he says. “Which is why I’ll be spending each and every night with you. Why do you think your grandfather arranged for you not to have a roommate?”

“So he knows you’re sleeping here?”

“Of course he knows.”

“But doesn’t he think…? I mean, guys and girls shouldn’t sleep in the same room.”

A slow smile crawls onto his face as he gazes at me. “Don’t flatter yourself, Addilyn.”

I cross my arms over my chest and roll my eyes. “Right. Because I’m just a diamond necklace to you.”

His eyebrows furrow. “What?”

“Never mind. I’m taking a shower. Or are you going to follow me there, too?”

After grabbing my pajamas, I march to the door. I’m about to open it, but a hand presses on it.

Caleb stands there, one hand on the door, one on my waist. It burns where he touches me. His face is very close to mine, lips only a few inches away. I have a good view of his eyes and notice how deep and mysterious they are .

“This isn’t a game, Addilyn,” he whisper-growls.

“This is your life . I’m here to protect you.

That means I go where you go, I do what you do.

And yes, I understand this is uncomfortable for you.

You want your space, your privacy. But the moment I turn my attention from you, that’s when the enemy will strike. ”

I scoff. “This place is like a fortress, dude. No one is coming in.”

“Don’t be na?ve,” he hisses, bending even closer. “This place could be crawling with people who want you dead.”

“Or you’re just paranoid.”

His jaw clenches.

“Permission to take a shower now, boss?” I ask. “And can you please let go of me?”

He stares into my eyes with that irritation before dropping his hand from my waist and backing away. I face the door and am about to open it, but he says, “Return here after your shower. If you’re not back in twenty minutes, I’ll consider your life in danger.”

I whirl around to face him. “Now you’re timing me?”

He crosses his arms over his chest. “ Twenty minutes .”

“Or what? You’ll go into the girls’ bathroom and drag me out?”

The look on his face tells me that’s exactly what he’ll do. And the crazy part? He’d totally get away with it.

“Fine,” I mutter and leave the room.

The bathroom is not far. Caleb can be here within seconds if I’m in trouble .

I make sure to finish well before twenty minutes and return to my prison. Caleb sits on his chair, staring at the space before him. I have no idea how he can just sit there and not be bored.

“Satisfied?” I ask him.

“Yes.”

After I shut the lights, I pull back the covers on my bed and climb in. I close my eyes, but the second I hear movement from him, they pop open. Caleb sits on the second bed. The covers are pulled back. He’s going to sleep there? I don’t know why I assumed he’d stay in the chair all night.

He must feel me watching him because he looks at me. Then he reaches for the hem of his shirt, pulls it over his head, and tosses it on the nearby table.

I swallow as I stare at his broad chest. The room is a little dark, so I can’t see well, but it’s enough for me to know that’s a very sexy chest. Heavily muscled, a six-pack, the kind of chest women dream about. The kind of chest a girl can snuggle on when she’s scared or feels unsafe.

“Good night, Addilyn,” Caleb says.

I blink to snap out of it. “Good night.”

He just sits there, watching me. It’s as if he’s waiting for me to fall asleep first. Like he’s worried I’ll get hurt if he loses focus on me.

Those intense eyes are the last thing I see before I drift off to sleep.