Page 8 of I Don’t Need Your Protection (Harrington Bay Academy #1)

Addie

A loud trumpet blares in my ears.

Gasping, I spring up in bed and clutch my speeding heart. What the heck?

When I grab my new, expensive phone from the nightstand and scan the screen, I see that it’s a quarter to seven. I don’t remember setting my alarm.

Someone groans from the left side of my room. My head snaps in that direction, and my heart almost catapults out of my chest. There’s someone in here.

I’m about to cry out or look for something to use as a weapon, but then it all comes crashing down on me. I’m at Harrington Bay Academy. And the strange dude in my room? My appointed babysitter.

He’s doing pushups on the floor. I swallow as I watch the movements of his body.

He’s still shirtless, but now that there’s light out, I have a better view of his bare chest. He’s much more ripped than I thought.

I can’t help but gawk at him. The way he moves, I sense he’s releasing all his pent-up emotions.

Like he needs this for a release or he’ll lose his mind.

I remember seeing a hint of emotions in his eyes when we first met, either pain, loss, or guilt. I wonder what he’s been through.

“Do I also need to be your wake-up call every morning?” he huffs as he continues his workout routine.

I snap out of whatever trance I was in and glare at him. “So you were the one who nearly sent me to the ER with that awful trumpet alarm?”

“I gave you fifteen minutes to see if you would get up on your own. Clearly, you failed.”

With a groan, I push my blanket aside. “So I forgot to set my alarm on my first day of school. Send the army after me.”

“I don’t need an army.”

“Right. Because all it takes is your strong arms to snap my body in half.”

Before he has a chance to respond, I grab my uniform that I laid out over the comfy chair next to my bed and march into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me.

Pressing my hands on the sink, I close my eyes and release a breath through my nose.

“If there’s going to be a murder here, it’s going to be his. At my hands.”

There’s a knock on my door, which makes me almost jump out of my bones.

“For your information, I have impeccable hearing. ”

“‘Impeccable hearing?’ Were you trained with people double your age? You sound like an old man.”

“And you sound like a child right now.”

“Do I at least have privacy in the morning? Or are you going to time me on that, too?”

He’s quiet for a bit and then I hear him walk away.

Now I can’t even mutter to myself due to his “impeccable hearing.”

Shaking my head, I take a deep breath and tell myself to relax. I don’t have to pay attention to him. I can treat him like wallpaper and get on with my life. And maybe once the people who killed my parents are caught, I can kiss this guy goodbye and never see him again.

Ugh. Why did I think the words “kiss” when referring to him?

I mean, sure, the guy is a total hottie and he has a great body, but his personality sucks.

And as much as I appreciate a sexy guy like any other girl, I’d prefer a kind and considerate person with a great personality over looks.

Which is why I’m waiting for a special guy to fall into my life.

Someone who would understand me like no one else does, and I would understand him the same way. But I doubt I’ll find him here.

Another knock on the door nearly sends me to the roof.

“Are you alive in there?” he calls.

“Yes, much to your disappointment!” I yell at the door.

“Why would that disappoint me? It wouldn’t be in my best interest if something were to happen to you.”

“Oh, right,” I grumble. “I’m nothing more than a job to you.”

“Are you always this grumpy in the morning?” he grunts.

“If my beauty rest is interrupted by a deafening trumpet? You bet your butt I am.”

He’s quiet for a few seconds before saying in a gentler tone, “Or maybe you’re just nervous for your first day of school.”

My lips snap shut and I freeze. I glance at the door, a strange feeling nestling in my stomach. Did he just say something…nice?

He’s right. I guess I didn’t realize how nervous I am for my first day at a new school.

Any kid would be nervous for her first day, but my situation is a completely different ball game.

I was an average teen who just became an heiress, and now I have to pretend to be an average girl again, which shouldn’t be hard because there’s nothing more I want than to be normal again.

But that means no contact with the only family member I have left.

And never mind the fact that my parents’ killers want me dead, too. Is it a wonder I’m a ball of nerves?

I guess it’s cool that Caleb noticed that.

I unlock the door to tell him I appreciate what he just said, but he’s back to working out. It feels like whatever moment we had is gone and he’s back to the hard-core, all-business bodyguard he was hired to be. I close the door and start to get ready for my day.

When I leave the bathroom a few minutes later, Caleb is completely drenched in sweat. The dude really did hit it hard—no wonder he’s so buff.

“I’m going to take a quick shower,” he says as he grabs a towel and throws it over his shoulder. “Don’t leave this room. I’ll be back in five.”

“Five minutes for a shower?” I wonder.

He doesn’t respond as he gathers the rest of his clothes in his arms.

“If you’re not back in five minutes, I’ll have to barge into the boys’ dorm and drag you out myself,” I joke.

He heads to the door and opens it, then turns back to look at me. “Don’t leave this room, Addilyn.” He shuts the door behind him.

A part of me is so tempted to defy him, but I’m not in the mood right now.

I still have to get ready and my heart hasn’t stopped racing with anxiety for my first day.

I think I have no choice but to resign to the fact that Caleb and I can never be…

well, I can’t say friends , exactly. I thought maybe it was possible to get along with him because of the comment he made when I was in the bathroom, but forget about it.

I’ll probably be happier if I just treated him like my shadow.

I’m working on my hair when Caleb teleports into my room—seriously, it feels like he came out of nowhere because he’s so stealthy.

I’m about to ignore him, but my jaw falls open when I realize how good he looks in the school uniform.

He appears much younger than before, like he’s actually sixteen, and he looks so…

how do I say it? Dashing in the white blouse, green blazer and tie, and black pants.

Those colors definitely work for him. His blazer makes him look like he’s the heir to a multi-billion-dollar empire.

The only part of him that reminds me of the rugged dude he was before is his dark hair. It’s quite messy, but in a totally bad boy kind of way. The kind of hair girls beg to run their hands through. It’s such a contrast to the rest of his refined look that he looks so… good .

“You’re going to have a hard time being my shadow looking like that.” I nod at his getup.

A confused look passes over his face. “What?”

“You look hot?”

“No I don’t.”

I lift a brow. “Uh…o-kay.” I shrug and focus on putting on some makeup.

He remains in his spot for a second or two before marching over to my full-length mirror near the bathroom.

I spy on him through the mirror on my vanity.

He studies himself in the mirror like he’s never seen his reflection before.

Or maybe he never considered that he was hot?

Maybe he’s never worn a uniform before, either.

“So what do you think?” I get up and do a small spin. “Do I look good for my first day of school?”

He studies me through the reflection in the mirror, his eyes growing more intense every passing second.

For some reason, my cheeks warm up. I have no idea if he appreciates what he sees—I mean, I think I look cute in the uniform.

I’m wearing the vest instead of the blazer and I love the way the pleated skirt brushes above my knees.

My long hair falls down my shoulders in soft waves.

He tears his eyes away and fiddles with his tie. “You should go to breakfast before it’s too late. You don’t want to be hungry on your first day.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

I walk to my bed and sweep off my stuffed elephant, giving her a tight hug. “Wish me luck, Ellie. I think I’ll need it.”

I shake her and say in a squeaky voice, “Good luck, best friend Addie.”

“Ooh, and maybe wish good luck to Caleb, too? He has to suffer through high school classes just to watch over me.”

I turn Ellie to face Caleb and say, “Poor Caleb. Want me to give you a hug? My hugs always make people feel better.”

“Don’t waste time with childish things,” he mutters as he marches to the door and opens it. “Please head to breakfast, Addilyn.”

I roll my eyes to the stuffed elephant. “Who’s the grumpy one now?

” I place her on my pillow, grab my newly-bought backpack with all my school things, and head for the door.

Most of the students on my floor are walking to the exit of the dorm.

I look around for Caleb, but don’t see him anywhere.

I know he’s around, though. He wouldn’t leave me out of his sight for a second, even in a large crowd like this.

I leave the dorm and make my way to the dining hall.