Page 40 of Loving the Tormentor

"Why don't you just play right-handed? I'm a leftie, and I do. We all do."

My face falls, and he must see it because he puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Or don't. I was just being nosy." He's quick to change the topic, and I'm grateful for that. "We don't have anything else for the day. Do you want to grab a coffee?"

We're by the castle now. This school will never cease to amaze me. The red bricks, the white arches, the old oak doors. I'm desperate to go inside with him and stay in this magical place.

"I can't, sorry. My boyfriend is picking me up, and he's on his way." I smile apologetically.

He doesn't take the fact that I have a boyfriend as rejection, which reassures me. He wants to be friends, and I need someone like that in our class. It means that I belong here. Deep down, I can't deny that it makes me feel like I matter if our orchestra soloist finds me interesting enough to be my friend.

"No worries. Give me your number, and we'll arrange it for another time."

I pull out my phone and give it to him. Once he takes my phone number, he sends himself a text right away.

"I'll walk you to the visitors’ parking. Where does your boyfriend study?"

"Oh." I laugh a little, imagining Chase taking down notes in a lecture hall. "He doesn't go to college." As far as I know, he didn't go to high school.

"I see. Do you live with him, then? Is that why you don't live on campus?"

I try to hide a mocking smile when I answer. "You're right. You really are nosy."

His deeply dark skin complexion doesn't really redden, but I can see the embarrassment on his face.

"I'm so sorry," he blurts out. "I'm just a chatty guy. I make conversation by asking a lot of questions because I'm terrified of silence."

I explode in a laugh, tapping his biceps. "No stress. I was just joking. Actually, I don't live on campus because I can't afford it. Hell, I can't even afford a parking permit here. I live at home. On the North Shore."

His lips part, his eyes opening a little wider, and for a second, I'm scared I made a huge mistake by telling him the truth. It's easy to read people with the movements their mouths make. A little pinch, a slight parting, the trembling when you try to holda smile. Or even that slight pause before a lie. I think Josh is just surprised someone as poor as me is going to SFU. He's not judging me. But I could be wrong.

Like I was wrong to let Achilles convince me to stay in his room on Friday.

"Nyx," he says. "You really are amazing for studying here coming from the North Shore. I told you, you're special."

My body relaxes just as I hear someone park near us. I recognize Chase's car and instinctively take a step back away from my new friend.

"I'll see you in class tomorrow."

I head toward the car, but the driver's door opens and Chase comes out.

"Hey—" I attempt. Striding to me, he only stops when he's got a hand wrapped around my jaw.

His lips crash into mine, and I almost stumble back.

I don't get to turn back to check if Josh saw what just happened. I'm pretty sure he did. We walk to Chase's car with his fingers firmly holding my upper arm like I'm some sort of toddler he has to control.

"What's wrong with you?" I rush out, my heart racing.

"Did you ask me to pick you up so I could see you flirting with other guys?" he seethes. "Is that your little revenge because you didn't know where I was all weekend?"

"I wasn't?—"

"Get in the fucking car, Nyx."

I hurry to get in. The last thing I want is to make a scene.

"Please, calm down," I pacify him. I don't need my boyfriend shouting at me in front of everyone. "He's part of the orch?—"