Page 180 of Positively Pricked

"But you're not even living there." I searched his face. "Are you?"

"Youknowwhere I live."

Yes. I did.He lived in a giant mansion with so many rooms, he probably got lost at night. And where was Bob living? I didn't even want to speculate.

"But seriously," I said, "aren't you worried? He looked so pathetic."

"Yeah. He did. And you wanna know why?"

"Why?"

"So he could take advantage of someone too dumb to know better."

I drew back. "Did you just call me dumb?"

Zane's expression softened. "I wasn't talking about you."

Sure he wasn't.

I almost felt like crying. And it wasn't only because I felt bad for Bob. All of this was making me remember – belatedly, it seemed – how heartless Zane could be.

I almost didn't know what to say.

As the silence stretched out between us, I couldn’t help but recall my conversation with Charlotte. What if, heaven forbid, Ididlove this guy? What then?

The answer was obvious. He'd break my heart and stomp on the pieces. It was only a matter of time.

In front of me, Zane's expression grew stormier with every passing moment. Finally, he said, "Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong."

Was I?

In front of me, he looked anything but warm and welcoming. I snuck a worried glance over my shoulder. Behind me, all I saw was a temporary room, reserved for a job that I no longer had.

This posed a troubling question. Why was I still here, anyway?

From the look on Zane's face, he was wondering the same thing.

I heard myself say, "I'm going home."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Are you forgetting your roommate?Andher boyfriend?"

I wasn't forgetting anything. But as far as a reason to stay, it was sadly lacking. Besides, I'd have to go homesometime, right?

I said, "It'll be fine."

His jaw tightened. "Will it?"

"Yes. Definitely." My throat felt tight as I went on to explain. "As far as Paisley, I've handled her fine so far. And, well, with the professor, he's probably already moved on."

"Uh-huh." Zane looked far from convinced. "To who?"

"I dunno. Someone else."

"And if he hasn't?"