Trust in Me(3)

            “I can’t,” she croaked out.

            “Can’t what?” I faced her.

            Avery’s eyes met mine for a second and then she spun around and ran. Bag thumping off her hip, hair flying like a cape. The chick ran, actually freaking ran. My mouth dropped open.

            What in the hell had just happened?

            The door opened behind me, and a deep, slightly accented voice called out. “Mr. Hamilton, are you joining us today?”

            Shit. I closed my eyes.

            “Or are you planning to stand in the hallway the remaining time?” Professor Drage asked.

            Sighing, I turned around. “Joining the class, clearly.”

            “Clearly,” the professor repeated, holding a stack of stapled papers. “Syllabus.”

            I took one and then, on second thought, I took another. Just in case Avery Morgansten showed her face again.

            Jase leaned against the back of my truck, one hand shoved through his brown hair, holding it off his glistening forehead. Several strands stuck straight up between his fingers. “It’s as hot as balls.”

            For late August, it was sweltering. Not even the shade provided by the large oaks surrounding the back parking lot across from White Hall provided any relief. I was dreading opening the door to the sweatbox.

            “Truest thing you’ve ever spoken.” Ollie squinted up at the trees. “It’s so hot the only answer is to get naked.”

            My gaze went to him. “You’re already as naked as you need to be, dude.”

            Ollie glanced down at himself and grinned. No shirt. Shorts hanging low. Flip-flops. Nothing else. “You know damn well I could get more naked.”

            Unfortunately that was true. We’d shared a three-bedroom apartment in University Heights for the last three years. Within a week of living together, Ollie had said screw it to modesty. I’d seen the guy’s junk more times then I cared to even think about. He was graduating in the spring, as I should’ve been, and I was going to miss the idiot.

            “Ticket.” Jase nodded at my windshield.

            I sighed, looking over. A cream-colored slip of paper was neatly placed under my wiper. The parking lot was reserved for staff, but with the lack of parking around these parts, I helped myself to whatever spot I could find. “I’ll add it to my collection.”

            “Which is massive.” Ollie pulled a band off his wrist and tugged his shoulder-length blond hair into a ponytail. “So, party tonight at our place?”

            My brows shot up. “Huh?”

            Jase grinned as he folded his arms across his chest.

            “It’s a back-to-school party.” Ollie stretched, cracking his back as he yawned. “Just a little get-together.”

            “Oh God.”

            Jase’s grin spread, and I wanted to knock it off his face. The last time Ollie had had a ‘little get-together’ it had been standing room only in our apartment. Cops might have been involved.

            “Order some pizza. I need to get—” Ollie stopped midsentence and turned toward a curvy brunette walking past. In a blink of an eye, he ditched us and was dropping an arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Hey, girl, hey.”

            The brunette giggled, wrapping an arm around Ollie’s waist.

            I turned, raising my hands. “What?”

            “Lost cause.” Jase rolled his eyes. “That fucker has eyes in the back of his head when it comes to girls.”