by Nana Malone
Shane nodded, understanding. No drugs, no sex, no rock ‘n’ roll. “I’ll keep her out of trouble.”
“I know you will. Why do you think I gave the gig to you instead of War?”
War was his boy, and unlike Shane, he had the military background. The dude was deadly. But he also had a reputation as a bad boy and was apparently catnip to girls. All the guy had to do was flash a smile or one of his tattoos, and girls dropped panties. Might not be a good thing if he was supposed to be watching the girl and keeping her out of trouble.
“I get it.”
Caleb nodded. “So what do you say? Are you in?"
Shane dragged in a deep breath. It was a new life. Just like he wanted. "Yeah, I'm in."
Chapter 6
"Start from the beginning, leave nothing out." Sydney plopped onto Tris's new bed.
"Syd, I thought you were here to help me unpack. Classes start tomorrow, and I want to be unpacked before we start." Tris mumbled as she tried to tug a sweater out from under her friend.
Sydney wrinkled her nose, and Xia laughed as she dragged a box into the dorm room. Both the girls had unpacked already as they were here at the beginning of the week.
Xia laughed. "You're funny if you think Syd unpacked herself. She found some freshman who stumbled over himself trying to get her attention helping her out."
Syd shrugged. "I can’t help it if he was enamored with my—" She pointed at her boobs, but said "smile" instead.
"Yeah, your smile got us all those free drinks last night."
"Sure did. Some of us have to use what our mama's gave us."
Xia ignored Syd and helped Tris store things in the bathroom. "As much as I want to hear about last night, what I want to hear about more is how it went with your dad. I was for sure he was going to wrap you in a carpet and cart you off to Trini."
Tris groaned. "You know it's still a distinct possibility. We had a little conversation last night after Roland’s crew broke up my fun. Same old Dad.”
Xia wrinkled her nose. “Let me guess, he’s doing it for your safety and needs you to understand, blah blah blah?”
“It’s like you were there. I was sick of it, so I hung up on him.” Taking in her friends’ shocked expressions, she added, “Admittedly, not my best solution. I was just so furious.”
Sydney patted her hand. “We get it. But I think Xia’s asking how you move forward? What’s the long term end goal here?”
“I just want to be my own person. Free for once.”
Xia tapped her pen across her lips. “It’s not like you can just leave it like that.”
Tris blew a curl off her face. “That I know. Before this gets out of control, he and I are going to have a talk.”
There had been a time when everywhere she went wasn't a jail cell. Things had only gotten really bad a few years ago after she was kidnapped. When she'd come home, he'd been obsessed with her safety, and he did whatever it took to keep her safe. At least that's what he constantly told her.
"I'm sorry, babe."
"Not your fault, Xia. It's to keep me safe, but I need to live a normal life, otherwise, I might as well actually be a prisoner."
Syd cocked her head. "Do you think he can do it? I mean, you saw how many guys he had at the club last night. There were five.”
“He’d better be able to. I was serious about being done with the antics.”
Xia changed the subject. "Now, can we please get back to hot man stories? Or at the very least tell us what you’re going to do with your new found freedom?"
"I'll tell you what she's going to do. She's going to go and find the hot guy from last night. Girl, I can't believe you went back to his room."
Tris covered her face. "I do not do that. I'm not the hook-up girl. Totally not me."
Syd shook her head and grinned. "Nope, you are distinctly no fun. Or rather good clean fun, and really, what fun is that?" she said with a wink.
Xia threw a pillow at her. "Stop teasing her. Did you find out anything about him other than how he tasted?" Her friend waggled her eyebrows.
Yeah, a last name would have been good. And super helpful. "All I know is his name is Shane." There was a lot more that she wished for too. How far would they have gone if they hadn't been interrupted? "No, I wish, but the asshole brigade interrupted, so I didn’t find out anything."
"So full hook-up, or partial?" Syd asked.
Her face flamed. "I, uh, we didn't, I didn't sleep with him. I'm still as virginal as before."
Sydney groaned. "Oh, man."
"Leave her alone," Xia said.
But her friend had a point. She was sick of not really living or experiencing everything. "You know, I'm cool with it. I'm only eighteen. But I'm starting to think I can't give this shit away."
"Soon to be nineteen," Sydney pointed out not so helpfully.
"My point is…" She slid a shirt into the top drawer. "Is that I have time. And maybe Shane was just the first of many hot guys we meet while we're here."
Her friends grinned at her.
"Now that sounds like a mantra I can get behind," Sydney said.
Tris chewed her bottom lip. “So, I’ve been thinking. You know that letter I found with my mom’s stuff when she passed?”
They both nodded. “The one that was essentially her bucket list?” Xia asked.
“Yeah, that one. I was thinking of finishing off some of those activities for her.”
Syd’s smile was soft. “Honey, that’s a great idea. A cool way to honor her.”
Tris knew how lucky she was to have friends like this who supported her. “I’m glad you said that, because I’m thinking about running a marathon.”
Xia and Syd exchanged glances. But it was Xia who joined her on her bed and took her hand. “Sweetie, I get that you want to do something in her name. I do. But do you think a marathon is the best way to do it? I mean, you don't run.”
Tris scoffed. “I run. I’ve run many times.”
Xia raised a brow. “When it wasn’t because of a sample sale or ice-cream truck?”
Okay, fine, they had a point. “I know. But I think I can do this. I mean it’s just a little running. How many miles is a marathon again?”
“Twenty six point two.” Syd smirked.
Holy hell. Maybe she—No. She could do this. She was going to do this. “You’re not going to scare me off.”
Xia sighed. “We’re not trying to scare you. We just want you to be a little realistic. But if you’re serious about this, there are some running clubs on campus. I saw a flier in the common room.”
Running…with other people? “Hmmm, I’m not sure I’m ready for a group run yet.” Or more likely a public shaming. “Syd, you ran in high school. Maybe you could take me out a few times a week, you know, just until I start to get more used to it.”
Her friend nodded. “Of course.” She slid another glance in Xia’s direction. “We’ll at least get you moving, and you can see how much you like it.”
Okay, well, that was a start at least. "So what's the first thing we're going to do? Knowing you, Xia, you already have lay of the land."
Xia clapped her hands. "I'm so glad you asked, because I have a whole itinerary for us."
Sydney flopped back onto the bed. "You just had to ask her for a plan, didn't you? You realize we'll be so booked doing other activities that we won't have time for cruising the fraternity parties."
Xia huffed. "Well, this stuff is important. For example, we have a rush event in two hours. We'll meet loads of new people."
A rush event? Tris didn't really see herself as a rush kind of girl. But she was here, determined to have fun and do things out of her comfort zone...even if that meant going to a rush party. "Uh, okay."
Sydney scowled at them both and indicated her stunning frame. "What part about this fabulousness says 'Hi, I'm a sorority girl.’?”
Tris laughed. "You know what, you'll probably have a ton of fun."
"Well, I'll try anything once." She winked.
Chapter 7
“New rule,” Tris muttered to herself. “No more late nights on a school night.” Last night’s rush event was fun, but she hadn’t gotten a lot of sleep since the party went so late.
She wasn’t sure what she’d expected from a bunch of sorority girls, but they’d actually been really cool. And she hadn’t pictured her first day of class going hand in hand with a hangover.
She stretched for a second, allowing herself one gigantic deep breath before she started her first day at school. She’d done it. She was free, actually free. Was this what it felt like to wake up and not have something hanging over your head? If so, she could get used to the feeling. The light peeked through the drawn blinds, and she squinted.
"Syd? Xia? You guys up?"
There was no response. It wasn't until she rolled out of bed that she noticed the note on the bulletin board from Syd. Had early cross country practice, will see you in class. There was one from Xia too. Went to go stakeout the best photo lab spot. Will call you to make sure you're up on time.
Damn, she'd had visions of going to class with her roommates. But no worries, she'd just meet them—She blinked twice to make sure the clock was right. Eight forty? Her first class was at nine. The class that was clear across campus—and she still needed to shower and eat.
"Fuck!" With a scramble, she hopped into the shower.
Screw a first-day-of-school look, there was no time for make up or for hair. When she got out and turned off the faucet, she didn't even bother to look at the mirror. She knew what she'd find. Her hair would be in a wild mass of curls. Forget the fact that she'd worn a satin bonnet to bed, her wash and go look from yesterday was now a wash and went. There was no time for a wash and detangle nor was she going to get this thing into a ponytail or bun. So wild hair it was.
Lucky for her, Xia was so organized and had made her pack her bag last night. Dragging on her jeans and a T-shirt that said Natural girls do it better. They like it kinky, she was out the door.
Breakfast was courtesy of a cereal bar Xia had taped to the door with a label marked Eat me. Man, she loved those girls.
Yeah, maybe it would have made more sense to room with other people when she got here, but she really needed a safety net for those times when she was feeling unsteady. Besides, she'd meet new people in her classes. Hell, she'd already met some at that rush event Xia dragged them to.
She locked their door and jogged around the corner. Too bad someone erected a wall where the elevator bay should be, and she went sprawling right on her ass, breakfast bar flying out of her hand and crumbling all over the place.
Her head throbbed when she lifted it. "Shit. The last fucking thing I needed today."
A shadow loomed as someone knelt over her, and a deep voice penetrated her consciousness.
"Are you okay?"
She blinked, trying to place the voice. When she looked up, she froze. Oh, my God. It was him. Shane.
To make sure, she blinked again. Maybe this was a figment of her imagination. Maybe this was one of those dreams where she thought it was real and she'd wake up at four in the morning and be hours too early for school. Yeah, a good old anxiety dream. She could certainly use one of those right about now.
Except, he reached for her hand, and it felt too real, too visceral to be a dream.
"Shane, I uhm, I…I swear, I know how to talk, I promise."
His lips quirked. "Sydney. You landed pretty hard, you okay?"
Oh shit. She’d forgotten about giving him the fake name. Why oh why had she panicked and given Sydney’s name instead of her own? Because that’s who you were channeling that night. "Fine. Great. Good. Totally good."
She stood there for several moments just staring at him. Late, dumbass, get going. Oh, yeah. "Uh, I'm gonna go. First day."
His gaze flitted over her body. Everywhere those electric blue eyes hit, she felt too hot, too tight.
"Can't be late on your first day, can you? I'm surprised the men in black aren't here to make sure you get to class unharmed."
Shit. "I, look, about that. I wish I could explain, but I have to go."
"Sure thing. I'll see you around."
Right. Around. If the ground didn't open and swallow her first.
The whole way to class, she half-ran, half-trotted, dragging her heavy carrier bag. She had to stop twice to readjust it, but she made it to class just before the bell rang.
Holy hell. The lecture hall was packed. People stood along the back and the side walls. There were even people seated in the center aisle.
Human sexuality was a required course for her sociology major, but apparently anyone could audit. It was also a core humanities course, and apparently, very popular. The course consisted of one lecture a week and then a smaller section for group discussion and assignments led by Teaching Assistants. When she’d come in, Tris had seen that they’d extended the number of TA sections due to demand.
There was a shrill whistle somewhere near the top row of seats, and she spotted her friends. Taking the stairs two at a time, she stalked right past a few disgruntled girls who didn't have friends in class to save them a seat. One of them even complained. "You can't save seats."
Tris slanted her a look. Considering her morning, she really wasn't in the mood for anybody's shit. With a grateful sigh, she plopped into the empty seat.
Syd gave her a pound and a grin.
Xia breathed a huge sigh of relief. "Thank God you made it. I kept calling you, but you didn't pick up your phone."
"I fucking overslept," Tris leaned over and whispered.
Xia nodded. "I was worried about that. I'm setting you another alarm."
"It's ok. I won't be doing that again. Putting my damn alarm at the other side of the room from now on."
"You got the breakfast bar?" Xia asked.
"Yes, but honey, you don’t have to take care of me. I'll figure it out."
"I know. It's just what I do."
"I appreciate it." Tris glanced around to make sure no one was listening and no one seemed too interested in their conversation. "You'll never believe who I literally ran into as I was coming here."
Syd frowned. "Who?"
"Shane."
Her friend's beautiful eyes bugged. "No!"
"Yeah, just my fucking luck."
"Where was he? We might be able to figure out a last name and stalk him appropriately," Xia added.
"Would you believe on our freaking floor, right outside the elevator?"
Syd clapped then high-fived Xia. "Let the planning commence. We'll get the dirt on him."
"I don’t want the dirt on him."
Her friends grinned.
"No," said Syd. "You want him, full stop, and we're going to help you get him."
Chapter 8
Hands shaking, Shane knocked on the door at the end of the hallway. What the hell were the chances that he'd run into mystery girl on his assignment? The good news was, there was a high probability she lived on the floor. Once he was settled, the two of them were going to talk.
Dragging his attention back to the job at hand, he knocked again on room 108.
A shrewd-eyed Indian man opened the door. "You Atkins?"
Shane nodded. "Yeah. Caleb sent me over."
"I'm Roland, good to meet you." The man was wiry, but strong. His grip firm.
Something about the voice triggered a memory. Kissing mystery girl. Every sense heightened, and the man behind him saying, "Hey, Kid." The hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention. No. But his gut clenched. Caleb's file hadn't contained a picture of his charge. But he didn't need one. He already knew.
He cleared his throat. "What can you tell me?"
Roland handed him a robust file. "Sorry for the cloak and dagger bit. But Robert Munroe is very protective of his daughter."
He nodded and opened the file, exhaling on a rush as he saw the picture. Shit. Fuckity fuck. He had to babysit the girl with the electric lips from the other night. And her name sure a
s shit wasn’t Sydney. It was. Tristia Munroe.
"Atkins said you were good. You look the part. At least she won’t be running away from you. Especially, if she believes you’re her RA."
She'd been running away from this guy. Damn. He needed to get caught up and quick.
Roland added, "I head Mr. Munroe's security team. We've been protecting Tristia for the last three and a half years. We never had a problem with her before she came to college. Right now, there's some father-daughter power struggle bullshit. He wants her to maintain her detail; she doesn't want it. He promised her she didn't have to have one, and he lied. Problem is, she can spot us a mile away. You she won't see coming."
Yeah, that was problem number one. To do this job would require lying to her. Even harder, it would require forgetting what her nipples looked like in the moonlight of his room, what they tasted like. One problem at a time. "Yeah okay. What's the set up?"
Two other guys came in from the bathroom, and he nodded a greeting. Roland introduced them. This is Alex and James. You'll be handing off to one of them in the morning. They're new, so she won't know them either. Discretion is paramount to Mr. Munroe. We have her schedule. You're basically on the night shift starting at six into the first morning class. So generally, you’ll be off by nine in the morning. We've placed you as a TA for her human sexuality class, so you'll have to attend that first morning class on Tuesdays, then off for two shifts. Obviously, you'll get some shuteye, and do what you have to do. But you're always undercover. We worked the schedule so your TA session for the HS class won’t start until six."
"I get you. Who's watching her during day shifts?"
"We have other eyes. She should be pretty safe in class. We've set up cameras outside each of her lecture halls. So we can see who's going in and out. One of the other guys will change shifts with you. They'll text you when they're on so you can have some confidence she's covered."
