Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167204 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 557(@300wpm)
That shouldn’t hurt, but it does.
His apartment isn’t my home. For a minute, I really thought I’d found the guy of my dreams and maybe it would be, but the guy of my dreams doesn’t do the things he does.
I’m not sure I have a choice, but I can’t go back there.
Killian Walsh only looks like a dream come true. In reality, he’s a beautiful nightmare, and I don’t want to get pulled so far under that I can’t wake back up.
I can’t let him destroy me.
I met him less than a week ago, and he has already ruined my entire, carefully built life.
Think of the damage he could do if I gave him more to work with.
“I can’t,” I type back. “I’m tired. It’s been a long day, and I can’t focus anyway, so I think I’m just gonna go to bed.”
I don’t give him a chance to respond. I power off my phone and plug it in to charge, then I put away my books and set my iPad alarm instead.
I don’t know how I’ll hold up if he pushes too hard, and I don’t want to give in.
This bed may not feel like mine anymore, but it’s the one I want to sleep in tonight. The one I need to sleep in tonight.
I burrow under my blankets for what I know will likely be the last time for a while, and I hope that at least tonight, I don’t get kidnapped by any masked men.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Brynn
After a long day of running back and forth, I get to Zeta house early so I can get ready upstairs with Addison.
I brought my own dress tonight, and my own heels. I knew the Zeta girls would be bringing it, so I made much more of an effort to look cute than I did when I thought I was coming over to do free physical labor.
When we are satisfied that we look “purchasable,” as Addison puts it, we head downstairs to get ready for the mocktail reception. Sloane said the girls would be listed in the booklet, but apparently it’s our job to mingle and generate interest during the reception as well.
I feel a bit like pretty cattle, particularly given the way some of the guys look at me when I’m walking around with Addison. I’m grateful she stays close to my side because even though we just met, we got along right away, and when I’m at a party, I like to stay with people I know.
I feel like I’m a temporary Zeta tonight, though. The guys from the top elite frat are here, which I guess shouldn’t be surprising. The Zetas are the top sorority, and if college television shows have taught me anything, it’s that the top guys and the top girls go to each other’s functions.
“It’s like a meat market in here. Jesus,” I murmur to Addison as we duck past a couple of bros talking to another Zeta.
“Yup,” she says, nodding knowingly. Then wrapping her arm around my shoulders and squeezing, she says, “And you’re our newest baby cow up for auction. Nothing sexier than fresh meat.”
I crack a smile. “Ew.”
Addison pulls out her phone to check the time. “We don’t have much time left before we need to get ready to strut our stuff. I’ll be right back, I need to grab something from the kitchen.”
The kitchen isn’t far, but I watch her disappear around the corner.
And it takes about three seconds for some guy behind me to grab my arm.
I turn, startled, and see some frat guy with casually disheveled brown hair and sleepy eyes smiling down at me. “Hey. You’re new, I haven’t seen you at Zeta before.”
“Oh. Yeah,” I flash him a mild smile. “I’m Brynn.”
“The singer, right?” he says, pointing to the closed booklet in his hand.
“For tonight, I suppose.”
“Nice.” He nods, letting me see him look me over. I’m about to look around for an excuse to get away when one finds me.
A strong arm settles around my shoulder and pulls me close, and I hear a familiar voice say, “What do you want to do for our date?”
I turn my head to look up at Ryan McDermott, Killian’s friend who gave me a ride from school the other day. I’m not sure if he’s a Blue Blood. I assumed he was when Killian told me he was picking me up, but since I haven’t seen him involved in any of the illegal escapades I’ve witnessed or taken part in with them, maybe he really is just a friend of Killian’s.
Ryan doesn’t seem like a Blue Blood to me. From what little I’ve seen of him, he seems to give off the impression of being your better-than-average, clean-cut all-American boy. We talked a bit in the car, and he told me he’s a California boy—though to be honest, he didn’t need to tell me. I can tell by looking at him.