Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 129027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129027 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
I ignore his proffered arm, rolling my eyes and sweeping down the aisle of the classroom without glancing back over my shoulder. “Do try to keep up.”
SEVEN
ISAAK
I wasn’t kidding about her being an engaging teacher.
I was supposed to be keeping my eyes on the students, but I had difficulty keeping my eyes off her while she was at the front of the class.
If I knew they had teachers like her, maybe I would have been more motivated to actually get my ass to college. Not that being hot for teacher would have gotten me anywhere.
Although, it does make me wonder.
“You ever crossed that line with a student before?”
She makes an offended noise. “Of course not!”
“But some do, don’t they? Some professors?”
“I mean, sure, I guess it’s not unheard of.”
“Did you ever, with any of your professors?”
“No!”
“Not even the incredible Dr. Ezra?”
She laughs in my face. “Are you kidding? Have you met him? He’s so… God, he would never.”
I don’t know. If I had a pretty, young graduate student like Kira working for me, I’d be tempted to cross a few boundaries. Twenty-two. Jesus.
“But he’s young, right? And he teaches the serial killers class?”
“Oh my god, don’t even go there.” She leans in and hisses like she’s afraid someone will overhear, “Dr. Ezra is not my stalker.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I do!”
“But how?”
“I just do!”
“Can I meet him?”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“Because I have no doubt you’d embarrass the hell out of me. It’s bad enough having you here.”
I pull back and make a face. “Red, you wound me.”
“Stop calling me Red.”
“Nicknames are fun.
“Then call me something I actually like.”
“What nickname would you actually like?”
I think as I clutch my leather teaching portfolio to my chest, purse swinging over my shoulder. “I don’t know. My name is so short; why not just call me that?”
“Bor-iiing,” I sing-song. “Besides, nobody gets a nickname they actually like.”
“Ugh. Fine. What’s your nickname then?”
“Easy. Dump Truck.”
She huffs out a laugh. “Lemme guess. Because you’re such a giant?”
“Sure. We’ll say that’s why.”
She looks intrigued as we push out of the psychology building, turning to glance at me as the warm fall air hits us. The heat has lasted longer than usual even though it’s almost November. It’s still in the high eighties, though the wind is starting to smell a little crisper.
“What’s the real reason why?”
“First week in the sandbox, food disagreed with me. I couldn’t get to the shitter in time and took a dump in my trunks.”
She barks out a shocked laugh.
“It’s better than the guy they called Shitcheeks his whole tour.”
Now she’s really laughing, it catches me a little off guard how fucking beautiful she is. She looks all woman when she laughs, deep and hearty. The sunlight catches her bright orange-red ringlets, making it look like a halo of fire around her pale, freckled face.
She’s still smiling when a ping on her phone has her tugging it out of her purse a moment later. Her laughter abruptly cuts off as she looks down, her eyes tracking a text. Her mouth gets tight, and it’s a look I’m unfortunately becoming familiar with. She looks afraid, all the blood draining from her pretty cheeks.
“What?” I snatch the phone out of her hands as she spins to look around the crowded plaza.
I look down at the phone.
UNKNOWN: You won’t be laughing so pretty
UNKNOWN: when I shove my cock down your throat, slut.
When I glance back down at her, her head’s craned back, searching the windows of what I assume are dorm rooms.
“He’s watching,” she rasps, wrapping her arms around herself like she’s cold in spite of the warm fall air. “Right now. He’s watching me.”
Then she takes off, all but sprinting across the quad. I immediately follow. I catch up but still, she’s fast.
“Kira. Kira!”
She only stops when she gets to the parking lot, searching around and looking lost.
“Dammit, Kira, don’t go running off like that again!”
“I know, I know.” She puts up a hand. “Horror movie rules. I’m sorry.” She’s still shivering. She shakes out her hands but still can’t stop. “It’s just like I could feel his eyes crawling over my skin. I’ve always felt safe here. It’s been my home away from home. My refuge when I needed to escape the prison of my parents’ house. But now they’ve stolen it. I have nowhere. Nowhere that’s safe. That’s mine.”
I want to pull her into my arms. I want to promise her that I’ll keep her safe. That nothing will ever harm her. But it’s an irrational thought.
Just like you promised Elmer’s you’d keep him safe? Brothers for life, my ass.
I blink hard against the memory. This is nothing like that. Fuck. Why am I thinking about that right now?
This is just a job.
It’s just a fucking job.
She turns around and sees me standing there awkwardly and swears under her breath. “I’m sorry. I’ll get my shit together. Just give me a minute.” She bends over with her hands on her knees, breathing heavily. A little too heavy and really short.