Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
Ashton glanced between them, confused. "Girl code?"
"Don’t worry about it," I said quickly, slipping my hand through the crook of his arm. "Come on. I'm starving."
We arrived at the dining hall shortly after. It was bustling with activity, the noise bouncing off the sleek walls and soaring ceilings. It felt more like an upscale food court than a typical cafeteria, with various stations offering something for everyone, from fitness enthusiasts to hungover liberal arts students. The place had been renovated to align with the university's modern updates, featuring dark wood, lots of decorative glass, and green spaces nestled between tables.
Roxxi had already secured our usual spot at the back with the rest of our crew. I could see Cade devouring his meal like he had sampled every station. He was unapologetic, resembling a scene from a National Geographic documentary, a predator at the top of the food chain. I could almost hear the faint strains of Circle of Life playing in the background.
“What do you feel like eating?” Ashton asked, his hand resting on my lower back.
“BLT chicken wrap and fries. A cookie if I’m still feeling it afterward.”
He smiled. “The Sanjana Special.”
“The very one.”
Cloe and Olivia headed over to the sushi station, as was their routine, while Meghan drifted towards the pasta without so much as a goodbye. Ashton and I made our way over to the wraps station and got in line.
I decided then to tell him about the second incident, deliberately ignoring Meghan's obvious fascination with him. I didn't think her interest was worth discussing. I would’ve had to be living under a rock not to know Ashton had a decent number of girls interested in him.
He was nice to look at, genuinely kind, and had gained popularity from being on the football team. The fact that he came from a wealthy family was his least notable quality, as did half the student body. I wasn’t sure how they would feel about his sexual prowess, or lack thereof, but that was not my problem and the last thing for me to be worried about at the moment.
“I noticed another person in a mask,” I murmured, my eyes drifting over the menu board out of habit rather than necessity.
“Another one?”
I kept my voice hushed. “By the Literature building. They were masked too. Different physique than the one from this morning, so it wasn’t the same guy. Or girl.”
He halted and turned to me. "Did they follow you?"
“No. I was in class. They were in the courtyard, but it felt like they were looking up at my classroom.”
He exhaled slowly, his jaw clenching. "Sanj, you need to tell me these things as soon as they happen. What if they tried something?"
"I'm telling you now," I reminded him gently. "I didn't want to cause unnecessary panic, and I wasn't sure they were watching me. I’m still not. I didn't want to seem like I was overreacting."
He raked a hand through his hair. "Trust your instincts, Sanj. I'd never think your concerns are anything to brush off."
Looking into his green eyes, a fresh wave of guilt washed over me. Ashton was truly a good guy, even if sometimes he was a bit oblivious and too lax about things, like the incident that morning. He had always treated me well and never given me a reason to distrust him, which was why I didn't instantly suspect him of having cheated on me with Sarah Myers. So, while not all of our problems were my fault, I was definitely the cause of quite a few.
Had it not been for the widening gap between us, I might have embraced the moment more. Nevertheless, I smiled at him after he pressed a light kiss on my lips. We picked up our meals, and Ashton led us to the long table at the back where everyone was already gathered, including Ryder and Brooke. There was a spread of trays piled high with burgers, pasta, wraps, and enough fries to serve as a collective tribute to the gods of salt.
Ashton took the open seat next to me, greeting everyone with his usual easygoing smile. Cade acknowledged him with a lazy chin lift, mid-bite of what appeared to be his fourth slice of pizza. Rook gave a nod all the same. Roxxi and Ari replied politely, while Layla looked up from her phone to offer a quick hello. Brooke returned Ashton’s smile warmly. Ryder remained silent, watching me as I sat in the empty chair directly across from him, trying to ignore the inconvenient flutter in my stomach when our eyes met.
I quickly averted my gaze, focusing intently on my wrap. My face felt warm, another level of absurdity. I wasn’t the type to blush over boys, except apparently when it came to this one, whom I had known my entire life. I took a bite of my wrap, pretending not to notice he hadn’t looked away.