“Okay.” She didn’t even give him a backward look as she headed towards the primary constructing.

Cliff spent the remainder of the afternoon listening to podcasts and the radio whereas holding his eye on the doorway. Even earlier than Stella went again to work after the kidnapping try, Lizzie had checked out the safety at Crestholm and talked about the way it was top-notch, so he wasn’t too anxious about her security whereas she was inside. The carnival yesterday had been open to the general public, which was most likely how that Lycan he scented bought in. However, throughout college hours, there was just one manner out and in of the campus, and roving safety patrolled the perimeter.

Three o’clock rolled round, and Cliff went into full alert, figuring out Stella would come out anytime. However by three fifteen when she hadn’t appeared, alarm bells went off in his head. So, he bought out of the truck and marched over to the primary entrance.

He sighed with reduction when he noticed Stella there—however a snarl of displeasure escaped his throat when he noticed she wasn’t alone. That prick gymnasium trainer was there, however so was one other girl—a fairly, younger brunette who was laughing at one thing the prick stated.

“And so, I used to be … oh hey, it’s your bodyguard.” Tyler nodded at Cliff. “I didn’t get your title by the best way, buddy.”

“That’s as a result of I didn’t give it. Are you prepared, Stella?”

She glanced over at Tyler and the brunette. “Uh, yeah, I used to be about to move over to you.”

Cliff frowned. One thing was not fairly proper right here. Stella’s shoulders slumped, her posture hunched in. The tiniest frown line appeared between her eyebrows—minuscule, however he’d by no means seen it earlier than.

“All proper, we’ll see you tomorrow, Stel,” Tyler stated. “It’s gonna be superior, proper, Jane?”

“For positive.” She blushed as Tyler put an arm round her. “Free booze is at all times a plus.”

“We must always go.” Stella turned on her heel and marched away.

Cliff narrowed his eyes at Tyler and the brunette, then adopted her. “Stella.” She stored strolling, as if she didn’t hear him. “Stella!” It solely took 5 strides for him to catch as much as her. “Hey, what’s the matter?”

“Nothing.”

Sidestepping her, he blocked the trail and crossed his arms over his chest. “Nuh-uh. One thing’s fallacious, and also you’re going to inform me. Did that douchebag upset you?”

“No.” However the tiniest twitch of her lips gave away the lie.

“Stella …”

“It’s foolish, okay?” She huffed. “And actually, I’d forgotten about it, with every thing that’s occurred. Possibly I gained’t even go tomorrow.”

“Go the place?”

“To the Nevada Affiliation of Impartial Colleges Awards Evening. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“It doesn’t sound prefer it doesn’t matter. Inform me what’s fallacious.”

“We … that’s …” She glanced again as if to verify that nobody was watching or listening to them. “Tyler and I had made plans … that’s, we simply talked about possibly, presumably going collectively. However we didn’t set something stable.” Her tooth chomped at her lip. “I simply … I believed I had a date, however apparently, he’s bringing his personal date. Once more.”

“Once more?”

“By no means thoughts. It’s fantastic. I’ll go alone. Or not go.”

“I can go together with you.” The phrases flew out of his mouth earlier than he might cease them.

Fuck.

“What? As my date?”

“As your … buddy. And bodyguard. It could make issues simpler, so I don’t have to remain away and watch you from afar.”

Or pound that asshole’s face in if he even breathes fallacious on you.

She raised an eyebrow skeptically.

“Hey, I do know I don’t appear like a lot now, however I’ve been advised I clear up good.”

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