's alarm, and showered in the communal bathroom down the hall. I left the dorm before she woke up and only retur

ting. But it

s on my desk. Saw you left early! Have a good day! and Brought

d to get close to her. The closer I got, the closer I got to D

tending to study. Hannah burst through the door, her cheeks fl

ing. "That was Dean! He's taking me to that new Italian place downtown

d. "I can't. I have a

ked over and stood in front of my desk, h

ooking down at my text

k to me." Her voice trembled slightly. "Did I do something wrong

bottom lip was sticking out in a pout that looked childi

rting her. This fictional character, who had done nothing

ou," I said sof

t this once. Dean is paying, and I really don't want to sit in a fan

on I had no defense against. I couldn't be cruel to her just to

ping my pen. "

into a bone-crushing hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Y

still cheap compared to what Hannah was wearing, but it would have to

s time, looking even more powerful than before. When I climbed into the back seat, I caught his eyes in the rearview mirror. He was w

and candles. It smelled like garlic and expensive win

three," Dean sa

s last name was Gibbs. Why w

instantly becoming more respect

was normal to her. My mind raced. Dean Gibbs was using an alias. That meant he was

menu, his fingers brushing against mine. The contact sent a

he said, his voice low. "

tled on the cheapest pasta dish I could find. I wasn't h

ut her classes and the cute guy in her English lit seminar. Dean lis

dn't look up from his plate. "Hannah tells me you'r

buying myself a second to think. This was the interrogation I had been d

said vaguely. "We

sed, finally meeting my

o make myself as boring and uninteresting as possi