“I understand.”
I fucking dreamed of cutting ties with this man. And I would, the minute my diploma was in my hand. Until then, I was stuck listening to his rants and throwing him a bone of cooperation every once in a while.
“I really hope you do. I don’t want to have this type of conversation again. Keep your nose clean and in your books. No more bullshit.”
Because I was done with his line of bullshit, I forgot myself for a split second and saluted him. “Aye, aye, captain.”
His out-of-shape body went taut, and the fingers pressing into his desk went so white, I wondered if they would snap clean off.
“Get out, Theo,” he groused. “This isn’t the projects. Take that trashy attitude with you and don’t let it out the next time I see you. I won’t stand for it.”
I rose, thunder reverberating off the walls of my chest. I could take a lot from him, but when he brought up where I grew up with my mother, violence filled my veins. He was lucky I had more self-control over my body than I did my mouth. Damn lucky.
Swiveling on my heel, I stalked to the door of his office. Hand on the knob, he called out, “Make sure to contact Miranda. I’ll be checking with her.”
I raised a hand, forcing my fingers to straighten from a fist. Then I walked the fuck out, asking myself for the thousandth time since I met Andrew Whitlock on my fifteenth birthday how I could be related to such a dumb fuck.
I still didn’t have the answer.
* * *
With two hours to kill between classes on Thursdays, I wove through the stacks to claim the spot I’d discovered last year. It was the perfect location, out of the way and quieter than any other part of the library. A big part of the reason I’d maintained my decent grade point average was because of that spot. I’d gotten some intense studying done there since my freshman year.
After the meeting with my father, I needed the quiet to come down from the furious high he always brought on.
Except…my spot was occupied.
I couldn’t stop the grin from taking over. The little tiger herself was sitting in the armchair tucked in the corner, her knees drawn up to her chest, a highlighter between her teeth, a pencil impaling the mass of shiny chocolate hair piled on top of her head. Not a shred of makeup on her face that I could tell except for her red, red lips. She held The Taming of the Shrew. Her brow was pinched as her eyes darted over the page.
She looked cute and cozy. She was probably getting some good studying done.
That didn’t change the fact that this was my spot, and I needed it.
“Get up.”
Helen’s head jerked back. Her eyes landed on me, and the highlighter fell from her mouth when she scowled. “What did you say?” she hissed.
“I said, get up. This is my spot. For the last year, I’m the only one who’s used it. Don’t know how you found it, but it doesn’t really matter. It’s mine.”
She snorted softly. “You’re funny, Theodore.” Then she went back to reading her play.
I’d had enough. Not even a week into the school year, and my patience was worn to scraps. So, I wasn’t really thinking when I bent down, scooped Helen Ortega up, plopped her on the floor, and took over the chair. It was an act of pure impulse.
Helen was up from the floor as soon as I settled. I looked up at her, blinking. She fumed like a little raging bull. It was cute, but I was pretty well done with this interaction. I took out my phone and opened the reading app to my chem textbook. Helen was still standing over me, but I ignored her. It wasn’t like she could move me out of this chair. She’d have to try harder next time.
“You fuck,” she muttered.
From the corner of my eye, I watched her face away from me and toss her arms out to the side. It didn’t register that she was backing up until she’d planted herself on my thighs and wiggled deep into the chair, her back pressed to my chest. It also meant her plush little ass was dangerously close to my dick.
“What do you think you’re doing, Helen?” I whispered beside her ear.
She lifted her book in front of her face. “I’m reading, Theodore. Be quiet. We’re in the library.”
I dropped my phone on the arm of the chair and clamped my hands on her hips. “The thing is, Little Tiger, I have a girl on my lap, I’m going to think she likes being there and might get ideas.”
“Well, your ideas would be wrong. I’m here to study. It’s not my fault you placed yourself under me.”
“Helen…” I rumbled, “you’re on my dick, baby.”
Her head tilted to the side, giving me a glimpse of the barest smirk ghosting her lips. “Oh, am I? What if your girlfriend sees? I’ve heard she’s a bitch, but is she violent? To be honest, I’m not in the mood to fight.”
I brushed a lock of hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear, and she stiffened all over. I dragged my fingers down to her jaw, and she jerked her head to the side.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
“I won’t.” My hand fell back to her hip. She returned her attention to her play. I sighed. I was done for. There was no way my brain was going to function with Helen on my lap, sending off waves of disdain directly to me.
I kept hold of her hips and watched her for a solid minute. She was stiff the entire time and didn’t turn the page. Finally, she sighed.
“Stop looking at me.”
I huffed a laugh. “You’re on me. I don’t know what you thought would happen.”
“I thought you’d see how ridiculous you were to hijack the chair I’d rightfully claimed and find a different spot. I underestimated your level of asshole.”
My hands slid down to the curve of her upper thighs. “I have to admit, I was taken aback when you first planted yourself on my dick, but I’m seeing the light. Now I’m not sure why I’d ever move.”
She twisted so she could look at me. “Again, your bitch of a girlfriend. Or do you not care what she thinks?”
I shook my head. “I don’t have a girlfriend. If you’re referring to Abby, I’m wondering why you think she’s a bitch. Do you know her?”
Abby Fitzgerald wasn’t my favorite person anymore, but she had a good reputation. She wasn’t overly kind, but she didn’t go out of her way to be mean. At least, not that I’d ever seen. Then a-fucking-gain, she’d blindsided me near the end of our relationship, so I guess I could have missed it. It seemed I’d missed a lot with her.
Helen’s teeth sank into the corner of her bottom lip, and her nose scrunched. “I’ve heard she’s not very nice. I’m not going to throw my source under the bus, though.”
I studied her big brown eyes and ruby lips. Up close, Helen was something else. God, she was fucking gorgeous. The last thing I needed was an attraction to this girl, but there was no denying it. Trouble was looking at me like I was dinner, and all I wanted to do was offer myself on a platter for feasting.
Then, my brain kicked into gear again, and it occurred to me what she was saying.