The guy started visibly shaking. “Sorry… er, Mr. um…”
“Phoenix—” His teeth snapped. “—De Lange.”
“Shit,” the guy muttered before he jolted from his seat and ran out the door.
The professor looked back at both of us with a query in his eyes.
Phoenix merely offered an innocent shrug and nodded as if to say, “Do continue with that fascinating lesson on not cheating.”
He’d scared the guy shitless.
And I kind of loved him for it.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I whispered a few minutes later as papers were getting passed back to us.
“I did.” Phoenix handed me the piece of paper, his hand lingering. “And I always will.”
I gulped, pulling the paper from his hand. “But he could have been a friend.”
His lips twitched. Come on, one small smile? “Friends don’t let friends make friends with jackasses.”
“More wisdom.” I nodded, tapping my temple. “Stored right up here.”
“Along with name brands and selfies?”
“Along with dimples and smiles,” I said before I could stop myself.
His lips parted as his eyes fell to my mouth.
“Any questions about the assignment?” the professor asked in a booming voice, jolting me out of my daydream about what Phoenix’s mouth would feel like pressed against mine.
I raised my hand.
“Yes, Miss Campisi?”
“I’m sorry. What was the assignment again?”
The entire class let out a groan.
I squinted and fired Phoenix a what did I do? look.
He shook his head, but I saw a ghost of a smile, and I knew whatever I’d done, I wanted to do it again. One day I’d get a full smile, and I’d deserve it.
ALL IN ALL MY classes weren’t completely horrible, but if Phoenix didn’t stop asking me to pick a major and get it over with, I was going to stuff my fist down his throat, or maybe just my tongue. It was a toss-up, and I was grumpy because Sergio had rushed me through breakfast.
“Lunch.” Phoenix nodded toward a huge two-story brick building. A tasteful black sign with the word Commons stamped on it in gold. The Eagle mascot was right below it in red. “Aren’t you hungry?”
“Starving!” I started to head for the door but was jerked backward by my backpack. Pouting, I crossed my arms and turned. “You clotheslined me.”
“That wasn’t clotheslining.” Phoenix rolled his eyes. “And I asked if you were hungry.”
“And I said I’m star-ving.” I said the word slower this time like he was a two year old. “So can we go in?”
“Where?”
“There.” I pointed back at the building. “Isn’t that were lunch is?”
“Not for you.”
“Oh.” I looked down at the pavement. “Do I have to eat alone or something?”
The thought had me feeling insecure all over again. Yeah, my classes had been fine, but all the students had looked at me like I was a total nut job. The only girl who had been nice to me was the one who’d kindly pointed out that I was about to go into the guys’ restroom. And I think she only did it because she was worried I was going to see her boyfriend’s parts. He emerged minutes later and attacked her with his tongue — in a totally horrifying way that had me wanting to take a shower.
“Bee…” Phoenix’s voice was tired. “…you can’t eat with them because they’ll just stare at you.”
“Because I’m a freak,” I mumbled.
Phoenix let out a snort of laughter. “Is that what you think?”
I nodded, still staring at the pavement.
“It’s because of who your brother is… it’s because of who your family is.” Phoenix’s voice was grim but all business. “They’re afraid of you, and when people are afraid, they do really stupid shit, believe me.”
I wasn’t convinced. If anything, it made me feel that the situation was that much more hopeless.
“Come on… I’ll spot you some lunch money.” His voice was back to being light, teasing.
I jerked my head up. “Did you just tease me?”
“Will that make you feel better?”
I gave a weak nod.
“Then yeah, I teased you. Surprise.”
Examining my nails, I gave a noncommittal shrug. “You can do better.”
“I’m not a monkey. I’m not dancing for you.”
“Drop it like it’s hot, and it will make my week.”
“No.”
I pouted, jutting out my lower lip. “Please?”
“Try again.” He coughed, shifting from one foot to the other. “And keep in mind we should get going since you only have an hour before your lab.”
Scrunching up my nose, I thought about it. “Okay, no teasing… I don’t need teasing. Just one smile. One smile. For me.”
“That’s worse than dancing.”
“A smile?” I gasped. “So dance. Lesser of two evils.”
“I can’t believe I’m negotiating with a terrorist right now.”
“Aw…” I fluttered my eyelashes. “Aren’t you sweet. Now dance.”
“I changed my mind. Stay in a crappy mood.” Phoenix’s lips did that twitch thing, and then a miracle occurred. A smile, a large smile formed across those gorgeous lips, framing perfect white teeth. And that dimple? Even better this close up. Swear, I felt my entire body heat from that one smile.