Chapter 5: Work-Study

"We didn't fight," I said.

I tried to walk around him, but the hallway was full of students, and Mason was six foot two and not moving.

"Then why are you dodging us?" he asked. "You didn't come to the gym. You didn't answer Tori's texts."

"You checked?"

His ears went pink.

"She mentioned it."

[Keep it casual. Say it like you don't care. You're doing fine.]

I stared at his face. It was totally calm.

You would never guess what was happening behind it.

"If you want to know what's wrong with me," I said, "go ask Tori."

Mason frowned.

[Why would I ask her? I'm asking her.]

[Wait. Is that a hint? Is she mad at me because of her friend?]

It was an act, I decided.

He was too smart to be this slow.

"I'm asking you," he said.

"I'm busy, Mason."

"You're never busy."

"I have a 2.7, remember? I have to be busy."

He took a half step closer, and the people behind him shuffled around us.

His voice dropped.

"Lila."

That was all. Just my name, a little rough.

My knees did something annoying.

I looked down at my bag instead of his eyes, and my phone lit up inside it.

It was an email from the athletics office with the subject line, "Work-Study Placement: Fall Semester."

I had applied for work-study in September, when I was still pretending I could afford books.

Keep reading free with an account. Start The Hockey Captain's Secret Obsession Wasn't Me?! from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.