me.
“I’m sure your efforts were really paying off, right up to the point you insulted her. You’re slipping. Better work on your delivery.”
Gresham grabbed me by the elbow and urged me out of the bar area.
“We’re leaving.”
Knox’s eyes held mischief and he gave a sly grin.
“Goodbye, Stella. If you manage to shake this old boring one, you know where to find me.”
After nodding his head toward Gresham so that there was no question who he found so boring, Knox winked at me. The face that first held that mischievous grin then took on a more determined look. I got the feeling that there was a back-story between he and Gresham.
Gresham overly-forcefully deposited me through the double doors, and I swung around to face him.
“What crawled up your ass and died?” I demanded.
He just looked at me, blank-faced, and blinked. Then blinked again.
“Who farted on your Fage? It’s a Greek yogurt. They’re idioms… Never mind. Good god, Gresham, do you even have a sense of humor?”
Mr. Tall Dark and Menacing puffed up. “Oh!” he said, affronted. “I have a sense of humor.. And I am a lot of fun, I’ll have you know.”
That, I seriously doubted. He had the whole sexy and mysterious thing going for him, but I couldn’t see him cracking jokes, much less throwing back cold ones with the guys or hitting the dance floor.
“What was that all about with you and Knox, anyway? That was a seriously bad vibe.”
“I have known Knox Mahon for a very long time. He considers himself the ultimate ladies’ man. I place a high value on honor, and I…I find he has none.”
“Yeah, I get that. But why would his predilections have such a violent effect on you? What did he do that was so dishonorable?”
That was a question he did not want to address, because he gritted his teeth, the flexing of his jaw muscles a visible indicator of his irritation. “I have some business to attend across campus,” he said. “I thought you might like to get to know a few students. Do you mind if I leave you in the common room, the Grand Hall, for a while?”
Though his moods were giving me whiplash, I didn’t object. In fact, I looked forward to exploring on my own.
----
I found my way to the upper levels of the building…castle…whatever, and aimlessly wandered the halls. This was so like college, but so un like college. It was almost as if graduate students had taken over a dorm—less evidence of binge drinking and more evidence of study, more meaningful conversation.
The people seemed to have it together better than I did. I was gonna have to step up my game if I wanted to fit in.
I realized with a start that some part of me did want to fit in at Radix. I’d always been an outsider, a wandering mess in search of a home, but learning of Thayer, of Radix, and of the possibility I belonged here made me want something more than I had in a very long time. Maybe ever.
I wanted to belong at Radix because I suspected I already did. The moment I stepped foot inside the ancient gates of Radix an invisible rope wound around my heart and pulled me toward it. With each bit of information about the school, each glimpse into its history, each encounter with a student the rope drew me closer and closer to becoming a student at The Root. To becoming a Thayerian citizen. My heart fluttered nervously at the life-altering realization. But no panic attack approached.
I wasn’t sure I could leave my mother. What would I tell her? And, committing to more school when I hadn’t yet graduated didn’t hold great appeal,but the mere thought of being a student at Radix was intoxicating. The day before I’d had no idea what to do with my life. Today, enrolling at Radix seemed the most natural decision in the world.
I stumbled upon an open common area with over-sized leather loungers and a kitchenette. Doe Eyes’ willowy legs were curled beneath her in a chair as she read a fashion magazine. She was wearing a long, loose beige sweater,
“I’m sure your efforts were really paying off, right up to the point you insulted her. You’re slipping. Better work on your delivery.”
Gresham grabbed me by the elbow and urged me out of the bar area.
“We’re leaving.”
Knox’s eyes held mischief and he gave a sly grin.
“Goodbye, Stella. If you manage to shake this old boring one, you know where to find me.”
After nodding his head toward Gresham so that there was no question who he found so boring, Knox winked at me. The face that first held that mischievous grin then took on a more determined look. I got the feeling that there was a back-story between he and Gresham.
Gresham overly-forcefully deposited me through the double doors, and I swung around to face him.
“What crawled up your ass and died?” I demanded.
He just looked at me, blank-faced, and blinked. Then blinked again.
“Who farted on your Fage? It’s a Greek yogurt. They’re idioms… Never mind. Good god, Gresham, do you even have a sense of humor?”
Mr. Tall Dark and Menacing puffed up. “Oh!” he said, affronted. “I have a sense of humor.. And I am a lot of fun, I’ll have you know.”
That, I seriously doubted. He had the whole sexy and mysterious thing going for him, but I couldn’t see him cracking jokes, much less throwing back cold ones with the guys or hitting the dance floor.
“What was that all about with you and Knox, anyway? That was a seriously bad vibe.”
“I have known Knox Mahon for a very long time. He considers himself the ultimate ladies’ man. I place a high value on honor, and I…I find he has none.”
“Yeah, I get that. But why would his predilections have such a violent effect on you? What did he do that was so dishonorable?”
That was a question he did not want to address, because he gritted his teeth, the flexing of his jaw muscles a visible indicator of his irritation. “I have some business to attend across campus,” he said. “I thought you might like to get to know a few students. Do you mind if I leave you in the common room, the Grand Hall, for a while?”
Though his moods were giving me whiplash, I didn’t object. In fact, I looked forward to exploring on my own.
----
I found my way to the upper levels of the building…castle…whatever, and aimlessly wandered the halls. This was so like college, but so un like college. It was almost as if graduate students had taken over a dorm—less evidence of binge drinking and more evidence of study, more meaningful conversation.
The people seemed to have it together better than I did. I was gonna have to step up my game if I wanted to fit in.
I realized with a start that some part of me did want to fit in at Radix. I’d always been an outsider, a wandering mess in search of a home, but learning of Thayer, of Radix, and of the possibility I belonged here made me want something more than I had in a very long time. Maybe ever.
I wanted to belong at Radix because I suspected I already did. The moment I stepped foot inside the ancient gates of Radix an invisible rope wound around my heart and pulled me toward it. With each bit of information about the school, each glimpse into its history, each encounter with a student the rope drew me closer and closer to becoming a student at The Root. To becoming a Thayerian citizen. My heart fluttered nervously at the life-altering realization. But no panic attack approached.
I wasn’t sure I could leave my mother. What would I tell her? And, committing to more school when I hadn’t yet graduated didn’t hold great appeal,but the mere thought of being a student at Radix was intoxicating. The day before I’d had no idea what to do with my life. Today, enrolling at Radix seemed the most natural decision in the world.
I stumbled upon an open common area with over-sized leather loungers and a kitchenette. Doe Eyes’ willowy legs were curled beneath her in a chair as she read a fashion magazine. She was wearing a long, loose beige sweater,
Similar Books
