Chapter 33: Now You’re Mine: Chapter 33

“Dude, I can tell you’re thinking about him again,” Harper says, pointing her lollipop at me. “I guess it’s not the end of the world since you’re going to be his baby momma.”

I groan, thinking about my tattoo. “Don’t remind me.”

“You could do worse than him. He’s Hayden Bennett of House Judicial, the First of His Name, King of the Law, Wrecker of Pussies, the Father of Calista Baristas, the Attorney of the Great Courtroom, the Breaker of Hearts.”

“I can’t believe you!” I take a pillow and throw it at her. She catches it with a laugh. “How long did it take you to come up with that?” I ask.

“One class period of marketing. Look, I was trying to sell the idea of him, okay?”

“You’re ridiculous.” I sit on the bed next to her with a sigh. “I’m nervous.”

“Yeah, I would be too. That Mr. Bennett is cray-cray.”

I shake my head. “Not that. The midterms.”

“Oh, right.” She pats my hand. “I totally forgot they were this morning. I think I studied too hard. Or was it partied too hard? Either way, it’s going to be a rough day.”

“I understand the university wants us to take them in person to avoid cheating, but I wish that didn’t apply to me.”

She gives me a look. “Listen, just go in there wearing a hoodie and sunglasses like every other student who thinks they’re a badass, and you’ll blend right in. Take the test and then you’re done until the end of semester finals. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.”

“More like stressed, depressed, lemon zest.”

She laughs and bumps my shoulder with hers. “I forgot about that version. But seriously, it’s going to be fine.”

I shrug. “I hope so.”

It’s been two months since I ran from Hayden, leaving nothing behind except a note and my necklace. Two months of hiding and attempting and failing to sort through my tangled emotions. Two months of embracing the life growing within me.

I’ve been hopeful that Hayden would eventually stop looking for me, at least long enough for me to get my head straight, but deep down, I know better. He promised he’d always chase me, which means he will find me.

And learn about the baby.

“Come on,” Harper says, getting to her feet. She pulls me into a standing position before opening her dresser drawers. “Try this one. No, this.”

I take the Columbia University hoodie and smile at the permanent marker on the sleeves. “I’m not lazy, I’m just motivationally challenged,” I read aloud. “I like this one.”

She grins at me. “I’m a genius. What can I say?”

A few minutes later, we’re both dressed and ready for class. I take a deep breath and follow Harper from the dorm room, keeping my expression blank despite the nervousness flowing through me. She links her arm through mine as we walk across the quad toward my first class.

“You’ve got this.”

“There are so many people.”

She wrinkles her nose. “I know, right? People. Eww.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, that’s what I meant.”

I help but grin at the disgust in her voice. My amusement quickly fades, and my footsteps slow as we approach the lecture hall doors. Harper stops and turns to face me.

“Hey, look at me,” she says gently. When I meet her gaze, she gives me an encouraging smile. “I’ll walk with you to every class, and we have the last one together, so you won’t be alone all day.”

I take a shaky breath. “I’m being stupid. It’s not like I saw him or anything.”

“That’s right. You’ve got this. Now go and kick some ass. I’ll see you afterwards.”

With a final wave, she walks down the hall. I turn toward the door, grip my backpack strap, and push the door open. I step over the threshold, scanning every aisle and every corner. When I don’t see Hayden anywhere, relief flows through me.

I make my way to the back of the room and settle in, arranging my pens and pencils on the small desktop. The professor walks in a few seconds later. The students fall silent as he folds his arms.

“Let’s get this over with,” mutters the guy next to me.

I smile to myself.

I couldn’t agree more.

Harper looks like she’s about to puke.

“This is the last exam for today. Are you ready?” I ask her.

She shrugs. “As ready as I’m going to be. You?”

“Honestly, I’m feeling pretty good about all of my tests so far.”

“Good. Then I’ll cheat off of you.”

I roll my eyes with a smile. “Whatever.”

The professor walks in and opens his laptop that’s connected to the projector, and on the whiteboard is a timer. “You’ll have sixty minutes to complete the test,” he says. “I’ll start the timer as soon as all of the exams have been distributed.”

The T.A. places one in front of me, and I pick up my pencil with trembling fingers. Only this time, I’m less nervous and more excited. This is just another step toward me taking control of my future.

“All right, students, you may begin,” he says, clicking a button on the laptop. The timer starts counting down from 60:00.

I write my name at the top and focus on the test, blocking out the people around me. The scratches of pencils and the rustling of papers quickly fade into the background. I work through the questions methodically, keeping an eye on the timer.

With thirty minutes left, I pause to stretch my arms and roll my neck. I delve back in, pushing away thoughts of Hayden whenever they try to creep through my mind.

I’m close to finishing when there’s five minutes left. After filling in the final question, I relax and lean back in my chair. The numbers on the projector continue downward until they disappear. Before the time is up a message appears in their place: “I’ll always chase you, Mrs. Bennett.”

I swear my heart stops. The letters seem to pulse and grow, filling my vision completely. There’s a series of gasps and whispered words as students begin to notice the change. Dimly, I hear the professor saying that the timer must’ve malfunctioned, but it’s drowned out by the blood roaring in my ears.

Hayden has found me.

I stumble from my seat in a daze when the professor calls time. Clutching my exam to my chest, I hurry over to his desk to turn it in before racing from the classroom. Harper catches up to me in the dorm room.

“What the fuck was that?” she says, her eyes wide. “Never mind. We’ve got to get you out of here.”

When I shake my head, she frowns at me. “At first, I wanted to run away, but there’s no point. I have nowhere to go, and I’m tired of hiding. It’s been two months, and this is the first time he’s contacted me. I think I’m ready to talk to him.”

Harper opens her mouth to argue, but I hold up a hand. “Please. I’m not asking you to agree, just to support me. I need to do this. He has a right to know about the baby.”

She folds her arms and gives me a pointed look. “You still love him.”

I release a hollow laugh. “Yup.”

“Okay, but make sure you call me after. That way, I’ll know you’re okay. If I don’t hear from you, I’m calling a hit man. If I don’t take him out myself. I know you said he won’t hurt you, but he’s not above kidnapping.”

She’s not wrong.

“Agreed,” I say. “Can I borrow your phone?”

Harper blows out a breath, disturbing the loose tendrils around her forehead. “Sure. I’m not going to lie, I’m sad our girl-time is over.”

When she hands me her cell phone, I take it with a frown. “You’re acting like I’m not coming back.”

“Girl, I know you aren’t. You’re going to take one look at his baby blues, or his dick, and become a puddle on the ground.” She holds up her hands. “Not that I blame you. Just make sure it’s what you want.”

“Okay,” I whisper. “I promise.”