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One

Jase Winstead was a cruel motherfucker

Going to Ass-trono at nine in the da, especially since all the class did was ree's class and why I'd made a hasty, unplanned exittextclasses before noon was unhealthy

Considering I was going on-oh, I don't knoo hours of sleep-and I could still taste the tequila and other things I really didn't want to even think about fro poster child for how not to have a healthy and happy first day of fall classes

I watched the door to astronolanced back down at my phone Jase's text mocked me

Skip I have beer X-Box FIFA '13

Well, shit That was hella te a brutal shon of Call of Duty

I was a few minutes late for class

Astronoh call

Mind made up, I pivoted around and started to respond back to Jase when the double doors flung open like a tornado had ripped through the stairwell My head jerked up just in ti straight at me

There was no stopping the collision

A little body s like a drowning victihed more than the owner, toppled her over

Reacting out of instinct, I shot forward, droppingmy arm around her waist, but the backpack went in one direction, the contents in the other She was still reeling, like one of those inflatable pop bags I tightened e to herself She jerked upright Deep auburn hair fleard, snapping ood filled me

Holy shit, Strawberry Shortcake just ran me over

I chuckled and slipped irl locked up Everyinto herself Was she hurt?

And did she somehow mistake Shepherd for a nearby middle school?

"Whoa," I said "You okay, sweetheart?"

No response for about a half ed in a deep breath, causing her chest to rise flush against mine I froze at the feel of her curves Definitely not ain ways they hadn't when I was there And, if so, I was fucking envious of those boys

Okay, now I felt like I needed a shower, because even that disturbed me

Was I still drunk froo with a yes

"Hey," I tried again, voice lower "Are you okay?" When there was still no response, I pressed two fingers under her chin Her skin was soft and too cool Wondering if it was possible for a person to pass out and re to ask her again, but words died somewhere between my brain and my mouth

I blinked, because like a total du Not that I wanted to change what I was seeing, but damn

What guy didn't have a soft spot for a redhead?

Pretty was too weak of a word to describe her Her eyes were large and the color of hiskey Freckles dotted the bridge of her small nose and her cheeks ell defined Lips were a sweet cherry color and wide for her face, full and plued to the kind ofa man-

"Let Go Of Me"

The hardness of her voice, laced with barely controlled panic, caused me to immediately drop her arm and take a healthy step back

She swayed a little at the loss of support, and I alain, but I valued my balls One day I'd like to have a kid or soain, that would not be in my future

Pushing strands of thick hair out of her face, she cautiously stepped away fro Thick lashes specked with red lifted, and, for a azeme out

Perhaps er

A pretty pink flush spread across her cheeks "I'et to class I'm late and"

I grinned as I knelt down, gathering up the spilled iteirl could have so e What the fuck? Who wrote with an orange pen?

She joinedthe rest of her pens as her head tilted in a way that a wall of coppery hair shielded her face "You don't have to help me"

"It's no problem" I picked up a slip of paper that turned out to be her schedule Quick glance at the classes confir that way, too"

Jase and beer and FIFA '13 were going to have to wait

"You're late" She was still hiding behind her hair "I really am sorry"

Picking up her last notebook, I shoved it into the bag and stood I handed it back to her, willing her to look up I don't knohy, calland not appearing like they were on the verge of tears"It's okay I'irls throw thehtest, and h Kind of liked it"

Her head jerked up and all that hair slid back "I wasn't trying to jump on your back or throw myself at you"

"You weren't?" My phone vibrated in nored it "Well, that's a shame If so, it would have made this the best first day of class in history"

She studied aze dropped to the piece of paper I held "Avery Morgansten?"

"How do you know my name?" she snapped

What a touchy little thing "It's on your schedule"