“No, our top priority is doing well on this exam.” I quickened our pace. “So let’s go do that, okay?”
“Fine, but afterward, we are going to need to talk about this.” She shook her head and glanced at the ground. “This is something that we need to remedy as soon as possible.”
The last thing I needed was her focusing on my sex life. It wasn’t like I didn’t have enough on my plate.
I made sure Ella finished her test before me. That way, I wouldn’t hear the end of not waiting for her. She always needed to be on the go, so I should be home free for the next two days.
Not wasting any time, I turned in the test to the professor and walked out the door.
“I’m a little scared.” Ella’s voice echoed in the hall.
No, she wasn’t supposed to be here. “What are you doing?”
“Waiting for you.” She lifted both hands, and then she lifted her head with a huge smile on her face. “You didn’t think I’d wait.”
“Shh.” I glanced back in the room, and the professor frowned at me.
“Come on,” I whispered the words as I grabbed her arm, tugging her into the hallway. “You were being too loud.”
“Aw, he’ll get over it.” She took a deep breath and stopped for a second. “Are you wearing a new perfume?”
“No, why?” That was an odd question.
“There’s a hint of a sweet scent on you.” Her eyes went straight to my neck. “Just curious.”
That was not comforting. She must’ve suspected it was a vampire. “No. Maybe Kassie or Mona bought a different detergent.” I may need to have a conversation with them and inform them about the weird-ass vampire.
“Yeah, maybe.” She frowned and glanced at my neck again. “Do you mind if we go to the student center today?”
“What? No.” I figured it was going to be brought up again soon.
“Please, I need to grab my textbook for the next class.” She pouted and batted her eyes. “We never have to go again.”
“Fine.” One more time couldn’t hurt me. “But in and out.”
“Well, coffee first, and then we grab the textbook.” She glanced at her phone. “We got out a little early, so we have time.”
“Then the latte is on you today.” I should’ve gotten some kind of compensation for emotional damage.
“Ugh, fine.” She grinned as she rolled her eyes. “Drama queen.”
“So you’ve dropped Hope completely now, and you’re just going with Queen.” I cringed as soon as the last word fell from my mouth.
“Nah, you’ll always be Hope in my heart.” She led me in the direction of the student center.
It didn’t take us long to grab our lattes, and soon we were searching for her friend.
“It took you long enough.” A guy called out from a corner table. He ran his fingers through his chestnut hair and grinned.
“Oh, bite me.” Ella marched over to him and held out her hand for the book.
As soon as I got close to him, his pine scent hit my nose. He was definitely a wolf shifter too.
“Did I just get permission?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Stop, you’ll scare Elena away.” She turned toward me and pointed to the guy. “Elena, this is Alec.”
“You’re the new friend she keeps talking about.” His charcoal eyes locked on mine. “It’s kind of nice to match the face with a name. Even Mason has grumbled about you a time or two.”
I wished he hadn’t told me that. “Hi.”
“Have you hit her up about tonight?” He glanced at Ella.
“No, I figured she would say no.” She shook her head, making her blonde hair bounce. “But do you want to? Mason has another fight tonight.”
“What? No.” I had to keep my distance despite the fact that my wolf was clawing to see him again.
“Please come.” Alec reached over and touched my arm. “I’m begging you. She chatters nonstop, and I could use a break.”
“Hey.” She reached over and smacked him. “It’s actually pretty cool to watch.”
“What kind of fighting is it? Boxing?” When she said gym, that was the first thing that had popped into my mind.
“Hell, no.” The guy grabbed his backpack from the table and placed an arm through it. “MMA all the way.”
“No way.” Part of my training growing up was watching fights to see how to handle hand to hand combat.
“Yeah.” He nodded his head. “If you get near the front, blood can splatter all down your shirt.”
“Ew.” Ella wrinkled her nose and smacked him in the arm. “You’re doing an awful job recruiting her.”
In all actuality, he was making it harder for me to say no. I enjoyed watching fights.
“Okay, then how about this...” He lifted his hand and lowered his head slightly to my side. “Muscular, shirtless guys.”
“But they’re wearing pants.” Ella touched my arm and leaned in. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t be comfortable watching my brother fight naked.”
“He said shirtless, not naked.” Sometimes I wondered about her mind.
“Look, I can come pick you up, and we can grab some food beforehand.” She grinned at me and clenched her hands into fists in excitement.
“This is beginning to sound more like a date than a fight.”
“If you guys go home together, can I come and watch?” Alec wiggled his eyebrows at us suggestively.
“That’s a no.” Ella snorted and bumped into me. “Please, will you go?”
“Yes.” The word fell out of my mouth before I could control it.
“Yay. We’ll be there.” Ella sat in the seat Alec just vacated. “There is no backing out now.”
Great, just what I wanted.
“Where are you heading out to?” Mona stepped from the kitchen into the den.
“Oh, I have some errands to run.” I never left the house unless it was for food, the witch, or supplies. However, none of them would take as long as I’d be, and I hated lying to them anyway.
“Let’s see, your hair has recently been brushed. You have on a royal
