The Valentine's Dare (The Sycamore Serial Book 1) by Nicolette Owens Page B

French-speaking scavenger hunter who carried her up four flights of stairs.
    It was Brooks.
    She felt like someone had poured a whole bucket of cold water down her dress and slapped her repeatedly. Even from across the room, the urge to turn and run was overwhelming. What the hell is he doing here? He can’t possibly have an invite, he doesn’t even go here anymore.
    That’s when she remembered what it was that had bugged her all day.
    Mason’s third roommate, Glenn, was out on foreign exchange. She’d been given a placard for him and had even set him up with a girl, because Frankie had told her there was someone coming in his place; a grad student, specifically. When Kierra had asked him what his name was, Frankie hadn’t been able to tell her; so she’d set him up with a girl she’d been told was a lesbian and considered it no more. But she’d never gotten that final name from Frankie.
    He couldn’t possibly have gotten back in, she thought, barely noticing as she body-checked another student in her haste to back away from the door and put as many people as possible between her and her ex. Not that fast. Even his father’s lawyers couldn’t have done this. Everyone knows what he did.
    But did they - did they really? Sure, they knew he put a guy in the hospital, but did they know that Evan hadn’t fought back at all, hadn’t so much as laid a finger on Brooks? Did they know what his face looked like when his hands were covered in blood, what happened when the guy he was beating up fell unconscious and he kept going and going, like God himself couldn’t hold him back?
    Only Kierra knew; and beyond speaking to the police on Evan’s behalf, she hadn’t done anything about Brooks, not in the tangible sense. There was no restraining order, no proof of her fear of him. She’d thought his school suspension would be enough to keep him away - at least for a while; at least until the year was up.
    Of course he’s here. I couldn’t have just a little bit of heartbreak on Valentine’s Day; I had to have a lot. Spotting a freshman, Kierra intercepted his trip to the food table.
    “There’s a guy over at the door who just came in - auburn hair, blue eyes, red tie. I need you to double check his invitation; he’s not a Sycamore House resident.”
    “Sure thing, boss,” he said, disappearing into the crowd, which was much too thin for Kierra’s taste.
    Wanting to make herself scarce quickly, she hurried over to the hallway that led to the bathroom, trying to face away from the doors at all times. Please don’t let him see me, please don’t-
    A hand on her arm stopped her. She froze, a rabbit facing the jaws of a predator.
    “I didn’t know you wanted to avoid me that bad.”
    Mason. Kierra sighed audibly, turning to face him, her heart still recovering from the scare. “I didn’t see you come in.”
    “Oh. I thought you were avoiding me.” His hand fell off her arm, his eyes downcast. Kierra surprised herself by worrying for him; he looked almost gaunt, his face thin, his eyes darkened by lack of sleep.
    “It’s just a little awkward, you know?”
    Wincing, Mason looked away. “Right, of course. Because of…” he shrugged, looking helpless and small. “I get it. I wouldn’t want to be around me either, after what I did.”
    The look on his face was agonizing; Kierra had to harden her heart to keep from forgiving him right then and there. “There are worse things you could’ve done. Why don’t we just agree to let it go and move on, okay?”
    Mason glanced at her, his eyes hollow. “Move on? If that’s what you want.”
    “It is,” she insisted, making sure there was space between them, a visible gap between her and her temptation.
    “Then that’s what we’ll do. After all, we’ll be seeing each other plenty.”
    “I’m glad you understand,” Kierra said, genuinely.
    “As long as we’re being friendly…” Mason glanced out into the crowd; Kierra followed his gaze, spotted an