Chapter 6

ZULEIKA'S POV 

“I need a car,” I randomly said as I walked out of a coffee shop with Freckles. It was her favorite place for cupcakes and brownies. The place was growing on me too. I took a sip of the coffee I had taken to go and glanced at her. 

“Tell me about it. College life fuckin’ sucks, man,” she sighed. 

“Good thing you've got your brother though, right?” she glanced at me and looked back down at her phone. 

I sipped my coffee again. “Yeah, definitely,” I sarcastically drawled. I appreciated Zade picking me up whenever I asked. He had never complained, but I would prefer to have my own car. It would give me a sense of autonomy over myself and my movements. 

“I'm gonna get going,” I sighed, deciding I was going to skip the last class I had. I could not see myself paying attention so I just wanted to head back home and get some rest. 

“‘Kay, see you later,” Freckles kissed my cheeks and headed off, still on her phone. She seemed distracted. On any other day, she would have persuaded me to go to class, but she hadn't. It seemed like she was going to skip her own too.

I got into the Uber I had ordered and headed off to the apartment. 

*** *** *** 

Hours later, I woke up with a slight headache in the back of my head, and some loud music playing outside my room. I rolled over and opened my eyes. When I got back, earlier in the afternoon, I had finished unpacking my stuff and I had successfully avoided Zade and Lanvin since neither of them had been home. I needed to learn their schedules so I would not have to see them all the time. Especially Lanvin. 

I climbed out of my bed and headed to the bathroom. I washed my face and then went out to find something to eat or make dinner, since it was already twilight. 

The music was coming from Lanvin’s room which was across from mine. Of course he was the type to play loud music. He was probably lifting some weights too. 

Suddenly my mind was consumed with thoughts of how his lean but muscular build felt against mine. 

I forced the thoughts out of my head and started scrolling through my I*******m as I headed to the kitchen. I had not had the time to go through the refrigerator when I got here the previous day and even this morning, but I had hoped that Zade and Lanvin were the type to have something to cook.

I found half a loaf of bread and some vegetables. I sighed. “Sandwich it is, then,” I muttered and pulled out all the stuff. 

Halfway through making the fourth sandwich, I heard a door open and shut from the direction of the rooms. 

I had not even noticed the music turn down. I continued spreading the avocado I had crushed over the bread and keeping my eyes on what I was doing. I ignored the anticipation that built in my stomach at his approach. 

He paused on getting to the area between the living room and kitchen. I mentally prepared myself and then looked at him. Nothing prepared me for the sight of him in a black tank top, moist hair and loose grey sweatpants. My eyes slowly traced up his body and to his face. 

He was already looking at me. “I already ordered Chinese,” he and I pressed my lips together, glaring at him. 

“Why didn't you say that earlier?” I asked and looked down at the sandwiches. I would take Chinese over them any day. 

“I didn't even know you were home,” he scoffed. The sound of it scalded me. It sounded like he was mocking me. He did not care enough to know that I was home and he was speaking to me so casually, like he had not had me pressed up and heated against a door. 

“Screw you,” I muttered and grabbed one of the sandwiches. I was no longer interested in his fucking Chinese food. 

“What was that?” His head tilted to the side and I could not read the expression on his face. “You heard me,” I grabbed a glass and filled it with water, taking a seat at the island. 

“I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, Zules,” he muttered, shaking his head. I found the act condescending. I wanted to offend him as much as he was offending me. 

“You're not even worth my attention, Lanvin,” I said casually, deciding to ignore what he had just called me. 

“You're being mean for no reason,” he sighed. 

“Aww, are you hurt? Go back to ignoring me.” I retorted. 

“Is that why you're so mad? You think I'm ignoring you?” His voice became tender. 

Fury coursed through me and made me feel so hot that even I wondered what I was so mad about. 

“I don't give a fuck, Lanvin. I don't even want to be here,” I spat. 

His eyebrows twitched and his lips became a thin line. “All you have to do is say the word and I'll move out. But I guess you're too much of a wimpy little bitch to actually say what you want,” his expression was brutal as he said the words. 

He looked surprised at his own words. I could not take them. I dropped my half eaten sandwich on the island and stormed towards my room. My appetite was long gone. 

“Zuleika,” he called my name as he came after me. I walked faster. “Zules wait, I didn't mean that…” 

I made it into my room and slammed the door shut before he could come in. I locked it behind me and headed straight to my bed, unsure of what to feel. My body was vibrating with something I could not explain.

I did not bother to decipher it. I didn't bother to answer the door when Zade came back later and tried to get me to come out for dinner. I hated my parents for subjecting me to this. And I hated myself more for not hating Lanvin completely.