Better With You_A Bragan University Novel by Gianna Gabriela

Author:Gianna Gabriela [Gabriela, Gianna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-14T05:00:00+00:00

15

I’ve seen Mia every day for coffee since our one and only gym session. Today, I’ve asked her to meet me for lunch too. We’re only eating at school, but I’ll take whatever time I can get with her. I glance at the clock hanging on the wall above the professor’s head and watch the minute hand edge closer to the hour. When we’re finally dismissed, I pack up my things and am first out the door, but I’m drawn to a stop just outside the room when my phone rings.

It’s Adaline. I don’t call her anything but her first name. There are more fitting names out there for her, but out of self-respect, I refrain from using them. This woman only birthed me—nothing more. That’s the only thing tying me to her, that and…

“What do you want?” I ask, clutching my phone so hard it creaks.

“Hello to you too, son,” she replies in her false motherly tone.

“Do you need something?” I ask, walking toward the dining hall.

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. The ladies and I are throwing an event to raise money for at-risk youth,” she says like she actually cares about the problem. If she did, she’d be there for Nick and Kaitlyn, who regularly put themselves in danger just to get her attention.

“Good for you,” I respond sarcastically, hoping to end the conversation as quickly as possible.

“You’re coming. It’s this Sunday at six. Your brother will be there too as you’re both young men in college, and we want you to talk to some of the youth.”

“Can’t. I’m busy.”

“Clear your schedule,” she bites out.

“I have homework.”

“You don’t need brains, sweetheart. Your talent will get you into the NFL. This is important.”

I can feel my anger rising. “I’m not going.”

“I’m not asking,” she says before hanging up the phone.

When I walk into the dining hall, my anger is still riding me hard. I like having control, yet I can’t control my own damn life with Adaline pulling my strings like I’m her fucking puppet. I scan the room for Mia, finding her at a table with all the guys. They’re laughing at something she’s saying, her hands moving animatedly as she retells a joke or a story.

As I approach, she looks up and seems to instantly sense my bad mood. I sit down beside her, and I can see her staring at me from the corner of my eye. I try to give her a reassuring smile, but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes. My thoughts are too consumed with Adaline and her ridiculous demands. I am not at her beck and call.

I try to push away my anger and instead focus on Mia and the guys. They’re giving her shit because she hasn’t gone to a football game yet. She tells them about her love of professional football, and agrees to maybe watch a game at some point. I pick at my lunch and try to keep up with the rest of the conversation, but my mind is elsewhere.

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