Unlike the note on the door, the note on the brick didn’t match his handwriting, though.

For the next hour, I focus on the introductory lesson the professor is giving, but even after class is dismissed, my old life still hangs in the air and builds pressure in my chest. The pressure only builds once I step foot out of the classroom and into the busy hallway.

Time abruptly slams to a stop.

Because my ex-boyfriend is standing there in the midst of students, leaning against the wall.

Why is he here?

Evan is perfection in every way, shape, and form. Blue eyes; blond hair; and solid, defined muscles that cover every inch of his rock-solid body. But beneath his gorgeous exterior, he’s an asshole, something I’m realizing more and more each day.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he says when he spots me coming out of the classroom. “How was your first class?”

“Good.” I walk up to him, holding my books in my arms like a shield, protecting me from everyone crowding the hall.

Or maybe it’s to protect them from me.

I shake the last thought from my head.

Now is not the time to hear voices, Emery. Not in front of Evan.

His eyes scroll over me, savoring my lean body and the small amount of cleavage peeking out from the top of my shirt created by my pushup bra.

“You look so damn sexy. You know that? Absolutely amazing.” He states it as a simple fact.

So simple am I just to be sexy.

Like it’s all that matters.

Like it’s supposed to.

“Thanks.” I stop in front of him so he can press a kiss to my lips. “You look good, too, I guess.”

“Not guess, you know I look sexy.” He offers me another smile as he reaches for my hand and twines our fingers together.

What the hell is going on?

“I don’t mean for this to sound rude,” I say as we walk down the hall together, just like we did all through high school, with him in front of me, guiding me. “But why are you here? I thought... Well, I thought we broke up.”

“No, we just had an argument,” he replies nonchalantly, as if him being here is the most casual thing in the world. “Couples can have arguments, Emery.”

“That’s not what you used to say,” I remind him. “You used to say couples never fought. That, if they did, they shouldn’t be together.”

“Did I say that?” He pretends to ponder the idea. “That doesn’t sound like me.”

“It sounds exactly like you.” I halt in the hallway and pull my hand from his. “And you still haven’t explained why you’re here in Laramie. Are you a traitor now, too?”

“No, my father just decided I should attend a university instead of a community college to get a better education.”

“Since when? I thought you were taking over the family business.”

“I am, but he thought I needed to get a taste of the real world, too.”

“So you’re...” I struggle to remain collected, but the air is already being stolen from my lungs. “You’re staying here?”

“Yep. With you.” He drapes his arm over my shoulders and guides me closer to him.

“With me?” I bite at my nails. This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening. “Wait, did my mother send you to check up on me? Is that how you knew I was in class?”

“She might have mentioned it when I ran into her the other day.” He reaches over and moves my hand away from my mouth, stopping me from biting my nails. “But I was planning on seeing you already. I wanted to surprise you and give you the good news. And I thought we could go to a party tonight. The son of one of my father’s associates is having one.”

My mind races a million miles a minute as we exit the doors and step into the campus yard. A light drizzle falls from the cloudy sky and puddles soak the ground.

“Emery, are you okay?” He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “You look like you’re going to be sick.”

I wrap my arm around my stomach. “I feel like I’m going to be sick.”

“Well, you need to get your act together. We have a party to go to tonight,” he says with a glance in my direction, more focused on the people fluttering around us than anything. And, as usual, a few cast glances in our direction, at the beautiful couple that’s so perfect for each other. So perfect, so in the past, so unwanted by me anymore. “You sounded strange on the phone the last time I talked to you.”

“So, did you... I mean, you said all those things about me being a traitor for moving here, and now you’re suddenly moving here?”

“I told you it’s because my father wants me here,” he says, his tone harsh. “Besides, I need to keep an eye on you. Your mother says you haven’t sounded like yourself lately.”

I chew on my nails again. “I’m fine.”

“I’m sure you are.” He grabs my hand and tugs it away from my mouth again. “That’s such a disgusting habit. I wish you’d stop.”

I want to scream at him. It’s the same way I felt during the months that led up to my escape. After all that work to get away from Ralingford and the people in it, now he’s here, taking over my life again.

He stares ahead at the people hanging out under the trees, contemplating something deeply as we cross the grass toward the parking lot. Part of me wishes he’d stay silent forever, but as always, Evan has something to say.