Hanging Pawns (The Fate Series Book 2) Read Free Page B

to take you out… you know, see the town or the campus. Maybe grab something to eat… whatever.” His once strong accent now is cracking, and he appears nervous.
    Yeah… never going to happen. I’m content to be alone forever.
    “What if I’m crazy? I just met you—five minutes ago,” I remind him, looking around his body again as relief washes over me. I watch the girl gather her things to leave.
    Good-bye, Mr. Anderson! Hello, silence!
    “Josh, leave that girl alone and get up here,” the guy behind window B calls out.
    “Trust me, crazy I can deal with.” He laughs, walking backwards to the counter.
    “Next,” the girl in window A yells.
    I walk over and hand her my papers. She looks down quickly then hands them back.
    “Mae Andrews...” she says typing my name into the computer.
    “Are you sure you are registered?” She looks up after a few minutes.
    I open my mouth to correct her when I hear Josh jump in.
    “Her name is Mea…” He winks at me.
    He’s relentless.
    “Oh, I’m sorry, I gave it a quick glance. Mea…” The girl glares in Josh’s direction before returning to me. “I found it, thank you—so much, Josh.” She sends him a bratty smile.
    “Okay then, these are all yours.” She begins to pull papers out from the stacks they are in. “You are going to fill these blue ones out and take them…”
    “Can you believe she won’t go out with me?” I hear Josh ask the guy behind the window.
    With wide eyes, my head turns slowly as the man looks up from his papers at me with a wide smile.
    Ignoring the woman in front of me, I lean toward Josh. 
    “Okay, I was being polite before, but seriously, what is wrong with you?” I snap with a sharp whisper, making the woman snicker.
    “I am trying to be hospitable,” he informs me, as he leans his body against the counter to face me.
    It’s such a simple stance, but he makes it look sexy.
    Stop it! This is not why I’m here.
    “Hosp—what? You’re kidding, right?” I turn back to the woman so she can give me my things, and I can finally leave. “I don’t even know him.” I give a hesitant laugh to the lady who is clearly amused by what is taking place.
    “What’s my name?” he asks.
    What?
    “Josh Anderson. Where are you going with this?” I turn to squint at him.
    “And my major?” he continues.
    “Business, like your brother. We’ve already established this,” I say, focusing my daggered eyes on him.
    “And where am I from?” he smirks.
    “LA, which means Louisiana.” I grin, remembering how dorky he was when he said that.
    Oh. No.
    The smile fades from my lips.
    “It seems like you know him pretty well if you ask me,” the man suggests, then places all of Josh’s paperwork into a folder.
    He set me up! That jerk set me up!
    “I just found that out! That was low, Josh!” My voice is higher than I intend.
    “You seem to retain an awful lot about a man you just met and are not interested in…” the man adds, handing Josh his folder.
    I… wha… huh?
    Pressure builds in my chest, making it difficult to breathe. The three of them stand staring at me waiting for an answer. A thin layer of sweat once again forms on my skin.
    I might actually faint from humiliation. I think this is the worst day of my life.
    “Here are all your papers, Hun. I’ll let your boyfriend be your guide.” The woman smiles as she places my things into a matching folder then hands it to me.
    My throat is too dry for me to reply.
    “Have a Happy School Year!” they shout in unison as Josh places his hand on my back to escort me out.
    That isn’t the way I saw that going.
    Regaining brain function, I feel myself become angry.
    “I’m not going to date you,” I huff, walking fast enough to break contact with his hand.
    Stupid man, why couldn’t he just leave me alone like everyone else?
    Matching my speed, he takes my folder from the top of my stack of papers and tucks it into his arm along with his, before again placing his hand