Love and Lies Read Free Page A

obvious. Logan shrugged. Not much help.
    “Yeah, Logan and I share the same apartment building,” Eric answered.
    Beaux-Artiste was still a relatively new school, all things considered. They’d purchased surrounding apartment complexes rather than build dormitory halls. But the Provost made it clear in the welcome letter that even though we lived didn’t live in traditional university housing they still encouraged interaction between likeminded students. Which was why they controlled who was allowed to rent where. It was their way. I hadn’t minded it so much. But it was odd that Eric managed to get with the musicians. That was one of the more popular buildings.
    I squinted at him. “How did that happen? I mean, the school designates each building for a specific major. So how did you, a dancer, end up with the musicians?” I asked.
    “Not sure. Maybe because I was late enrolling? I requested a single, too. No roommates for me.”
    “ You must be a helluva a dancer then. No roommate, different building.” Alec tapped Eric’s knee. “Yeah, they either think you are the best they’ve seen and wanted you to get whatever you wanted or you’re sleeping with someone.”
    Eric c hoked on the drink he’d just taken. “No. Definitely not sleeping with anyone in registration. All those old gray hairs.” He shivered. “Not really my type. I’m more of an artist kind of guy.” He gave me a pointed look as an unspoken explanation.
    “ Artist as in dance, right?” Alec asked.
    I pulled my legs beneath me and settled into the con versation Alec carried. No need to ask any questions. Alec would handle everything.
    “ Hmm. Sure. I like all of the arts though. That’s why we’re all here, right?”
    “ Yep.” Alec stood from the couch. “Baby girl, what’s your next class?”
    Alec had been calling me baby girl since the day we met.
    “I don’t have anything else until three this afternoon.”
    “Good. Let’s go get some food. I ’m starving,” Alec suggested.
    “ Logan, you want to come with us? Since we didn’t get much of a chance to talk?” I still wanted to ask him about Eric. While it would have been hard with Alec around, I’d have figured out a way somehow.
    “ Why don’t we all go grab something?” He looked at Eric. “You wanna come?”
    The words to rescind Logan’s invitation sat on the tip of my tongue. The little bit of information Alec pulled from Eric added to my wariness. Not to mention his obnoxious flirting. Seriously, as if I didn’t recognize the art line as being directed at me. I hadn’t told him that’s what I was here for, but I was sure Logan had.
    “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Eric nodded at my cup on the table. “You finished with that? I can throw it away for you.”
    “ Umm, yeah. Thanks.”
    The four of us gathered our things and walked out of the coffee house. Logan slipped his arm around my waist and tugged me closer. His cheek pressed against mine when he spoke quiet enough no one else would hear him, “You look good today, Riss.”
    The warmth of belonging settled in to my chest. For eighteen years I’d lived under my parent’s thumb. They dictated everything I did, made sure I always had someone looking over my shoulder. From the outside, most would have suspected the bodyguards were for my protection because my parents cared about me that much.
    That was as far from the truth as possible. My parents used others to raise me, making appearances only when necessary.
    I could have gone to any art school I wanted. I’d worked my butt off in high school to get to that point. But Beaux-Artiste was the furthest school I could attend with a program for drama as well. Alec promised to go with me when I left home, so we found a school that fit for both of us.
    Logan wasn’t a third-wheel, hadn’t ever been. From the first day we met at orientation he’d fit right in with Alec and I. Where Eric would fit in, I wasn’t sure. But I was more than willing to