Chapter 11 Chapter: 11
ADDISON
“Remember,” my mom had said before I left home, “You’re Addison Campbell from Miami. Average grades. Average life. Average everything.”
Right. Average. As though I couldn't tell from the house we now live in that our lives have changed for the worst.
And it's only getting worse for me. Because of one stupid accident involving an overconfident football captain my experience at Brighton has been ruined.
A scholarship student maid. The universe clearly hated me. I told myself the only reason I'm going to his place was to keep my fragile peace of mind.
Today's the last day I will ever do anything for him. I thought to myself as I walked into his mansion the next day.
Cole, Nate and Asher were busy playing games in the living room, unlike the other days where they're either drinking, watching or out in the pool.
Shepherd was lounging in a chair in his room like he was king and he owned the entire place which, knowing him, he probably did considering only him and a selected few lives here.
There are other dorms for the other male students here but Shepherd is too big to live like any normal student.
His injured leg was stretched out, the bandage had been taken off, while a history book sat open on his lap.
He wasn’t reading it. Of course he wasn’t. He was watching me. Heat rushed up to my face when I remembered how he'd cornered me and choked me.
How I'd stupidly stood there while he'd stroked my lips. Just the remembrance was enough to make my lips tingle, and my core to flutter.
“Morning, boss,” I said flatly, tossing my bag on the table. I hated inflating his arrogant ass but this was part of the deal. He'd told me he was my boss and I must address him as such.
It was ridiculous but I didn't want to push him, anyway from today it's all over.
“Morning,” he replied, blankly. “Why are you late? Sleep well, or were you too busy dreaming about me?”
I gave him my best unimpressed stare. “You’re not that interesting Shepherd.” My heart skipped at the lie. His gray eyes gleamed, mouth twitched.
“Said that again,” he said, voice low and dark. “And I'll make a liar out of you.”
Ugh. Why did my heart have to betray me like that every time he used that deep sexy tone? It's totally unfair and ridiculous how he affects me.
“What do you want done today?” I asked, not wanting to dive into whatever is going on with him these days. He just watched me for a while before he answered.
“Clean the room, especially the bookshelf, it's dusty.” I glanced at the tidy room but decided not to argue with him.
I walked out of the room and down to the store room where the actual house keepers keep the cleaning supplies and grabbed a cleaning cloth.
He was still seated in the same place when I walked inside his room. I began to clean, while I ignored his existence. Though I could still feel his gaze on me.
After a while I glanced back and found him watching me, stormy eyes following my every move. My body warmed as I realized he was looking at me the same way he had yesterday.
“Are you going to just sit there?” He arched his dark brow.
“Why? Am I bothering you?”
I turned back to my work trying to focus on dusting the bookshelf instead, which was starting to prove difficult. “Not at all, you look like you really need new hobbies. I'm starting to feel pity for your girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend? What girlfriend?” he asked. Shut up Addie? But the words were out before I could stop them.
“The pretty blonde from the dining hall.” I tried to act nonchalant when I replied. I imagined him frowning, but I didn't turn back.
“Which one?” I lost the fight and went to turn but he was already there, right in front of me, backing me against the bookshelf. I didn't even hear when he moved and he wasn't using his crutches.
My heart began pounding hard. It was so loud in my ears, I doubted he couldn't hear it.
“Are there so many of them that their names begin to blur.” He smirks.
“Not that it's any of my business of course I…I just feel bad for them,” I quickly whispered.
“Uh huh,” he said, grinning as he leaned closer. “Are you getting jealous?” I scoffed, well…choked.
“You wish.” I was proud my voice came out normal. Not at all like the trembling nervous wreck I was inside. His eyes flicker to my lips.
He leaned in, his lips at my ear and said something I never expected.
“I do have a lot of wishes where you're concerned, Addie.” Goosebumps break all over my body hearing his deep voice whispering in my ear.
He raised his head and our eyes met for a few seconds long enough that that strange tension felt almost suffocating.
A door slammed somewhere in the house and I quickly looked away, my hands pushing him back. Shepherd stepped away grinning, before going back to his seat. After a while, he broke the silence.
“So, Addison Campbell from Miami,” he said, scrolling through his phone. “what do your parents do?”
“Why?” I asked cautiously. Keeping my face blank.
“Just curious,” he said and shrugged. His eyes though were gleaming with something wicked.
“About me?” I asked, the suspicious part of me was on high alert.
He smirked. “Of course, we never really talk much. I'd like to know more about your life.”
I pretended to dust another shelf, honestly his room wasn't dirty at all. “My mom’s a music teacher. My dad’s a realtor.” Lies.
“Is that so? Never pegged you as a teacher's daughter,” He said it as though he didn't believe me.
“Yes and what does that even mean?” I said too quickly. He chuckled amused.
“Just that you’re a terrible liar.”
“Excuse me?” My pulse was pounding so hard. That stupid beautiful smile was still on his face when he replied.
“You have a Tell, Addie.” I frowned.
“I don't. And I don't know what makes you think I'm lying. Or why I would even lie to you.” He leaned back on his couch and threw one leg over the other as though he's a king holding court.
“You do this thing with your eyes, you know. Widen them exponentially as though you're trying not to blink whenever you lie.”
I shake my head with denial “You're mistaken and I'm sorry my life doesn't interest you that you'd consider my truth as lies.”
“Maybe, because they are,” he replied, eyes glinting. “Maybe because I'd rather know the real Addison.”
I forced a laugh. “Or you’ve been watching too many shows and it's getting to your head.”
He leaned forward slightly. “Relax, Addie. I don’t care who you are or where you’re from.”
“Well you shouldn't because it's not any of your business. Just keep living on your high pedestal and stop poking in other people's shit.”
He tilted his head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You walk around this school like everyone should worship you because your dad has a foundation named after him, people like you only know how to oppress others with your wealth and status.”
For a split second, his eyes turned frosty but then he grinned darkly. “Careful Shrimp. You’re starting to sound like you actually pay attention to me.”
“Unfortunately, you’re everywhere. You're unavoidable, just like the weather.” He grinned softly, not mocking this time, just real.
Somehow I knew I was getting a special glimpse of his real rare smile and it was enough to make my heart stutter.
God, he was beautiful.
For the briefest second, I saw it, a crack in his armor. The person behind the arrogant jerk. The person he would have been had life experiences not changed him to who he is now.
Well, I guess something must have happened to make him into this person.
“You ever get tired of it?” I asked quietly. “Always having to be someone everyone expects you to be? This perfect person?”
He didn’t answer right away. His gaze shifted to the window, where rain traced lines down the glass.
I didn't even realize it had started raining though I'd noticed the change in weather when I headed this way earlier.
“Yeah,” he said finally, voice low. “All the time.”
Something inside me softened against my better judgment. He was just like any other person at this moment. Vulnerable. Real.
I swallowed hard. “Maybe you should try being a real human and stop being a jerk.”
He turned to me, eyes unreadable. “Do you always talk too much? Get to work chop chop. Go make me a sandwich when you're done.”
Ugh. What was I saying? Shepherd was a jerk.