James startled for the second time realizing Brent Vaughn was at my house after spending the night–and fucking me. That news was not something I wanted traveling around, but I expected a lot of words to be exchanged about it at Montgomery Group. The complications kept rolling for me day by day, never letting me come up for air.

“It’s probably good news for him,” he replied after downing a glass of orange juice. “Your mother and my grandfather worked closely, and I don’t expect things would change with you stepping up to lead the company.”

“Are you not in line to inherit?”

By the way his jaw ticked when I asked the question, it looked like that was a sore spot for him. If he wasn’t set to inherit the company, why was his grandfather deemed ‘the Dictator’ and so hard on him?

“So...” Kelly chimed in, “is the hot tub good to go for use? I want to go soak away this knot in my back and have cute date nights with Shane.”

“Yep,” I popped the ‘p’ for emphasis. “What documents have you got for me, James?”

“Nothing urgent that cannot wait until later in the day.” That had to be code for private.

The drama that unfolded just hours ago made me dread seeing the outside world and everyone in it looking at me differently. “I don’t know about you guys, but I am not excited to be on campus today.”

“You’re uber famous now, Fal.”

“Don’t remind me, Kel.”

Brent leaned into our conversation. “Need a ride?”

“And be spotted with another guy? No thank you. Kelly and I will go together.” I glanced at him, feeling like I was seeing a different person. He had a contented look on his face that usually held a devious smirk or an uninterested expression. His usual laid-back demeanor was replaced with sitting unusually tall–his chest puffed up more than normal.

Maybe he was playing big man in town since Kelly–and James–found us out.

“Damn right. Chicks before dicks. Sorry, Brent.” Kelly poked her tongue out at him.

If only things could feel as simple as they did at the kitchen table this morning, but it wouldn’t last for long. My depressingly short reprieve.

The drive was quiet, and when we made it to campus it was like stepping into an alternate reality. A crowd of students gathered around us as soon as we stepped out of the car.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were Fallon Montgomery?”

“What’s the story with you and Garrett Bradford?”

“Come sit with us for lunch!”