Chapter Fourteen
Iris
I was screwed.
Sighing, I closed my laptop before slipping it back into my backpack. Why were hotels so expensive for one week? Everyone that I knew was leaving for break, or had already left to beat the incoming snowstorm. Anyone traveling to Utah with this type of snow storm coming through was an idiot, but every hotel I looked at was either booked or beyond my budget.
“Any luck?” Bailey asked.
I looked up to find her standing in front of the table with her luggage and purse. Her excited grin made my stomach churn with pure jealousy and irritation.
“Nothing,” I said, shortly. “Are you leaving?”
“On my way to the airport before the storm hits,” she said. “Just wanted to come say goodbye to you.”
“I thought you were wanting to rub the fact that you are going to Hawaii in my face.”
“That, too.”
Bailey laughed loudly. I stiffened when she wrapped me up in an uncomfortably and bony hug. Perfume clung to her clothes a bit too strongly, and I breathed in relief when she grabbed her things and left without taunting me any further. She didn’t even bother asking if I had a place to go or offer some sort of help.
Not that I expected it. I never expected something like that from Bailey. Our friendship didn’t include caring about one another.
There were only two options left: Jen or Noah. And God help me, I hoped Jen would be able to put me up with her. Staying with Noah, while the offer was incredibly sweet, meant being in the same house with him at all times. It meant being in the same space when he slept and showered. My mouth went dry with those images of him shirtless on the internet again.
I finished my coffee before walking to my one and only class of the day. The rest had been cancelled with the snowstorm arriving to give students extra time to get out.
The campus was eerily still for a Friday morning. Thick, gray clouds twisted above in the sky, and a damp, but slightly warm air filled the morning – always a sure sign of rain or snow. I entered through the back door of the English Department right as I spotted Jen about to enter the classroom. My heart lifted in relief as I approached her.
“I have to ask you for a big favor,” I began.
Jen frowned as she slipped her arms out from her backpack. “Of course. What’s going on?”
We were the only ones in the classroom thankfully. I didn’t want Noah overhearing my conversation with Jen about staying with her.
“I need a place to stay for spring break. My apartment building is getting fumigated over the break, and everyone has to be out,” I explained. “I hate to ask, but would it be possible if I shacked up with you and your folks over the week? I’d stay out your hair and even pay for my own food.”
“My parents and I are going up to their farm in New York,” Jen said. “We decided at the last minute to go when we could. I’m so sorry, Iris. If I were going home, I would drive over with you.”
My heart dropped at the news. I really was screwed now. It was either sleep in a shady hotel with dirty sheets for a week, sleep in my car, or break every single rule of the PHU campus by going to Noah’s.
“You really have no place to go?” Jen asked, staring at me in distress. “Not even family nearby?”
Sparing myself the explanation of why I didn’t want to go home to my mother, I shook my head no. I forced a cheerful smile on my face.
“No family nearby. Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out after class.”
Jen started to rummage through her purse. “Here,” she said, holding out a credit card to me. “This is my credit card. Book yourself a room. My parents will totally understand.”
Tears pricked the back of my eyes at the thoughtfulness. The classroom door opened, and a few other students followed by Noah entered. Our eyes met from across the classroom, and a shiver crawled up my spine. I pushed the credit card back to Jen with a smile.
“Thank you, Jen. You’re honestly a great friend,” I said, and squeezed her hand appreciatively. “I’ll be okay. I have one more option to count on before I get that desperate.”
“If you’re sure,” she said hesitantly. She placed the card back in her purse. “What is your other option?”
“Well-”
“All right class,” Noah started, setting his bag down on the front desk. “Let’s jump right in. I realize that I am the only and last class of your morning before spring break. I promise to make it short and sweet.”
Laughter filled the room. My heart thudded heavily every time I glanced up at Noah dressed in a pair of casual jeans and a white t-shirt that showed off those impressive muscles. He screamed spring break vibes without evening trying.
His offer to house me for spring break undoubtedly crossed the line. It probably broke a rule somewhere close to the “no sleeping with students” rule.
I chewed on the pad of my thumb. Surely, he realized that housing me up for break meant putting his job on the line if anyone ever found out. It put me on the chopping block, as well, but what other choice did I have? Noah had seemed genuine about it when he offered. I didn’t detect any hidden implications behind his words, but I wasn’t worried about him exactly.
I was worried about myself being able to handle it lately.
I didn’t want to drive back to my mother’s house an hour away to find it trashed with alcohol, spoiled food, and probably stained with vomit again. I didn’t have the time to deal with any of it.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Jen asked once class concluded. “I can’t leave without knowing if you have a place to stay for break.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, assuring her. “I have one other option to go to.”
“Well, text me, and let me know that you’re okay.” She hugged me, and this hug, unlike Bailey’s, was full of warmth that I gladly soaked in.
“I will,” I said. “Have a safe flight to New York with your parents.”
I made a point to linger in the classroom by packing up my things slowly until the last few students exited. Noah looked up with a smile as I approached him.
“Crazy weather today,” he said, jamming a thumb at the window. “I’d hate to get caught in this storm once it gets here tonight.”
“No kidding.” I swallowed nervously.
“Have you figured out where you are going to stay yet for break?” he asked casually.
“No. That’s why I sort of wanted to talk to you.”
I glanced at the door to make sure there weren’t any students waiting for him outside. The entire building was motionless besides an occasional cough from somewhere.
“I was wondering if that offer you made me staying in your guest room was on the table still,” I said quietly.
Noah straightened up from buckling his bag. “Of course it is,” he said. “I told you that I wasn’t going anywhere this break.”
“I know. I just-” I broke off as a wave of nerves crashed over me. We were breaking so many rules, and while I got the sense that Noah didn’t care much for rules, I cared a lot.
I was close to graduating, but it was either sleep in a crappy hotel room I couldn’t really afford or keep quiet that I’d stayed with Noah. I stared at him intently for a moment while he waited for me to continue on with a small amused smile. I hope he didn’t expect something else to happen – even if that was incredibly tempting to think about. Heat shot through my body at the thought, but I ignored it.
“I just wanted to make sure that you knew that I am not staying with you for other reasons besides a place to stay. I know you’ve probably heard that there are students here on campus who do that type of thing, but I don’t. I promise I’ll keep out of your way and leave during the day if you want some space from me.”
Laughter rumbled in Noah’s chest. He slipped the strap of his messenger bag over his shoulder, shaking his head at me in visible amusement.
“I had no ulterior motive here, Iris. I just didn’t want you sleeping in your car during this storm.”
“Right,” I said. “I just wanted to make sure you knew that.”
“Never questioned it in the first place.”
He opened the door for me and flourished a hand. I stepped out into the empty hallway as he locked the classroom door.
“Thank you,” I said, quietly so no passing ears overheard us. “I really appreciate this. I can’t thank you enough.”
“No problem. Here.” He scribbled something down on a piece of paper before handing it to me. Our hands brushed briefly, and my arm twitched at the feel of his strong, calloused fingers against my own. “If you have any troubles finding it, let me know. Call me.”
“I will. I’ll be by later this evening, if that’s okay. I have a few things to do here before the storm gets going.”
“See you later, then.”
“See you later.”
Noah winked at me roguishly before brushing by me to head up to his office on the second floor. I watched him go with a frantically beating heart. What had I gotten myself into?