Perhaps I should have objected to him classifying what I was planning as stalking her, but I couldn't because I had every intention of doing it. I was busy, but with Leland’s help—who didn’t give a fuck about school because he could get A’s even if he slept through his classes—I’d know who the guys sniffing around her were.
Like the little shit who’d dared to touch her on the quad. He’d been about to wet his pants by the time I gave him the warning to stay away from Delia. I could be a scary motherfucker if I wanted to. I was tall, muscular from regular workouts, and fueled by my possessive feelings for Delia.
Over the next two years, I gained even more muscle and started boxing because I needed an outlet for all the sexual frustration. Fate must have agreed with my timeline because I had no fucking clue how I managed to stay away from my girl.
I just hoped that my intensity and deep hunger for her didn’t freak her out when the time came. Because the moment I gave myself permission, my patience would fly out the window, and it was unlikely I’d let her out of bed for a few days...at least.
Finally, as the Christmas break approached my senior year, my application to Harvard was submitted, and my next semester was light with only a couple of labs and a capstone project that was mostly done.
I began making a plan for when we returned to school after the holiday.
The plan went in the garbage the second Leland informed me about the present Delia’s sorority sisters were giving her.
1
Delia
“Bye, Delia! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do before you head home.” I glanced up from my computer and quirked a brow at Katie, one of my sorority sisters.
We’d been in the same pledge class and knew each other well. “I’m not sure there’s much on that list.”
“Good point.” She flashed me a grin and winked. “I just mean that you should save some of the fun for while you’re in Vegas. It’s the city that never sleeps, after all.”
“Uh-huh, sure.” I sighed and shook my head as she walked away. Growing up in Las Vegas took a lot of the mystique out of Sin City, and it wasn’t as though I was going to be partying on the Strip when I was back home.
A few minutes later, one of our initiates popped her head into my room. “Have a great Christmas, Delia.”
As their new member educator, I was close to our newest members. They had just been initiated into the sorority last month, so their big sister and I were the people each of them knew best outside of the other members of their pledge class. “You too, Shelly.”
“And don’t forget to sit on Santa’s lap. I’m sure you’ll get a great present from him if you do.” Her giggles drifted down the hall as she raced away before I could ask what the heck she was talking about.
Everyone was acting super weird today. At first, I thought it was just because my friends were excited about going home for the holiday break, but I couldn’t help wondering if something else was going on with all the odd comments and strange looks they were giving me.
“Maybe they just feel bad because I’m stuck on campus by myself for a while,” I muttered as I refocused on the paper displayed on my computer screen.
I mostly enjoyed assisting my favorite communications professor, but sometimes I second-guessed my decision to accept her job offer. Like today, as I watched the rest of my sorority sisters pack up and say their goodbyes. Our winter break had officially begun, but I still had several days of grading to do before I could leave. Fall final grades weren’t due until the fourteenth, and Dr. Frost had been cool with me putting my work off until after my finals were over. With three tough exams and a ten-page paper all due within a forty-eight-hour window, I’d jumped at the chance to postpone my grading until that was finished.
It’d definitely been the right call, but I couldn’t help wishing that I was able to head home today, too. As each of my sorority sisters stopped to wish me a happy holiday, my envy continued to ratchet up—even with all the weirdness. In the grand scheme of things, six days wasn’t that big of a delay. Especially since I had just been back in Vegas for Thanksgiving a few weeks ago. But I already missed my dad, Amelia, Julia, and Zack so much.
My half sister and brother were growing by leaps and bounds, and I could hardly wait to see all the new things they were doing. I video chatted with Julia and Zack at least once a week because I didn’t want to miss any of their milestones, but nothing beat spending time with them in person. And this Christmas was going to be awesome because Julia was finally old enough to be excited about the holiday and it was Zack’s first. I couldn’t wait to see their eyes light up on Christmas morning when they saw all the presents under the tree.