I had to drop out but I’m finally ready to go back. I’ve been waiting for weeks to find out whether I’ve been approved for financial aid for the next school year. I can’t miss this meeting.

“Great. Thanks. I’ll come straight there when I’m done. I wanted to go check on Mr. Marshall but it can wait.”

She makes a face. “Better you than me. I don’t have the patience to sit around talking about nothing. That’s all old people want to do. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Maybe she’s hoping to be wife number five.” Jon smirks when he sees my confused look. “Hell, you’re not much younger than the last one.”

I have to physically hold myself back from rolling my eyes. He is so sleazy. It’s a mystery to me how that sweet old man deals with Jon’s slick persona. Then again, he must be used to dealing with arrogant spoiled men.

My face heats thinking about Tank Marshall. He is exactly the kind of guy that I’ve always avoided. Tall and muscled with the smug aloofness of the naturally beautiful. He’s got that same “I’m the center of the universe” arrogance going on that Jon does. It’s a shame that one of the first men I feel raw physical chemistry with is exactly the kind of guy I need to stay far away from. I’ve seen violence, real violence, before so there is nothing about a bad boy that I find appealing.

Ivy claps her hands. “It’s gross but that would be awesome. Marry the billionaire Em and all our problems are over.”

“It’s not like that between us. He’s a nice old man. We’re friends.” Not that Ivy would understand the idea of being friends with a man. Sometimes I think my sister only sees two things when she looks at a guy: his dick and his wallet. Friendship is a foreign concept.

She scoffs. “Only you would consider an old geezer your BFF.”

I tuck my shirt into my skirt and hustle into the kitchen. I need coffee and something to eat. I have two pieces of bread in the toaster and the coffee percolating when Jon appears in the doorway to the kitchen. I suppress a groan. I see him at work and now he’s invading my home.

It feels like I can’t escape him sometimes.

“Why didn’t you tell me you needed money for school, Emma? I’m sure we can work something out.” His eyes roam over my bare legs. It disgusts me that he does this, sometimes right in front of Ivy.

The thing is, he’s not even attracted to me.

My sister is gorgeous. She’s got dark wavy hair and big dramatic brown eyes. I have wispy blond hair and plain gray eyes.  She’s all smoldering screen siren while I look like the plain country mouse next to her. He’s not hitting on me because he’s overcome with lust. He’s doing it because he’s a pig. I’ve tried to tell Ivy but she doesn’t want to hear it. She thinks that he’s just flirtatious and doesn’t mean anything by it. Love is blind and all that, I guess.

“I’ve got some loans lined up. I’ll be fine.”

He leans against the counter and I have to stop so I don’t bump into him. He’s wearing pajama bottoms but no shirt. If I want my coffee, he’s going to make me press up against him to get it.

Not happening.

“Forget it. I’ll get coffee on the way.” I grab my bag and run out of the house. Ivy calls out to me as the door closes but I don’t turn around. There’s only so much you can do when someone doesn’t want to see the truth.

I smooth my black skirt over my knees and try not to fidget. Across the desk, Mr. Christopher Higgans holds my academic future in his hands. He’s been working with me for the past few months to make sure that I can start school again in the fall with a full schedule.  I’ve been applying for every grant that I can for the following school year so that I can finish my bachelor’s degree. Loans are always available but I don’t want to graduate with a huge cloud of debt hanging over me. I’m hoping that I’m eligible for some scholarships or something.

“Miss Shaw, I’ve been over your application. There are quite a few loans that we can set up for you. Also you qualify for the Pell Grant.”

I lean forward to review the documents he’s pushed across the desk toward me. The numbers are far lower than what I was hoping for.

“So, this is all I can get?”

“This is a great package. The Pell Grant doesn’t have to be repaid.”

“But the rest of it does? That’s a lot of debt.”

I’ll only be able to take a full semester of classes if I stop working at the law office. My parents left money for me to use for college but I’ve worked so hard not to touch it. But if I go to school full-time, even with the loans, I’ll need to use some of that money to live on. I had considered taking some weekend classes but if I can only do one or two classes a semester, it’ll take me forever to finish. I really hate the idea of touching my emergency fund. Once it’s gone, I’ll have nothing to fall back on.

“Well, yes. But student loans are deferred. You don’t have to repay them until you’re finished with school. You should be able to start next year with a full semester of classes. And don’t forget that you applied for a few grants that will be awarded soon. The committees will notify you directly if you are selected.” He’s smiling broadly so I can’t do anything except smile back and shake his hand before I leave.

The campus of Southern Virginia Community College is a nice place for a walk on a crisp spring day. My sweater doesn’t provide much protection from the biting wind but the sun is warm on my face and the breeze is fresh. My parents were so proud that Ivy and I both went to college. My mom finished her degree but my father was a metalworker at the shipyard.