Chapter 207

As I rest in bed in the night, I stare at the ceiling, reflecting over the absolute bullshit that Archer just threw at me.

What did he say? To just get out when my contract is up? Forget staying there with them?

So much for wanting to protect me.

I don’t want to think too much about it. It was stupid of me to even consider staying in the first place. I know better than anyone that this place holds no future for me.

Neil offered to extend my contract, but that would keep me on as a Nanny. That would hinder my future as a warrior, my true dream.

Yet I have no disillusionment that Archer said those things to encourage my dream of being a warrior. Out of all the brothers, he has always been most vocal against it. No, coming from him, this has to be about some measure of control or something.

It still hurts though. And it’s confusing as all hell. The brothers want me to stay. They want me to go. It’s enough to make my head spin.

Especially because I’m just as torn about what I want too. Though I’m less torn about what I need.

Archer may have been crass, but he was right. I do need to leave. For my own sake, if not for anyone else’s. Although Neil’s silver is just a good a reason to leave, in my opinion.

I’ll miss Mia terribly. I’ll miss the brothers too.

But the time has come. My purpose has been served. I needed to steel my resolve and see myself out – in three days.

God, three more days. I was dreading how short the time would be before, but now, with Archer being such a dick, three days seems like an eternity. But it’s not like I can leave early. I still need to get organized. I don’t even know where I’m moving yet.

I toss and I turn, unable to sleep. I stop trying around 5 am.

I sit in the kitchen with my notepad open in front of me. I’m holding a pen and looking at my list of things I need to do before my three days are up. First things first, I’ll need an appointment with the undergraduate administration, to find help with housing.

I drop my pen and pick up my phone. Ten minutes later, I have a very nice email sent, emphasizing the need to have a meeting as soon as possible.

A few minutes later, Beau walks into the room. He’s fully dressed, not even looking tired. I have no idea if he purposefully woke up early or if he hasn’t been to bed yet.

He sees me and smirks, then slides straight over to me. Sitting on the stool beside mine, he peers down at my list.

“What’s this?” he asks. He reaches out and snatches it, sliding it right in front of him.

I roll my eyes, reach for it, and slide it right back in front of me.

Beau crosses his arms and leans forward, elbows on the countertop. His smirk seems to dim somewhat.

“Guess it really is official then. If you have a whole list.” He tilts his head a little. “You’ll be leaving us soon.”

“Three days,” I says.

“That’s not long,” he says.

“No.”

“So you are getting things in order?”

“Yes.”

Beau frowns now. “Nanny.”

“Hm.” I don’t look up from the notebook.

“Nanny,” he says again.

I still don’t look up.

He leans forward, dipping down until his head is directly between mine and my notebook. I snap back in an instant, adding more room.

“Okay,” he says as he straightens, moving away from me. “Now I definitely know something is wrong.”

I don’t want to be a jerk, but I’ve been off-kilter since Archer was such an asshole. I’ve been depending on the brothers too much, hoping for things that weren’t meant to be. I was only ever a temporary fill for them, both as a nanny and as a sexual partner.

I don’t want to start depending on them emotionally too. So no, I won’t be telling Beau what’s going on with me.

It’s past time I start pulling away from them.

But that doesn’t mean I have to be a total douche. I can still give Beau an answer, even if it’s not the fully honest one.

“I’m nervous about meeting the undergraduate administration,” I say. “It’s a lot of change, and I’m not even sure they’ll have any rooms available for me to move into.”

Beau hums a little and relief floods through me. He’s trusting my words. He should. It’s not a total lie. I am worried about what my living situation might look like outside of the Pyramid.

It’s just that it’s not the only thing on my mind.

“They should have a selection of rooms,” Beau says. As he continues to look at me, his face becomes harder, more serious. “I’ll go with you. I’m sure my presence would help smooth over the process.”

“No!” I say at once.

His eyes widen. I definitely said that too quickly.

“I mean,” I cough, trying to correct myself. “I don’t think that would be necessary.”

He continues to look at me. He wants more of an explanation than that.

I sigh. “I’m going to be on my own very soon. I have to be able to do things for myself.”

“You’re not on your own yet,” Beau says.

I shake my head and collect my notebook. Beau isn’t going to understand, no matter what I say.

“I’m just going to go down there and wait,” she says. “I need to get this handled.”

Beau doesn’t say anything as I head out the door, but I can feel the weight of his gaze on me.

I change into a conservative outfit: nice slacks and a buttoned down shirt. I tie my hair up into a tight bun at the nape of my neck. If I want the college professionals to take me seriously, I need to look the part.

Dressed smartly, I head out of the Pyramid and walk across campus to the administration building where the undergrad admin is located. I arrive at their door directly at 8 am, just as the receptionist unlocks and opens it.

She looks at me, a lone brow lifting. “Can I help you?”

“I sent an email,” I begin, but then, realizing I sent that email this morning and she likely hasn’t seen it yet, I add, “I need to speak to someone about moving into any available housing on campus. It’s urgent.”

She turns away from me, but leaves the door open. I follow her inside as she walks toward her desk at the far end of the room. There are some chairs scattered around, a makeshift waiting room.

At her desk, she sits down at her computer. It’s not even turned on yet.

She threads her hands together on her desk, looks me in the eye, and says, “There is currently no availability.”

I glance at her computer again. It’s definitely off, the monitor dark.

How does she know if she hasn’t even checked?

A sinking feeling comes over me, pulling down at my stomach. She’s stonewalling me.

“If that’s all you needed…” she says, and nods toward the door.

“Are you sure?” I ask. I can’t let this go so easily. “Maybe if you check –”

“Are you doubting my word?” she snaps.

I’m losing here. There’s nothing I can’t do. If she won’t even check, it’s not like I can make her.

“No,” I say. “But my situation is very urgent, and I need a place to stay.”

She looks away from me, down to her desk, and begins flipping through some papers there. “You should have thought of that at the start of the school year, like everyone else.”

That’s a dismissal if I ever heard one.

“Please –”

“I trust you can see yourself out,” she says.

I straighten, trying to collect the shattered pieces of my pride off the floor.

This is hopeless. I’m getting nowhere. She clearly doesn’t want to help me.

I turn toward the door, not sure where to go from here.

Then Beau walks in.