Free Bare by Morgan Black Page B

happens to be Hudson James, the millionaire who broke my heart.”
    “You've got to be kidding me. He’s not even a professor.”
    I shrugged. “I guess somebody called in a favor. He thinks it's a set up by his bosses. Just another way to get us together.”
    “But, you didn't take the bait, right? I mean you're not going get back together with him, not after what he did to you.”
    I sighed. “I wish I could say I didn't. But that would be lying. I don't know, Alexis. He makes me crazy. I can’t think straight around him. I felt like he deserved another chance.”
    She just stared at me. “Another chance? When he almost sent you to jail? And now it turns out that he may or may not be a drug dealer? But, sure, he deserves a second chance.” The sarcasm was dripping off her words.
    I knew she was right. I knew that I was making a huge mistake, but somehow I couldn't help it. The way that Hudson made me feel, my skin tingling every time he touched me, the way my breath caught in my chest when our eyes locked… I just couldn't deny my feelings for him as much as I wanted to. I knew he was dangerous, but I didn't care.
    Alexis crossed her arms, and looked back at the television, acting like she wasn't interested our conversation anymore. But I knew she was worried, and she had every right to be. By me being involved with Hudson, it put her in danger too.
    “Alexis, I can handle it. I promise nothing will happen to you.”
    She turned her head, and narrowed her eyes at me. “You don't know that. You're being reckless Calla, something you never are. You’re calculated and smart. Why throw everything away for one guy?”
    She was right; I usually planned everything out in my life, just so I wouldn’t end up like my mom. But, for some reason, Hudson made the risk worth it. But I didn't know how I could explain that to her.
    “You're right. But this is what I'm doing, and it's cool if you don't support me. You don't have to have my back on this one.” I stood up, and started to walk away, but she called after me.
    “Calla! You're my best friend, dammit. I'm just worried about you.” I looked over my shoulder to see her standing next to the sofa. “I just don't want to see you broken; there's not enough Ben & Jerry's to fix that if he hurts you again.”
    “I know.” I continued walking, and shut my door behind me. I sat down on my bed, and looked at a picture of the two of us that I kept on my nightstand. Alexis was always looking out for me; that's just what best friends do. Suddenly, Hudson felt like a betrayal against that friendship. So, why did I still want him?

3
    That evening, I had my normal shift at the library. I planned on getting some work done, but Shane had me stacking books instead. We were getting close to finals, and people were using some of the textbooks for thesis statements, mostly the graduate students. That would be me one day. Working on law papers, attempting to reach my goal. I also saw them studying, nervously sweating in the tiny little cubicles that they used to block out the rest of the world. I hope that part wouldn’t be included in my future, but I knew that was wishful thinking.
    I was on the top floor of the library, stacking books about sexual harassment law when I saw two people arguing in the next aisle. It looked like a couple just having a relationship issue, and I didn't want to intrude, so I moved to the other side, and waited for them to figure it out. I saw a guy sitting by himself with headphones on, but I realized that he wasn't studying. He was talking on a cell phone, but he kept the headphones around his head to make it look like he was busy. Or maybe I was just being paranoid.
    I couldn't help but overhear the conversation as I walked away from the arguing couple. I tried to appear inconspicuous as I looked through the shelves, pretending to need a book. I'd abandoned my cart in the corner so that I just looked like another college student.
    "I’ll have your