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280words
When the lab was empty one late night I was poring over data and leaving in a fatigue haze, the bus station packed with freezing wind.
No buses came.
A shadow crept up and—before I could press my pepper spray—Lucas saw it and told me not to use it.
He leaned against the bus shelter, amused.
"Working so hard, Claire?"
"You've got a lot of time," I muttered.
"We're basically dating, right? Consider me your ride home."
Those guys—there's a bored, satiated emptiness around them, like every desire had already been answered and what's left is messing with people.
He and Ethan feed off each other.
I nodded and said, "So why are you asking? Is this because of Ethan or his company?"
I replied on autopilot, "My loyalty to Ethan is priceless."
He smiled with that half-mocking laugh.
"No wonder you're Ethan's girl."
The buses were still not coming.
My hands throbbed from the recurring chilblains.
Lucas took out his phone, texted, then stood by me.
"Looks like buses aren't running tonight. And taxis are hard to find here."
I walked toward a shared bike. He blocked me—again.
"It's nearly freezing—are you going to ride a bike home?"
I yawned. "What else? Want me to give you a lift?"
He laughed, "Why do you treat Ethan like that—and me like dirt?"
I eyed him.
"Because you act like you're competing with him."
He smirked. "Hey—what can I say? I like this flavor."
Finally a car came; a driver called out "Mr. Reed."
I slid into the back, Lucas watched me in that way.
