Chapter 3: Enter the Golden Boy

Back in my room, I ignored my roommates’ greetings and climbed onto my bed.

The dorm air was thick with the scent of pizza, cheap cologne, and the faint hint of laundry detergent. My bunk creaked under my weight, the old mattress springs groaning in protest.

I’d dressed in such a rush earlier that I hadn’t had time to bind my chest.

The realization hit me like a cold splash. I glanced at the lump of athletic tape in my backpack, my nerves prickling with urgency.

I wasn’t exactly well-endowed, but still, it was better to bind them.

I’d learned from the internet that a little precaution goes a long way, especially when you’re undercover in enemy territory.

I was halfway through when I heard rustling outside.

The sound of footsteps and laughter floated in from the hallway, making my heart race. Every little noise sounded like trouble.

Cursing under my breath, I hurriedly pulled down my shirt just as Caleb Jennings poked his head through my bed curtain.

He always made an entrance—never knocking, never waiting for an invitation. The curtain barely slowed him down.

Unlike Marcus’s rugged looks, Caleb was delicate and pretty.

He had the kind of features that looked good in any lighting—sharp jaw, flawless skin, and those mischievous dimples that made girls (and a few guys) swoon.

He had big, lively hazel eyes—round and inviting.

Those eyes could convince you to do your calculus homework for him without a second thought.

He was cheerful and energetic, the most popular guy in the dorm.

If popularity was a currency, he’d be loaded. Always surrounded by a rotating crowd, always in the center of every prank and party.

But if you thought that meant he was a good guy, you’d be dead wrong.

Beneath that golden boy exterior, he was trouble with a capital T.

In the original plot, after catching the heroine and Marcus having sex, he ignored her cries and Marcus’s protests and forced himself into the action.

He was the wild card—the one who made bad situations worse and somehow got away with everything.

He coaxed the heroine into all sorts of wild things, leaving evidence of their trysts all over campus.

Rumor had it you couldn’t walk through the quad without spotting the aftermath of one of his escapades. The RA just gave up trying to police it all.

Worst of all, he had zero shame—he got caught having sex several times, and every time, he’d just invite whoever caught them to join in!

He turned every scandal into an open invitation, and the more people watching, the better.

You could say the heroine’s later misery was basically all thanks to him!

If karma was real, he’d be on a first-name basis with every campus security guard by now.

I was so angry I could grind my teeth to dust. I snapped, “What do you want?”

I shot him a look that would’ve made my old debate coach proud—a mixture of annoyance and warning.

Caleb grinned, acting like he didn’t notice my annoyance. "Yo, Natalie, whatcha got there? You holding out on me?"

His voice was sugary sweet, but I knew better than to trust it. He was the kind of guy who could talk you out of your last dollar.

He climbed onto the bed without asking, leaning his whole body toward me.

His shoes landed with a thud, and the mattress dipped dangerously close to the edge. I scooted back, glaring at him.

I clutched my chest binder, heart pounding.

For a second, I thought about clocking him with a throw pillow, but restrained myself.

What is wrong with this guy! Has he never heard of personal space?

I wanted to scream, "Take a hint!" but settled for a deep, steadying breath.

I quickly pulled a bag of chips from my bedside, pretending to be upset. “Can’t even eat a bag of chips in peace. Here, take it.”

The crinkle of the bag was deafening in the silence. I shoved it at him, hoping he'd get the message.

But Caleb wasn’t so easily fooled. He kept leaning in, and when he got close to my neck, he suddenly lowered his head and sniffed.

His nose almost brushed my skin, and goosebumps erupted down my arms.

“Natalie, you smell so good.”

His voice dropped, sultry and teasing, as if he was letting me in on a secret.

I got goosebumps all over. “Damn it, Caleb, you must be gay. Get away from me.”

I put as much distance as I could between us, clutching my binder like a shield.

“Haha, maybe I am a little. Sigh~ Natalie, if only you were a girl. I’d totally chase after you.”

He threw in a dramatic sigh, hand to his forehead like he was auditioning for a soap opera.

“Chase my ass. Stop being gross and get off my bed.”

The words tumbled out before I could stop them, my cheeks burning.

“Okay, okay, okay.”

He finally backed off, hands raised in surrender.

Caleb sheepishly climbed down.

He landed with a thud, shooting me a lopsided grin as he plopped into his own chair.

He sat in his chair, recalling the scent from before, and mumbled, “Really smells so good.”

I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly saw my own brain.