Self

Chapter 50

Yale massaged his temples. “I’m done with drinking. You guys have fun.”

Michael watched him go, a bit thrown off.

He remembered Yale was always up for a good time. Maybe he patched things up with Yara?

It made sense. They got back together, so he could no longer play around.

“Young Master Gray, what’s up? We’re only waiting for you.”

A voice called from the stairs.

Michael shook his thoughts off and headed back into the fray.

It was ten at night by the time Yale got to the villa.

Mary had straightened up his room and the closet, and Yara’s stuff was all neatly put back in place.

He pivoted and made his way to the study.

The shelves were wall–to–wall with biology books.

Yara might have stopped her formal studies but stayed caught up in her field. She would hole up in the study for hours; all those books were her legacy.

She would sometimes brag to him about her book collection–those rare editions no longer in print, the originals she had tracked down and made copies of, and the hours she had spent organizing them all. Her laughter lit up the room whenever she talked about her little library,

He studied the wall of books, his gaze lingering. Then, out of nowhere, a smirk played at the corners of his/ mouth.

Yale found Mary downstairs just as she was about to take out the trash. “Hey, let me borrow your phone for a second.”

Mary tensed up immediately. “Young Master, you wrecked my phone last time-

“Didn’t you get a new one?”

Mary fell silent.

“Come on; hand it over.”

“But it’s brand new…” She thought about how much it would hurt to see that one break, too.

Yale shrugged. “I’ll get you two iPhones later.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?” And just like that, her phone was in his hands.”

He dialed Yara’s number as soon as Mary scampered off.

He did not have to wait long before she picked up. “Let’s make it a clean break if we’re breaking up. So, take your junk from the study. You’ve got one day. If it’s still there tomorrow, it’s going in the trash.”

Yara paused, caught off guard, then realized he meant her collection of professional books.

“Fine,” she said curtly and hung up.

Yale stared at the phone, his mouth a tight line.

The books were heavy, and Yara knew she could not lug them all by herself. She called Rainie for help.

Chapter 50

2/2

“Rainie, can you help me out tomorrow? I’ve got to get my books from Yale’s place. Can you drive there with me?”

“Of course,” Rainie replied without hesitation. “You’ve put too much love into those books to leave them with that jerk. I’ll pick you up first thing in the morning.

“Okay.”

When the next day rolled around, though, Rainie was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Yara found herself face- to–face with Wade.

Wade was the kind of guy who rocked dress shirts and slacks like a real scholar, but he was casual in a plain white tee paired with faded blue jeans that day. His soft black hair hung just above his eyes, giving him the look of a fresh–faced college kid.

“Why are you here? What happened to Rainie?” Yara blurted out, caught off guard.

“She overslept and sent me to help you out instead.”

Yara just stared for a moment, speechless.

She had a hunch that Rainie had probably hit the party scene a little too hard last night and was paying for it then.

Whatever; better him than no one.

“Thanks, I guess. I appreciate the help.”