Lodged (Kinsmen Billionaires #2)

4. Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Ruin MacAllister

A ugust came and went, and it was just so hot. It never gets this hot in the mountains, so it would definitely take me a while to get used to the weather in the Piedmont. I still haven’t been able to make a trip back home to visit my family. I’m hoping I’ll be able to go Labor Day weekend, but there’s just so much to do here that I barely have time to breathe. Even though it was my choice—my dream, really—to come to Raleigh to get my bachelor’s degree, I miss Azalea Creek tremendously. Some might say I’m a silly small-town girl, but when you have everything you need and more with the most gorgeous mountain views, there’s really no need to leave.

That’s why I decided to pursue a degree in environmental management—so I could move back home after graduation and work for the forestry department, helping care for the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains.

“Ruin,” my labmate, Kelly, whispers as she elbows me in my belly. I bend in pain; I wasn’t expecting her to take my breath away, but here we are.

“Ms. MacAllister, are you okay?” Oh crap, now I understand why Kelly was elbowing me. I must have missed something Gio said. Transitioning to calling him Gio instead of Professor Bianchi was an adjustment, but I like Gio better—it fits his personality better than the stuffy “Professor.” Plus, he’s corrected a few people in the lab when they call him Mr. Bianchi, asking them to simply call him Gio.

“Umm, yes. Yes, I’m okay. I’m sorry I wasn’t really paying attention.” I try to fix my hair, but the moment my hands touch my braid, I remember I’m using latex gloves, so instead of relaxing, I stress out even more. Great, I’m making a fool of myself. Alyssa snickers on the bench across from me, and it takes everything in me not to glare at her. But I won’t engage; she’s not worth it.

“It’s okay, I just wanted to know if you could describe the process of using a pH meter. But I can ask someone else,” Gio says, scanning the lab for any students willing to answer his question. I immediately raise my hand.

“I can do it,” I say with a little more enthusiasm than necessary, and the entire class chuckles. Ugh, I’m such a nerd. When I look at Gio, his eyes are narrowed to slits, he’s not having my antics.

“When we started this lab, I mentioned I wouldn’t tolerate any sort of disrespect or funny business in this class. Let’s behave like the adults we are.”

Damn, why am I suddenly feeling all flustered by his stern voice? Ugh, this is not the time nor the place to be having spicy thoughts about my hot lab teacher.

I’m actually used to being made fun of—you don’t get to be named Ruin and grow up without any sort of bullying at school. But all that teasing just gave me “thick skin,” as my mama says. I don’t care what others think or say about me—I vibe to the beat of my own drum.

“Ruin, whenever you’re ready,” Gio says, stepping aside to give me space in the middle of the lab, where several pH meters are arranged and ready to be used.

“As we learned in class this week, a pH meter checks the amount of free hydrogen atoms in a given solution. What we are going to do today is to check the pH of several soil samples taken across the state. After taking at least six points of data for each sample, we will try to guess what the soil is being utilized for—lawn, crop, or forest.”

When I look around, the entire class is looking at me, waiting for what I’ll say next. Gio gives me a nod with a smile, so I continue, “After turning on the pH meter, all we have to do is to calibrate it with two different solutions: one with a pH of 4, which means it’s acidic, and another with a pH of 9, which means the level is basic. After we get the electrode clean with distilled water, we proceed to check the pH in each of our samples, making sure to clean the probe between samples to prevent cross contamination.”

I finish, and when no one speaks, I start to feel nervous. I instinctively try to fix my hair again, but then I remember I’m still wearing gloves, and my hands freeze in midair.

“Excellent job, Ruin. If I don’t watch out, I’m going to lose my job as your lab instructor,” Gio says with a grin, and the entire class chuckles. I feel the rush of blood going up my neck and face and quickly head back toward my lab bench, where Kelly is sporting a Cheshire cat smile.

“Don’t you dare start,” I warn her, but she knows me; I’m not mad. I just don’t want her to say what she’s been saying every single lab for the past month. We’ve had several classes in the past, and we get along pretty well.

“What? That Gio is utterly and completely smitten with you?” she teases, and I facepalm as I groan.

“You’re the worst. One of these days, someone is going to hear you, and they’re going to start a rumor that we won’t be able to stop. He’s a professional and a kind instructor to everyone, not just me.” I try to make her see how badly this little joke could backfire, but she’s relentless.

“It’s not like he’s the dean or the department head. He’s just a lab instructor, and no offense, but I bet you two are close in age. It’s not like this is an indecent age-gap affair.”

The moment Kelly says “affair,” the entire class decides to fall completely silent.

Crap.

Gio clears his throat and makes his way toward us. Great.

“Ladies, I don’t mind you chatting while working, but please keep the topics PG. It’s none of my business to know if any of you are having an affair—or any other activity that’s not related to environmental management.”

Even though Gio speaks in a kind tone, I’m mortified that he now thinks I’m displaying and participating in indecent behavior. When he turns to go back to his desk, I glare at Kelly, but she simply laughs. I shake my head; there’s really not much I can do.

After I’m done with the experiment, and Kelly and I have compared notes, I pack my bag and notice I’m the last one in the lab.

“Oops, I’m sorry, Gio. I didn’t realize I was keeping you here,” I say as I wash my hands in the sink.

“Not a problem. There’s technically fifteen more minutes left before the lab is over,” he says simply. And I, like an idiot, just stare at him. He’s so damn handsome.

“Right, thanks anyway, Gio.” I wash my hands, and after drying them quickly with a paper towel, I head toward the door.

“Ruin, wait.”

I stop but don’t turn around, feeling nervous about what he might say.

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. That wasn’t my intention. It just felt awkward to have Kelly talking about an ‘affair’ and not call you both out after I’ve called out others for similar conversations.”

I thought he was going to say he was disappointed in me or something, but of course, this guy is kindness personified. I turn around with a smile on my face, and he immediately beams, noticeably relieved. This guy should really be on a GQ magazine cover or something. His eyes sparkle like two bright stars against the night sky, and his unruly hair is a perfect mess; I’ve seen him pass his hand over his head at least a hundred times today, but somehow he still manages to look amazing.

“You, uh, didn’t. I’m used to worse things than being laughed at. You’re always so nice and kind. And I’m not…” I shake my head because I’m just rambling; I’m not used to losing my words. I’m usually very well-spoken—a skill I developed from reading so much from a young age. My parents didn’t go to college; my dad was a blue-collar guy. He worked hard and was always busy, but he loved to read. Every Sunday, he’d solve the newspaper crossword puzzle, making it a family affair. My older siblings would help with the dictionary, and Rain and I would try to guess words—or even make them up sometimes. Sunday mornings at home were the best.

“That’s the thing, you shouldn’t be used to being ridiculed. You are an amazing person, Ruin. Never forget that.”

He turns on his heel, and I’m left there by the lab door in awe. No one outside my family has ever been this nice to me.