The next study group session, Ryan collapsed in the chair beside me. He teetered his pencil between his fingers while I went over my notes.
“Nina?” Ryan whispered.
“Yes?”
“Who was that guy the other night?”
I feigned a confused expression. “What guy?”
He smirked at me. “You know who I’m talking about. That Jared guy. Are you dating him?”
I shrugged. “No, not really.”
“What does that mean?”
I kept my eyes on my paper. “I’ve gone to lunch with him once, he’s given me a ride home a few times, and I’ve see him around town…,” I was purposefully vague. I didn’t know where the conversation was headed.
“So what was that, at the pub? Why did he show up with his sister to tell you he wasn’t there with her?”
“I haven’t talked to him to get that figured out, yet.”
“But you’re going to talk to him?” His voice was growing impatient with my answers.
“I don’t know, Ryan. Why?” I said, unable to conceal my irritation with his line of questioning.
Ryan squirmed in his seat and then turned to face me. “I wanted to ask you…if…you know… if you wanted to grab dinner sometime.”
“Oh,” I rubbed my forehead, “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”
Ryan nodded indifferently. “I just thought I’d ask. I didn’t know if you and that guy were….”
“It’s not about Jared,” I lied.
“Do you think he came there to check up on you?”
I contemplated that for a moment. “I don’t know, maybe. I’ve been running into him a lot, lately.”
“That’s pretty creepy.”
“I like to think of it as fate stepping in,” I mused.
Ryan’s face twisted to petulance. “Sounds like stalking to me.”
“You should talk, trying to fight over a girl you barely know.”
“He had his hands on you,” he grumbled.
“Thank you,” I smiled, nudging him.
“You’re welcome. You know that guy’s got to be bad news, right?”
“I don’t believe that.” Ryan scowled at my words, but I shrugged off his skepticism. “I can’t explain it. There’s something in his eyes.”
Ryan shook his head in disapproval. “I just don’t want you to get hurt. His little sister is insane.”
“I’m with you on that one.”
We both laughed and then Ryan shrugged. “Maybe once you get things all sorted out with your stalker, you’ll reconsider.”
“He’s not a stalker.”
“MmmHmm,” he said, trying to appear interested in his algebra book.
Beth began gathering her plethora of organizational aides and Kim stood up and stretched. The rest of the group disbanded as Kim, Beth, Ryan and I walked out of the library together.
“I’m starving,” Kim said.
“I could eat,” Beth chimed in.
Ryan turned to me. “Is an after study snack out of the question?”
They all eyed me expectantly. “Let’s eat,” I shrugged.
Ryan and Kim went over possible plans for the weekend over pancakes and hash browns while Beth and I discussed our intentions to attend the basketball game. Even with the ever-growing puzzle that was Jared, life was a shade of ordinary again. I felt the unease I’d been feeling for weeks slowly dissipate into the greasy air.
While walking out to the car I noticed a short, squat man walking parallel to us. Ryan veered to the outside of our group, positioning himself between us and the stranger. The man arrived at Kim’s Sentra the same moment that we did.
“Are you Nina Grey?” The man asked me in a hoarse voice. I felt my body tense.
“What do you need?” Ryan asked, stepping forward.
The man noted Ryan’s presence but spoke only to me. “I was an associate of your father’s. My name is Charles Dawson. It’s important that I speak with you.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, the mention of my father created a stabbing sensation in my stomach.
“I would like to speak with you alone, if you don’t mind,” he said, his squinty eyes shifting from each of my friends and then back to me.
“Nina, do you know this guy?” Ryan asked, jerking his thumb at Mr. Dawson.
I studied his face for a moment. He wore an expensive suit like the hundreds of other men I’d seen in my father’s company through the years, but his face wasn’t familiar.
I tried to be polite. “I–I don’t think I do, sir. I’m not sure I could help you.”
Mr. Dawson took a step toward me and Ryan did the same.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with your father for some time, now. It’s come to my attention that he’s passed away.”
I worked to separate my lips long enough to form the words. “That’s correct.”
“Your father had agreed to sign over some property to me, and I was wondering if you were at all familiar with our transaction?”
Kim spoke up. “Nina, this is probably not the appropriate time to—,”
“I think you’d rather speak to my father’s attorney, Thomas Rosen,” I interrupted. “He is with Rosen and Barnes in Kennedy Plaza. I’m sure he will be able to assist you.” I turned to get into the car, but the man took several quick steps to thwart my efforts. He held my door and his face turned grave.
“It’s of the utmost importance, Nina. I’ve exhausted all of my options, and I’m asking for your help.” His eyes darted to Ryan and then back to me. Mr. Dawson kept his voice low, “Jack has a safe. Maybe you’ve seen it? My papers are there in that safe and I need to obtain them right away.”
The already uncomfortable feeling that I was experiencing grew as the man inched closer to me. I heard Kim make wide strides to intercede, but Ryan beat her to it, stepping between me and the stranger. I slid into my seat and shut the door while Kim wheeled around, hurrying to start the car. Ryan paused for a moment, eyeing the man, and then joined Beth in the back seat. I saw Ryan’s arm slide between my shoulder and the door, reaching to press down the lock.
Mr. Dawson leaned down to peer at me through the glass. “I need those papers, Nina. It would be wise of you to help me.” He pulled out a card and held it against the window with his palm. I scanned it quickly and attempted to smile.
No one spoke until we were almost back to the school parking lot.
“Does anyone else think that was completely creepy?” Beth shrieked.
“Beth! You scared the crap outta me!” Kim said.
“What are you going to do?” Ryan asked.
“I’m going to call Mr. Rosen tomorrow, and then I’m going to call my mother,” I said, fidgeting.
Beth nodded with wide eyes. “Your mom is gonna freak.”
“I know,” I grumbled.
Kim waved and set off to Andrews while Beth and I said our goodbyes to Ryan.
Beth patted Ryan’s shoulder. “I’m glad you were there, Ryan. That guy was…I don’t think he would have let Nina in the car had you not been there.”
“Yes, thank you,” I said, hugging him.
Ryan pulled back to look at me, still keeping me enveloped in his arms. “I’d do anything for you,” he said, brushing my bangs away from my eyes.
I took a step back and glanced at Beth, whose eyes were bouncing back and forth between Ryan and me. He scratched the back of his head nervously. “Yeah, well…guess I better head back to the dorm. I’ll see you ladies at our next study group.”
