“Thanks, Officer.”
We turned around and instead of heading into town for food, we went behind the library and headed toward the campus apartments.
Jay backed into an available parking spot. “Well I was going to suggest eating at Gino’s, but I guess that won’t work. We can order from them and have it delivered.”
Staring straight ahead, I bit down on my bottom lip. “Do you think the fire got so bad that it completely destroyed it? Is the lake deep enough for a boat to sink? You think it may have sunk to the bottom and now the PROs and the police think I did it because that’s what Dakota—”
“Brooklyn.” Jay put his hand on the back of my head. “Stop stressing. I’m sure the fire department fished the boat from the middle of the lake.”
“Before I climbed out the window, the guys were saying something about stuff being missing and then earlier, Vivian tried to make it sound like if anything was missing, I stole it.” I looked over at the soft brown eyes staring at me. “Do you think the police are going to believe them over me?”
“As much shit that goes on with the PROs, I don’t see them getting the police involved in a prank—or whatever the fuck Dakota was up to. They called last night because they needed help with the boat. I can’t see them calling over some bullshit back and forth between Trevor and Dakota.” Slipping his fingers into my thick, curly mass of hair, he gently scratched my scalp. “Once whatever happened on Fraternity Row is resolved, we can go over there and explain to the PROs what happened.”
I leaned into his hand and gave him a small smile. “You hate the PROs.”
“Yeah, but I love you.”
My heart skipped a beat.
What was that?
It wasn’t the first time we’d said I love you. I wasn’t sure why this time was any different than other times we’d expressed our platonic feelings for each other.
Why am I making it more than what it is? Do I want it to be more? No… no no no, I reasoned with myself. We’re best friends. It was platonic.
I was just caught off guard by the intensity in his eyes, the protectiveness in his touch, and the calmness of his presence. Jay’s words were a lifeboat rescuing me in my time of need and I was forever grateful for his friendship.
“Thank you for always being here for me and having my back. I love you, too,” I whispered the words I’d uttered many times before.
But in that moment, it felt different—and I was too exhausted to deal with it.
…
Chapter Four
After I finished filling the office closet with my clothes, shoes and belongings, I set up my laptop on Jay’s desk. My crates were in the corner and my duffle bag full of underwear and bras was on the futon. Once I checked to make sure my laptop was connected to the printer, I planned to take a long hot shower.
“You need anything?” Jay asked as he walked by the office.
I heard his feet continue moving down the hall, so I yelled. “Yes! Empty drawer space!”
His deep, but short chuckle traveled from the kitchen area back down the hall to me.
“I was serious,” I mumbled with a grin as I typed in my password.
“My laugh was serious, too.”
I jumped, startled. Turning toward the doorway, I glared at him. “Don’t sneak up on me!”
His eyebrows furrowed. “I walked down the hallway like a normal person.” He sighed loudly and threw his hands up in the air. “What have I done? Is this what living with a woman is going to be like, God?”
“This will give you practice. I’m going to make you a great boyfriend. And great boyfriends turn into great husbands. So really”—I stroked my chin theatrically— “you should be paying me for my services.”
His eyes swept over my body and after a quick lick of his lips, he said, “You’re sexy as hell, but I don’t pay for services.” And then with a wink, he was gone.
I stood, mouth slightly agape, staring at the doorway where he’d just been. I hated it when he disarmed me.
“Whatever!” I called out awkwardly and a few seconds too late. “Shut up!”
He laughed from somewhere in his bedroom.
“Are you hungry?” I asked, changing the subject. “I want to eat before I take this shower.”
“Yeah, I ordered a pizza.” He appeared in the doorway again. “Might as well take a shower now. And when you get out, I have to show you something.”
“What?”
He walked off without answering.
“That’s annoying!” I yelled after him as I scooped up my shower supplies and a change of clothes.
Closing the bathroom door and turning on the hot water caused the mirrors to accurately depict the cloudiness of my mind. Once I stepped into the shower, I let my guard down. My emotions had run the gamut from the fun, flirty highs of really hitting it off with Aiden to the lows of running for my life through the woods in the middle of the night. I turned my face up toward the stream of water, washing away the tears.
There were tears of red-hot anger from being sabotaged by my so-called teammates when I thought we had established a truce. There were tears of worry that the PROs would retaliate because they were led to believe I pranked them. There were tears of fear that the administration, or worse the police, would come after me because of the lies Dakota and the others were spreading. There were tears of hurt at the idea that Carter was in on it. But I cried hardest at the idea of getting kicked out of school or
