Chapter 8
When she gothome that afternoon, Becky was again disappointed to discover thatKelley hadn’t yet returned. He’d missed life drawing class too. Sheso wanted to talk to him. He’d left so abruptly that morning. Whatif in his distraught state, he’d gotten in a car accident?
Dorian had saidhis goodbyes before leaving for the weekend to visit his sister forThanksgiving, leaving Becky alone with only Crispin for company. IfKelley didn’t return soon, it would mean for a very long weekendindeed.
At least, shecould keep herself busy with her paintings. Unfortunately, sherealized that she’d forgotten her paint box in her locker at theuniversity. Oh, what to do?
“Hi,” Becky said later that evening, standing in the doorway ofthe front room, disturbing Crispin from his latest horrorflick.
“Hey, you.” Raising an eyebrow, he sat up in the armchair.“Looks like it’s just the two us.”
“Have you heard from Kelley?” she said, looking unsure ofherself.
At her question, Crispin’s familiar scowl reappeared.Kelley… always Kelley! Could she not, at least, pretend to tolerate him?
“No, why? What does it matter?” he spat dismissively. “He’llreturn when he’s good and ready. Now, sit if you like or leave mebe.”
“Um… actually, I forgot my paint box in my locker,” she startedto say.
“So?” he scoffed.
“Well, I was hoping to ask Kelley to drive me there to get it,”she explained.
“Uh huh… Well, I suppose you’re out of luck then, aren’t you?”He snickered. Of course, it hadn’t occurred to her to ask him totake her. Was his VW Beetle not up to her standards?
Wonderful,Becky thought to herself. What else had she been expecting fromCrispin, sympathy? Discouraged, she turned and walked away. It wastheir stupid rule anyway. Not hers! Who were they to tell her whenor where she could go? So what if it was dark? She was a grownwoman, she thought as she defiantly put on her coat. She needed herpaints, and she was damn well going to get them. It wasn’t herfault that Crispin was being an ass or that Kelley had taken off,leaving her with no other option.
Approaching thefront door, satchel in hand, Becky was about to let herself out,when an unexpected shout from behind, startled her.
“Hey! Just where do you think you’re going?” Crispin barked,stepping up quick, insinuating himself between Becky and the frontdoor.
“To get my paints,” she said with a determinedfrown.
Crispincouldn’t help but laugh at her defiant stance. As if he’d simplylet her run off into the night! Did she not realize how dangerousit was for young women around campus? Why, just the other day therewas a news report about a series of sexual assaults in the area.Was she that naive?
“You’re not going anywhere, young miss. Now off with yourcoat,” he said in his most authoritative voice.
“I don’t have to listen to you. Now get out of my way!” shedemanded, unsuccessfully trying to deke around him.
“Absolutely not!” He blocked her at every turn.
“Crispin!” she shouted in frustration, trying her hardest toshove the impenetrable man out of the way.
“Becky!” he mocked, effortlessly putting her in aheadlock.
“Stop this!” she protested weakly, frowning at how easily hedominated her.
“Not until you agree to give up and stay put little girl,” hesnarled, barely able to contain his laughter at the ridiculousnessof the situation. If anyone were to see them now, he’d never liveit down, but he would wrestle all night with her if it meantkeeping her from wandering out into the night. The harder shefought, the more he smiled at her pathetic attempts to wiggle free.She obviously didn’t know who she was dealing with!
“This isn’t fair,” she whined miserably.
“Neither is you running off and getting raped but there youhave it,” he countered, suddenly very serious. “Make your choice,dormouse.”
“I… I just want my things from my locker,” she said with ahitch in her voice, feeling thoroughly intimidated, not to mentionhumiliated. “I have a right to go get them.”
Realizing hemight have gone too far, Crispin reluctantly released her fromunder his arm while not quite letting go of her shoulders. “Well,that’s too bad. Since Kell’s not here and I’m not exactly inclinedto accompany you at this moment.”
Havingwitnessed the entire ridiculous tussle from the kitchen, Kellsuddenly appeared behind them. “Now, what’s all this about?”
“Kelley…” she said, relieved, lighting up at hisreturn.
“Oh… good. You’re back,” Crispin said with a hint of sarcasm inhis voice. “Deal with this, would you?” He spun the slightlydishevelled girl around and gently but firmly, shoved her in Kell’sdirection before disappearing into the front room.
“Bully!” she shouted after him.
“Imp!” he shouted back.
“Did you see that?” she asked indignantly smoothing her handsover her mussed up hair and clothes. “He was manhandling me. Ratherroughly, I might add.”
Kell fought tocontain his smile. At first, he’d been ready to jump in and ripCrispin’s throat out for laying his hands on her, but afteroverhearing the reason for his housemate’s reaction, he reallycouldn’t find fault with his actions.
“Oh, come on, Becky.” Taking her hand, he led her out the backdoor. “He was merely restraining you. I would have done thesame.”
“I don’t believe you!” she protested. “How can you saythat?”
He led herquietly to his big black Charger and opened the passenger side doorfor her. “Go on, get in.”
With a seriousfrown, Becky did what he asked and got in his car. She sat waitingas he took his time circling over to the driver’s side. The car wasstill warm and smelled richly of a combination of leather, andKelley. It was strangely intoxicating.
“Where to, love?” he asked patiently as he got in and startedthe engine.
“My locker, please,” she answered rather sharply, still upsetat him for taking Crispin’s side, and for leaving her that morning.She’d been worried about him, afraid that he had run off and donesomething desperate. He’d seemed so bereft when he’d takenoff.
“Where’d you go?” she demanded haughtily as he reversed out ofthe driveway.
“Go?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes. You left me this morning, all in a huff. I was worriedabout you,” she said, staring him down as he drove.
Recalling herstanding out in the driveway, the headlights
