“If you don’t drink coffee we could just grab a soda then.” Being reminded that I was not alone pulled my attention away from Jay and I looked back to Mark, forcing a smile.
“A coffee would be great.” It was honestly the very last thing I wanted to commit to. “How about tomorrow morning before class, maybe at eight?”
“Eight is perfect.” Even when Mark smiled I analyzed it and it was missing that fear of Jay’s. The flash of perfect teeth, the resemblance of a dimple in his left cheek. Mark’s smile didn’t even come close to making me feel the same things as Jay’s.
We said goodbye, making arrangements to meet at the café just outside of campus and I walked home with a heavy heart. Stepping inside my home, I heard the annoying laughter of my father’s new, very young assistant. I didn’t make my usual stop in the kitchen but instead went straight to my room. Closing the door behind me, I locked it and gathered my clothes before going into my bathroom. I started the water, quickly undressed, and stepped into the tub, lowering my body slowly. The warmth of the water felt amazing. Placing one earbud in each ear, I drowned out the sounds of my father and his company and instead got lost in the playlist that reminded me of the guy I just needed to forget.
The sound of an incoming message made me jerk in surprise and I almost dropped my phone in the tub.
It was an image attached to a message from Darcy.
Darcy: See, I told you.
It’s Jay with his arm around the same blonde I saw him with already. It’s from today obviously as they were wearing the same clothes. They were smiling while talking in a group of others and seemed innocent enough. It’s not like he had his hand up her shirt and pushed up against some wall or something.
Instead of responding I closed out the thread and went back to listening to my music. Ignoring it seemed easier.
***
“I got it.” Mark reached around my shoulder and paid the barista for his coffee and my own. Smiling a thanks, I moved out of his way and toward the door.
“Do you mind if we sit outside?” I was already pushing open the front door and stepping out into the courtyard. “It’s nice out.”
The courtyard was made up of several small shops, a café, a sandwich shop, and many more places college kids could grab quick necessities. It was nice when you were looking for a place to grab a quick bite while taking advantage of free Wi-Fi.
I found a small table with the shelter of an umbrella. Mark sat in the seat closest to me and stretched out his long legs. He was the type of guy my father would approve of. Clean cut, primed, and proper. You could just sense that he came from a well-educated family, one my father would love.
“So tell me something about you, Ruby. Something I can’t know by looking at you.”
“There really isn’t much to tell.”
“I don’t believe that.” Mark leaned in and rested his elbows on the table. “What do you like to do? Your interests?”
I stared at him, honestly unsure of what to say. I loved to dance, draw, oh, and I had an obsession with romance movies. All things that would bore him.
“Hey pal.” I didn’t even have to turn around to know who was standing behind me. “Don’t for a second think this one is sweet. She’ll convince you she’s timid and kind and then after you take her out she’ll ignore every call and text you send. She likes playing games. I wouldn’t waste your time. She is definitely not your kind of girl.”
My body was rigid, and I focused on the way Mark was looking behind me. There were no signs of a smile on his face.
“Isn’t that right, Ruby?”
I took in a slow, steady breath before I pushed back my chair and stood tall, turning to face Jay. My body felt the effects immediately of seeing him once again, this close.
Gone was the sweet smile from the day at the movies, replaced by a look of distaste.
“You don’t know me.” My voice was shaking and in no way as confident as I was hoping for.
“That’s right, I don’t, and you don’t know me.” He moved in a little closer and I was engulfed with the scent of his cologne. “Yet you allowed your so-called friend to fill your head with her opinions of who I am. I thought you were smarter than that. Better than that. I guess I was wrong.”
With the rapid way my heart was beating I’d swear it was seconds from beating right out of my chest.
“Good luck with Mark.” I was surprised Jay knew that guy’s name. “Last month he was accused of drugging a girl at a sorority so he could get into her pants. Good thing for him his daddy is a big time lawyer and got the charges dropped.” Jay reached up and ran his finger over my forearm, giving me chills over my arms and shoulders. “Where is your best friend now to warn you about him? Since you value her opinion so very much and plan your life choices around them?”
He lowered his hand, staring at me for a few seconds before looking back over my shoulder. Something passed over him, a look of anger and disdain before he turned and walked away.
My body grew limp and I sat down in my chair, only I didn’t take my eyes off of him until he disappeared out of my view.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jay
“Did you talk to her?” Emelie bumped into my shoulder with her own and I almost dropped the
