Not anymore.
As soon as the teacher lets class out, I head over to the frat house. I don’t want to go there, especially with a party going on, but the last time I had him meet me in a public place, we ended up arguing so loud that everyone was staring at us.
That one got back to my dad. I didn’t want that call again.
Thankfully, when I arrive at the house, the party isn’t in full swing. I give a small smile to a couple of the guys as I make my way up to Jared’s room. He said he would wait for me there.
I go to knock on the door, but as I do, it opens a little. I hear a noise, figuring it’s Jared getting up, so I wait. When he doesn’t come to the door, I open it wider, gasping when I see him.
Jared’s ass is facing me as he rams into some unknown person beneath him. By the sounds that are coming out of its mouth, I would say it’s a banshee.
“What the fuck?” I yell, pissed that I canceled my standing date with Xavier for this asshole.
He looks over his shoulder and has the audacity to grin. He actually grins.
“Oh, hey, babe. Want to join in?” he asks.
“Fuck you, Jared. Lose my goddamn number.”
I slam the door, running down the stairs. I barely take a step toward the door, when a large body runs into me.
“Whoa, slow down. What’s wrong?”
I let out a relieved sigh when I realize it’s Jack. Then I’m angry again because I’m crying. Not because I’m sad. No, I’m crying because I’m beyond pissed.
“I’m fine. I need to get out of here.” I go to walk around him, but he grabs my arm, walking out the front door with me.
“Listen, I can’t drive you, but I can wait with you until your ride gets here.”
“What? No, I walked.”
He laughs. “You think I watched you walk in and didn’t tell my boy you were here? X will be here in a minute.”
As if he summoned him, Xavier pulls up in front of us. He leaves the car running before jumping out and coming over to me.
“What’s wrong? What did that asshole do?”
I look over to Jack with a questioning look.
He shrugs. “We all saw Jared take Mara upstairs. Not long after you walked in heading up there too. I did the math.”
My heart clenches.
Mara? I shouldn’t be surprised, but somehow I still am. Even though we had a falling out, I didn’t think she would do something so cruel. Before I realized it was her, I thought it was just Jared being an asshole, but now? I know she has a part in this.
I let out a sigh. “I’m fine.”
Both men ignore me.
“I’m taking her home. Call me if you need a DD,” Xavier says to Jack.
He salutes before giving me a sad smile. Xavier opens the passenger door, ushering me inside.
Once we are on the road, I look over at him.
“I don’t want to go to the dorm,” I whisper.
“Where do you want to go?”
I shrug. “How far are you willing to go?”
“For you? The distance.” He winks, making me chuckle.
This is why I like him so much. He seems to know exactly what I need.
“That’s cheesy. I want to show you something, but it’s about a thirty-minute drive.” I look down at my hands in my lap.
He reaches over, grabbing one. “Tell me where to go and we will go.”
Why does my hand in his feel so right?
Xavier
We’ve been quiet the entire drive except when Cassi gives me directions. It’s not long before we pull up to an empty parking lot. It’s dark, no street lights here since the parking lot is gravel.
It looks like they are still developing it. Building some type of outdoor park.
“Come on,” Cassi whispers, getting out before I can question her.
I get out and rush to her side. “I can’t be the prince if you open your own door.”
She rolls her eyes, hooking her arm in mine. She leads me down a path until we are surrounded by trees. After several minutes of walking, we come to a lake. I look over at Cassi, smiling as the moon reflects off her skin.
Fuck, she’s gorgeous.
Then I notice the tears flowing again.
I fight the urge to pull her into my embrace. I want to comfort her, but the other part, my pride, is bristling at the thought she’s upset because of another guy.
Don’t do this to yourself again. It warns me. I know how this story always turns out. Me, broken-hearted while she’s living her best life with her dream guy.
“This is where my brother and I used to go when we needed space. Sometimes we would come together and hang out. Swim, hike, go for a run, but other times, we would come alone. Whenever one of us was upset, the other knew this is where we could be found.”
I can hear the agony in her voice as she speaks. As if the words pouring from her mouth are a dagger, repeatedly slicing her skin.
My heart wins the war, pulling her into my side. “Your brother sounds amazing.”
She chokes on a sob before she responds, “He was.”
I struggle to find the words to say when I realize what she’s saying.
He was.
She lost her brother. I want to relate to her. I want to tell her I understand the pain she feels, but I can’t. I’ve never lost anyone so permanently. Hell, the only loss I’ve ever really felt was losing Tinsley.
Even then, I can still call her. She’s still my friend.
She lost someone in a way that you can never come back from.
“I’m sorry,” I finally whisper, running my hand through her hair as I hold her to me.
I let her cry until she can’t anymore. When she’s quieted, she pulls back to look at me.
