Page 4

But feeling like prey around Dave was nothing new. Even before the accident, there was something about Fergie that drew me in. That called my interest. Brought thoughts out I’d kept locked tight and hadn’t explored with anyone else because the trust hadn’t been there.

But I had seen the way he was with girls.

The ever-revolving door of giggling girls, mostly from sororities or his circles, showed me more than enough. Not that I was a relationship girlie. Hell, no. But I saw the way he chewed them up and spit them out. Not one stuck, and I wasn’t chomping at the bit to be one of the many. Not with what I wanted to do with him.

Rumors had it, no one had more than a night with him. And hey, to each their own, but I knew myself and the things I felt around Dave. I wouldn’t want just one night like I had wanted with other guys in my past. And maybe that was why I hadn’t given him the time of day before our little fender bender.

Now, I was stuck spending time with him. I didn’t bother saying hello as I brushed past him.

“Oh? Were you waiting for me?” I asked, like I was unbothered or unhurried.

The truth was, as much as I hated admitting this, I liked that he insisted on me coming over tonight. I’d been a little bummed, thinking that since they were traveling to an away game, our usual time together wouldn’t happen. I hated how excited I was for our little standing date.

“You know I have to leave in a couple of hours,” he said quietly. My eyes skated to his sides and noticed the way his fisted hands, like he was pissed or trying to keep his hands to himself.

After two months of meeting him up at his secret apartment above the bakery, and him not laying a hand on me, not even trying to kiss me once, I felt like I was on edge.

You’re just horny. Between classes and meeting him like it was a job and juggling my actual job, I hadn’t had time to even bring my toys out to get myself off, much less go out and find someone to hook up with.

“And that’s my problem how?” I asked with a saccharine-sweet smile, making sure to brush my body up against his before stepping inside the dark staircase.

“Roxanne,” he growled. My lips twitched as I held on to the railing and headed upstairs.

“Roxie,” I corrected. Not even my parents called me by my actual name.

“You’re a pain in my ass.”

“Is that what you’re into?” I was unable to help myself as I turned to look at him over my shoulder. And because I was me, I missed the step, fumbled, and just as I was about to fall, his arms wrapped around me, pulled me to his body. I pressed my face into his chest, soaking in the warmth and scent of him. God, I hated how good he smelled.

“Shit, babe, you okay?” Babe? That was new. Brat was his usual little term of endearment he liked to use on me. Babe. His voice ping-ponged in my head, and I liked the soft, sweet tone he’d used. Almost like he was actually concerned. Like he cared. Don’t go there, Rox! I pried my face off his chest and glanced up at him.

“I’m fine,” I clipped. His jaw clenched like he was annoyed with me, and it was a solid reminder of what kind of bully he was.

“Like I said, pain in my ass,” he reminded me. I stepped away, focusing on the staircase in front of me instead of glancing back at him, hating the embarrassment that prickled through me.

“If I’m such a pain in your ass, why do you insist on me paying you back like this?” I argued.

“Beats me,” I could have sworn he muttered under his breath, but it was so low and muffled I wasn’t sure if I’d just imagined it. It doesn’t matter! the small sane side of me shouted. Don’t make this out to be more than what it is!

Whatever game Dave was playing was seriously getting old. I was exhausted from these little hangouts in the middle of the night. Nights of us just meeting here and watching TV until I fell asleep, only to wake up to the scent of baked goodies from downstairs and an empty bed or couch. Yes, we’d slept together on the huge bed in his place. But only slept.

I continued my way up the stairs, walking straight into the apartment without waiting for him to open the door or invite me in. I kicked my shoes off and set my bag onto the kitchen table.

“You okay?” he asked, shutting the door. I grunted, not making small talk like I usually did. Not only did I have this whole Dave thing to worry about, I was behind in my math class, and now, some hockey player was going to steal my best friend and roommate from right under my stupid cousin’s nose.

“What’s up with you?” he asked, standing to the side. I didn’t look in his direction, but it was like my stupid traitorous body was somehow in sync with his eyes as they followed my every move.

“Nothing,” I huffed but didn’t look up from the books and laptop I was taking out.

“Thought we could eat⁠—“

“Not hungry,” I clipped.

I wasn’t usually this short.

I was just in a bad mood.

No, not a bad mood exactly, just worried and maybe a little anxious. I was getting too close to Dave, and my head was a mess. It had already been messy when it came to him the couple of times I’d seen him at parties or around my cousin from how charming and relentless he’d been when it came to me, but now? After two months of spending time in such close quarters, my head was a disaster and my heart was involved.