Chapter 40
I WAS HAVING one of those dreams when you”re falling and you wake up right before you’re about to hit the ground. It felt like my whole world was about to crack and splatter like an egg in a hot skillet. I woke up startled to the point I bounced awake in Chase’s arms and gave us both a scare.
Once I sat up and caught my breath, I knew what had happened. I had come down from the emotional highs of the night and was left to deal with the lowest of the lows. Within seconds he had me in his arms and maneuvered us so I was straddling his lap.
I anchored myself to his body when a strong combination of fear, anger, and anxiety started to course through my veins, flood my thoughts, and fill my eyes with tears.
All of this is my fault. I feel so bad that I ever had a second thought about Will and started scratching my arms as hard as I can. I drag my nails over my skin to try to get the guilt out. I feel like such a fool for ever giving that awful man a moment of my time.
“Birdie.” Strong yet soothing hands cover mine, peeling my determined fingers away from my arms. He places them on his naked chest, holding my wrists in place. “Claw me instead.”
This man. My precious, protective, beautiful man. I’d never ever hurt him or disturb a hair on his handsome head.
“None of this is on you.” I turn my face away in shame. I shoulda shut Will down from the start. “Look at me, gorgeous.”
He’s using that bold and buttery tone of voice, the one that I’m powerless against, and I can’t help but fall apart like a crunchy taco when his big hands cup my cheeks. He wipes away my fallen tears and tilts my face up toward him.
He’s staring back at me with so much determination and passion in his rich brown eyes, that the gold streaks glow like lightning in a heat storm. It’s like he wants to burn off all the bad in my head and heart.
“Don’t ya see what a mess I’ve made? You coulda been the one to get arrested tonight.” I hate these words and what they mean.
He presses his forehead against mine and melts away all the terrible thoughts running buck wild in my head. It makes me feel safe enough to share, like he’ll take it away if it gets too hard for me.
“Tell me why you’re crying,” he says into the sliver of space between us.
I tell him about every interaction I’ve had with Will and it”s clear as day that his focus on me doesn’t make a lick of sense. He had no idea I existed before a few weeks ago and now he’s hell bent on getting me to go out with him. He’s made a fool outta himself over a girl he doesn’t even know. And never ever will.
He certainly upped the ante last night. He was unpredictable and high as a kite. And it wasn’t the fun kind ya get from a few gummies or from a couple of pen hits.
No, this was downright scary. He was acting erratic and wasn’t making sense. He was aggressive and wasn’t put off by the physical altercations with Chase at all.
He didn’t care one bit when campus security and police got involved. Why wouldn’t that all be enough for him to stop this nonsense? He was still shouting my name after he got himself arrested.
I just want him to leave us alone. Chase now has to answer to his Coach and who knows what this may mean for his scholarship. I can’t imagine this staying quiet. Not when people were out and about with their phones in their hand. I bet the hot tea is already spilling all over campus.
“I’ll always protect you and keep you close. He’s not getting anywhere near you.” He leans down and kisses me like his lips are telling the truth. His tongue pleads for me to believe him. And I do… without a shadow of a doubt I do.