Love Lies Bleeding (Tightrope #2)

1. Cherry

This is the best day of my life. Letting my body fall back onto the narrow bed with the pink floral bedspread, an excited squeal of breath escapes me. I can’t contain the smile spreading over my face as my reality starts to seep into my bones. I’m here, I’m actually here. I can hardly believe it. I’m at Harvard, about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

I sit up and look at the dozens of pictures I’ve pinned on my board above my tiny desk, a smile creeping over my face that is reflective and tinged with sadness. I wish my dad could see me now, that I could hear his deep baritone tell me how proud he is of me. I love my mom to pieces, but nothing will ever stop me from missing my dad. I miss Lexi, my best friend, too. She and I have been friends since we were in junior high, but we’re on different paths right now and I need to let her live the life she wants, regardless of my thoughts or opinions.

Pictures of us are littered across the board and in each one, Lexi and I are smiling wide or behaving like goofs. Pictures of me and my mom, my mom and dad, and me and my dad are also displayed. All the people I love and need are on that board. My circle is small out of choice. I have lots of people I consider friends but none I’d trust with my secrets.

My hand trails over the glossy image of me and my dad just before he died and my heart aches a little. I wish he could see this. I wish he was alive to see me fulfill this dream we’d had for me. Rolling my lips, I push away from the desk, shaking off the melancholy.

I will not be sad today.

This is my adventure, and I’m going to make the most of every second I have here. I worked my ass off to get here and I’m going to relish every experience and get my butt out and meet new people, experience new things. My small window looks out onto Mass Avenue and is a hive of activity. The sounds of people going about their business filters through, reminding me that I’m not alone. I unpack my clothes and hang or fold them away by season. Storage is minimal here so I only brought fall and winter, and some key pieces I could layer. I can always get more when I go home for the holidays. I’m drawn again to the view over Mass. Watching the other students come and go fills me with a sense of belonging.

“I did it, Daddy. I got my dream college just like you said I would.”

Being a daddy’s girl made losing him so much worse and, every day since, I’ve vowed to make this happen, to make him proud. I know my mom misses him too. Their relationship had been so full of love, and I worry about her being on her own. She assures me she has the salon to keep her busy, but I still worry. I don’t trust or love easily but when I do, I’ll go down in a fiery blaze for the ones I love.

My phone pings with a text message and I smile when I see Lexi’s name.

Lexi: Have an amazing time. I miss you but you’re going to kill it at Harvard. Love you.

Cherry: It’s everything, Lex. I miss you too, but I’m going to scope out the local coffee shops and see if I can land a job. This scholarship will only get me so far.

Lexi: Don’t forget to scope out the local talent too ??

Cherry: I’m not interested in boys. I want to get my degree and take over the world.

Lexi: Do both. If anyone can, it’s you, babe.

Cherry: Damn right. Talk later.

Lexi: Okay x

Slipping my phone into the back pocket of my skinny jeans, I check my hair, which has faded to a soft pink since my last color, and decide I quite like this shade. It suits my fair complexion, but still gives me some oomph. At five feet tall, I need every advantage I can get and, thankfully, my personality has never been that of a wallflower.

Sliding my feet into pink wedges, I adjust the collar on my pink shirt and re-tie the waist so that a sliver of skin is showing. It’s sexy but not slutty, cute but not boring. Style is everything to me. Clothes are armor in more than one way, and I always make sure I show people what I want them to perceive.

Stepping into the small common room that links the four rooms on this entryway, I see a girl with red, curly hair pinning a poster above a desk.

“Hey.”

She turns, her foot slipping off the chair she was using to reach, and I dive to grab her before she falls. A giggle escapes her as she clutches my arm .

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She regains her balance and waves away my apology. “Don’t worry, I’m a klutz. In fact, it should be my middle name.”

Laughing, I study her wide smile and the freckles on her upper cheeks. “What’s your first name?”

“Marianna. Nice to meet you…?”

“Cherry.”

“Hence the pink hair. I love it.”

Waving a hand at my hair, I smile. “Pink is my favorite color, which you’ll find out, I’m sure.”

“I love that. What are you studying?”

“The history of Art and Architecture.”

“Wow, that’s much more exciting than math.”

“Math? That’s impressive.”

Marianna rolls her eyes. “It would be if it was my choice, but my parents kind of steam rolled me into it.”

I could never understand that pressure from parents or the kids that let them do it, but then my mom was the coolest on the planet and I’m far too stubborn to allow myself to be pushed into something I don’t want. “That sucks.”

Her shoulders shrug. “Meh, I don’t really mind. It’s a good one to have and gives me options at the end.”

“True.”

Marianna motions to my bag on my shoulder. “You headed out?”

“Yeah, gonna hit up the coffee shops and try and snag a part-time job.”

“Well, good luck with that.”

I get a feeling Marianna doesn’t need a part-time job to fund this experience for her, but she seems nice.

“You want to come to a party later?”

Inclining my head in question, I ask, “Party?”

“Yeah, my sister’s a sophomore and invited me. You should come. ”

“I don’t know.” I’m not one to go someplace I wasn’t invited.

“Oh, come on. We can go and get to know each other and meet new people. It will be good to have some fun before classes start.”

“Maybe.”

Marianna claps her hands excitedly. “I’m taking that as a yes.”

I beam a smile at her exuberance and head for the door. “We’ll see.”

“I’ll leave the details on the board for you.” Her voice echoes down the hall as I head out.

My steps almost bounce with happiness as I head for Mass Avenue, where the bookshop is located. My dorm overlooks this part of campus and I feel immeasurable joy as I take in a big breath of air. The summer is ending, and fall is teasing its arrival but, with the warm air still fighting to hold on, I bask in the feeling of change. Tilting my head high, I can barely contain the grin on my face as people rush around me, clear excitement etched on their faces, too. Freshmen are easy to spot among the sophomores, juniors, and seniors. They have this energy that is palpable.

I’m on my third coffee shop when I catch a break and find a vacancy. I fill in the application then and there and hand it back. The scent of fresh coffee, warm caramel, and the sweet smell of blueberry muffins remind me that I haven’t eaten since my mom dropped me off this morning. The manager gives me the quickest interview in history with a bored expression on his face and then nods.

“You start Monday. I’ll email your shifts once you let me have your class schedule.”

I bounce on my toes, a grin making my cheeks ache. “Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

Finally, Stewart the manager, cracks a smile. “I hope not, kid.”

Quickly I order myself a cinnamon latte and blueberry muffin, adding a chocolate chip cookie to celebrate my newfound employment.

I’m on such a high as I rush through the exit that I don’t look where I’m going. My forehead smacks into a hard wall and I reach out to grab something to hold onto and find my fingers curling around a muscular forearm. My coffee survives and I’m thankful I tucked my sweet treats into my backpack. Strong hands grip my upper arms and I lift my head to look at my rescuer or attacker, depending on how you look at it.

Tingles prickle my skin as I look into dark green eyes that make me want to sink into them. His brow is pulled down in concern as he gazes at me. God, he’s beautiful; square jaw that must have been chiseled by the gods, thick dark hair with just the hint of an untameable curl, and lips that were made to take a woman to heaven.

“You okay?”

Wrenching out of his hold, I fold my arms and stare up at him. Blinking widely, I shake away all the delicious thoughts and snap out of my lust-induced fog. I fall back on my defense mechanism of sass and sarcasm as I try and ignore the intoxicating scent of this boy in front of me. “Okay? Are you implying I’m average? Because let me assure you, I’m a ten, buddy.”

My rescuer’s mouth falls open and I can’t help but let my gaze wander to his lips for a moment. He really is spectacularly good-looking. I watch as his mouth pulls at the corners and a wide smile transforms his face from handsome to ‘Oh my god, have my babies’ hot. It really should be illegal to look this good and be smart enough to attend this school.

“My sincere apologies. I never meant to imply such a wretched thing. You’re indeed a ten. No, a twelve, and I’m only happy that you allowed such a humble servant to break your fall.”

A smile twitches on my lips and I fight to hide it as this boy plays my silly game. Most boys find me too much to handle and that’s okay. If they can’t handle me, they don’t deserve me. I know that, and I live by it, but it’s nice to find someone who’s met me head-on and gives me as good as I give.

“I accept your apology.”

We stand staring at each other as people bustle around the coffee shop, moving around us with annoyed sighs. The sounds of the frothing machine sputtering, the blender whizzing, and the chatter of the patrons fade away. It’s as if we’re in a sound bubble where only we exist. I can feel the heat from his body as he steps closer, his heady scent wrapping around me and seeping into my skin.

“Seriously, did I hurt you?”

I shake my head. “No, I’m perfect.” I lift my hands up to prove I’m uninjured and he smirks, causing butterflies to take flight in my belly.

“You certainly are.”

He winces as the words leave his mouth and I can’t help the laugh that erupts from me. “Does that line ever work?”

He palms the back of his neck and rubs it awkwardly, his biceps bunching and flexing as he does. His high cheekbones are tinged pink, which I find adorable. “Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve used it.”

I drop my head so that he can’t see the smile on my face and move around him, needing to get out of there. “Perhaps you should make it the last, too.”

“Yeah, I think you might be right.”

I pat his arm, not able to stop myself from touching that warm skin again but pull back quickly when I realize that it’s a mistake. It makes me wonder what the rest of him would feel like but I’m not here to hook up with boys, no matter how handsome and charming they might be.

“See you around...”

“Jake.”

“See you around, Jake.”

I head for the exit, but his deep voice stops me. “What should I call you?”

“Bye, Jake.”

I’m not giving this boy my name. He’s temptation wrapped in the most sweetly edible package I’ve ever seen and I have a sweet tooth, so my plan is avoidance.

“Bye, Blossom. ”

I smile as I walk toward my dorm, determined not to be charmed by the first hot guy I meet. I need to get a few more things unpacked and then maybe I can go to the party Marianna talked about and forget about the handsome Jake with the gorgeous smile and the cute blush.