Off-Limits Roomates

26. Ella

26

***Ella***

I walked out of class and right into Billy’s chest. An apology was on the tip of my tongue until I saw that it was him. I tried to sidestep him and avoid a conversation but he quickly spun around and fell into step with me.

“Just give me five minutes, Ella.”

I adjusted the strap of my backpack as it dug into my shoulder. Everything was making me uncomfortable that morning, especially Billy. “No.”

“I don’t want anything from it. I just need to apologize. I know I fucked up, Ella, and I hate that I hurt you.” He caught my arm and pulled me to a stop. “Please, Ella. I know I don’t deserve a chance to talk to you after what I did but I need it. It’s eating me up to know that I hurt you. I just need a few minutes. Two minutes, even.”

I looked down at the ground, doing my best not to be swayed by the sad puppy show he was putting on. Billy had no idea how far his cheating was from my mind. I had other messes to think about.

“I’m begging you here, Ella. Please. You know me. Give me two minutes and I won’t bother you again if you decide that’s what you want.” He grasped my shoulders and blew out a ragged breath. “Please.”

I stepped out of his reach and shook my head. “No.”

Leaving him behind, I walked blindly through campus. I didn’t have another class for a few hours but I had to get away from Billy. I felt mean. Logically, I knew I had every right to turn him away. I didn’t owe him anything. It wasn’t easy for me to hurt people, even if they deserved it. I was arguing with myself in my head about whether or not I was cruel when a big hand covered my eyes from behind.

“Guess who.”

I pushed Fisher’s hand away and turned to smile at him. “How old are you?”

He shrugged. “Old enough.”

A heavy feeling made my stomach sink like lead. Guilt ate at me. “Hey, do you have a minute to talk?”

He winced. “You’re picking Booth over me?”

Rolling my eyes at him, I shook my head. “And chance breaking the star quarterback’s heart before he plays in the big game? The whole school would come after me if we lost.”

He wrapped his arm around me and grunted. “I see this conversation isn’t going to be about you losing the ability to be dramatic.”

I let Fisher lead me to a bench in the middle of the quad. Once we were both sitting, I squeezed my hands together and forced myself to look him in the eye. “I slept with Booth.”

His eyes widened and his cheeks took on a pink hue. Sitting back, he shifted so he wasn’t touching me at all. “Okay. I wasn’t expecting that. Don’t people usually ease into the bad news?”

“I just wanted to get it out.” I bit my lip and tried to read his emotions. “I don’t know the rules of what we’re doing here but I know that I would never want to upset you in any way.”

“We’re not doing anything here.” He rubbed his hands down his face and shook his head. “Sorry. I don’t know what we’re doing, either. I guess it doesn’t matter, though. Are you and Booth dating now? Damn. I really thought my skills would pull through for me.”

I reached up and tightened my ponytail. “No. I’m not ready to date anyone right now. I’m attracted to both of you but I just broke up with Billy and I should take some time to be single. At least, that’s what everyone says.”

Fisher visibly relaxed. “Okay. What does that mean for… this ?”

Watching him gesture between the two of us, I slowly lifted my shoulders. “I don’t have a clue.”

“Do you still want to come to my room and watch action movies?” His slow grin was as charming as it was sexy.

“I feel like such a bad person, but yes.” I groaned and covered my face with my hands. “What does that say about me?”

Closing the distance between us, Fisher wrapped his arms around me and kissed my shoulder. “It says you’re a lot wilder than I expected you to be.”

I gently punched his thigh. “Not funny.”

He caught my hand and laced his fingers through mine. “You’re talking to the wrong guy if you think I’m going to think less of you because you slept with Booth. My first three years on this campus were spent sleeping with-”

“That’s okay, Fisher. I don’t need to hear that.”

“Well, well, well. Feeling territorial, Ella?” He laughed at the sour look I gave him. “My point is that sleeping with two guys doesn’t make you a bad person. You’re making up for lost time while you were dating that dickhead Billy. Or maybe Booth and I have just mastered the art of seduction and you can’t handle us.”

Wincing, I rolled my lips into my mouth.

“What?”

“I seriously think you both cast a spell on me, or something. I’ve never been like this. With Billy, I could go weeks without caring about sex.”

“I don’t want to think about you having sex with him.” Fisher read my expression and cut me off. “Yes, Ella, I am feeling territorial.”

I raised my eyebrows and searched his face for any sign that he was messing with me. “You are?”

He gripped the back of my neck and pulled my face close to his. “Yes, I am. And before you ask, I still don’t know what any of this means. For now, that doesn’t matter. You’re my girlfriend and everyone on this campus knows it.”

“Fake girlfriend.”

“Whatever you say.” Kissing me, he ran his hand down my neck and over my shoulder. His fingers were rough against my sensitive skin and when his lips followed his fingers, I tipped my head for him and let out a small moan. He sat back and groaned. “You have no idea how much those little sounds drive me crazy.”

The campus bell began to ring, signaling the start of a new hour. It was enough to drag me out of my Fisher haze. I moved a safe distance away from him, so I wouldn’t be lured back into his arms, and glanced around. The quad had filled up with students enjoying the pretty weather. I blushed when I realized that I’d just moaned for Fisher in public, where a lot of people could hear. Vaughn would have a field day with that little bit of information.

Thinking of him made my heart beat faster. I looked up and saw that Fisher was still watching me. “What about Vaughn?”

His face twisted in annoyance. “You’re a grown woman, Ella. He’s pretending to do the big brother thing but I know that’s not the real reason he’s trying to keep everyone away from you. I wouldn’t normally do anything that could hurt our friendship, but I like you.”

“You like me?” I grinned. That was so sweet. “Wait. Why do you think he’s doing it?”

Fisher stood up and offered me his hand. “You’re a smart girl, Ella. I think you know.”