Chapter 21
21
RHYS
“ D ate?” I ask, my voice suddenly a growl.
“Yeah,” Lane says as he lies down for bench press reps. “With some guy in one of her art classes.”
My jaw ticks. I think back to a couple days ago, at the park, when my eyes dipped to her mouth, and I saw her soft, slick lips gently open; then I imagine some other asshole kissing those lips.
Jealousy rockets through me like a white-hot electric current. My hands curl into tight fists at my side.
“Who is he?” I ask, trying to keep the hostility level in my voice somewhat below Murderous Rage . I’m not sure how successful I am.
Lane shrugs. “Dunno. Like I said, some guy in one of her art classes.”
My brow pinches. “You’re not worried? What if this guy’s, like, some … sleazy womanizer? Or a serial killer?”
Lane’s chest shakes with laughter. “You know Maddie, dude. I’m not worried about her. She can take care of herself.”
Now I think back to something else. That interview Lane had with the student paper at the beginning of the semester. When he said there was no one on the team he’d be okay with dating Maddie.
Maybe he was just putting on an act, if he’s so relaxed about her going out with some random guy whose name he doesn’t even know?
“I mean, don’t get me wrong,” he says, reaching up to wrap his grip around the weight bar, “there are definitely guys out there who I wouldn’t want my sister getting involved with. But I don’t think Maddie would go for those kind of guys anyway. I’m not worried about her judgment.”
An unpleasant feeling ripples through me. My lips tug downward.
Yeah, I bet there are guys Lane wouldn’t want his sister getting involved with. I’m probably one of them.
I spot Lane while he does his reps. But I’m still thinking about Maddie going on a date with this guy from her art class. It doesn’t sit right with me. Some of the guys in the art department can be real sleazy. Maybe Lane thinks they’re all harmless nerdy types, but I know better.
Lane sits up to take a break between sets, stretching his muscles.
“So, where are they going?” I ask.
“Huh? Who?”
“Maddie and … him.”
“Oh,” Lane answers, his voice betraying that he thinks it’s weird I’m still dwelling on this. “The movie theater downtown. They’re showing this old movie she wants to see on Friday night.”
Before Sunrise . I’ve heard Maddie mention that movie as one she’s been meaning to watch for a while now. She’s into indie movies like that. And I noticed yesterday that the theater in town is going to be screening it. I even planned on suggesting to Maddie that we see it together.
I feel my features twist on my face.
Instead, she’s going to see it with this … guy.
I don’t like it. I don’t fucking like it at all.
“Hey, Rhys!”
I’m stepping out of Brumehill Brews, the on-campus coffee shop, with a coffee to pick me up so that I don’t fall asleep in my next class, when a girl runs up from behind me and sidles next to me.
“Oh, hi, Amelia,” I greet her. We hung out a couple times last year, though I haven’t seen her so far this semester.
She’s keeping herself glued a bit too close and tight to my side for comfort as we walk to my next class. The way she bats her long, dark lashes and giggles at everything I say even though I’m not even making any jokes tells me that she’s interested in striking up a very specific kind of acquaintanceship.
She’s a nice girl, don’t get me wrong, and she’s objectively gorgeous to boot. But all semester long, I just haven’t had space in my head for any girl other than Maddie.
Come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time I’ve had a dry spell this long. It’s something that should worry me—but right now, the only thing I’m worried about is this … date of Maddie’s that Lane told me about.
An idea zaps into my head. It’s a bad idea, I know that, but as soon as it lodges in my brain, it immediately bypasses my better judgment and pushes a question from my mouth.
“So, Amelia,” I turn to my companion, suddenly stopping. “How about catching a movie on Friday night?”