Chapter Twenty
Clayton sees me all the way to my door and remains until I shut myself safely inside, much to Addy’s amusement.
I grin and roll my eyes, ignoring the butterflies that flutter through my abdomen.
Any other night, the stubborn side of me might have had something to say about being a strong, independent woman, but not right now.
I’m too busy swooning that Rhys created a library just for me, kind of, and that Clay’s fingers slipped into mine as we strolled across campus.
I am fully having my cake and eating it.
“You going to join me or are you just going to lean against the door?” Addy both says and signs.
Seeing the room properly for the first time, I notice how the beds are pushed together, facing a TV upon the dresser.
A yellow sticker on the side labels it as property of the media department.
The bedspread is littered with snacks and pampering products, and suddenly I remember.
“Girl’s night,” I nod slowly, recalling the plan we made.
If Addy can read the revelation all over my face, she doesn’t make it obvious whilst patting the bedspread beside her.
Unshouldering my backpack and kicking off my boots, I sink into the mass of cushions, thinking how lucky it is I didn’t surrender to Rhys’ advances the way I wanted to.
Addy presses play on a romcom, and then proceeds to tell me all about a casual fling she’s had with her childhood neighbor during the Winter break.
It’s a good thing I wasn’t in the mindset to watch the movie, as I curl up on my side and soak up every sordid detail she wants to tell.
How her flexibility came in handy, how she convinced him to dress up like Ghostface and used rubber weapons for multiple uses. I’m as impressed as I am mortified.
“What about you?” Addy beams when she’s finished. I blink slowly, trying to fight off the sleep that wants to creep me.
“What about me, what?”
“Your Christmas,” Addy laughs and nudges my arm so hard, I have to stop myself from rolling onto my back. “Did anything saucy happen? You left campus with Rhys and arrived back with Clayton. There’s definitely a story there.”
“That was purely coincidental. I asked the limousine to drop me off around the corner, and Clay’s bus happened to just be rolling in. Then he insisted on taking my bag so…yeah I can see how it looked.”
“The limousine?!” Addy’s eyes bulge and I realize my mistake.
Okay, now there’s no denying that stuff happened with Rhys during the break, but I smile coyly and keep it to myself.
Enough of my life is plastered on the forum or gossiped about, and although Addy is my closest friend, I just want to keep some things private.
Where Rhys, Clayton and I are concerned, I don’t know how to put our connections into words, so I’d rather not try. Thankfully, Addy doesn’t push.
“Well, if you’re okay riding in an Uber,” Addy scrunches up her face with disgust and I smack her arm, “a couple of the dance girls are going shopping on Friday. Wanna come with?” I glance at the wall, wondering why Friday seems to be ringing some sort of internal bell and then I remember.
“The boys have a basketball game Friday afternoon. I said I’d show my support.”
Addy lifts a shoulder, not fazed by my declining her invitation. I can handle girl’s time in our room, but I’m not one for big crowds of squeals and air kisses. The chaos of the mall will be a quickfire way to give me a migraine, and I don’t care for dressing room sagas.
“And who are you supporting exactly?” she quirks a brow.
I roll my eyes again, too tired to come up with a witty answer.
I see the stares people give when they think I’m not looking, how everyone is waiting for me to break Rhys’ or Clayton’s heart.
The notion of choosing doesn’t sit right with me when they each speak to very different parts of my soul.
Although one day, that decision might be taken out of my hands.
Addy’s fuchsia hair tickles me as she snuggles down into my shoulder, the fleece of her pajamas reminding me of a giant teddy bear.
I yawn widely, laying my cheek on Addy’s head.
Discomfort presses against my ears, and I shift my head several times to find a comfortable spot.
I hate wearing my receivers at the best of times, but I’m in no frame of mind to read sign or subtitles so I’ve left them on.
My eyelids droop, until the sound of popcorn crunching jolts me awake.
I cringe, shoving Addy aside with a groan.
“Am I disturbing you?” she grins knowingly, starting the next chick flick I’ll barely focus on.
She clearly isn’t planning on sleeping tonight.
“Oh hey, I was going to ask you if one of your boys might consider auditioning for the Spring Talent Show. Millie pulled out so I’ve been promoted to chief organizer, and we’re seriously missing some eye candy.
” The laugh that leaves me is packed with sarcasm.
“Real funny.”
“I’m serious. Word on the street is, Rhys will do anything for you.
This would be one more step in the Rhys Renewal Program.
” My brows knit together and Addy shrugs, tossing another piece of popcorn into her mouth.
“Not my label. It’s a trending hashtag on the app.
” Pulling out my phone, I scroll through recent posts and discover that she’s right.
Students from all departments are commenting how Rhys has gone soft, how he’s pussy-whipped and changed for the better.
“But…I don’t want him to change,” I mutter.
“Yeah right,” Addy giggles as if I’ve just made some huge joke.
“You want him to be the bullying asshole who dared the jocks to see who could throw a math’s geek the furthest across the football pitch?
Or who set a girl’s backpack on fire? How about the rumor he’s fiddling with the scholarship funds? ”
“Well…no, but—” A knock sounds at the door, a shadow seeping beneath the frame.
Both Addy and I freeze, staring at it without moving.
It’s past midnight, and we haven’t yet processed the whole note under the door thing yet.
The knock sounds again and I finger-sign for Addy to switch on her phone’s video cam before tiptoeing across the room. Look at me being a big, brave girl.
Swinging the door wide open, I find the hellion himself leaning against the door jamb with a smirk that could melt my panties off.
Rhys leisurely undresses me with his eyes, despite my clothes being the same grey sweater and patterned leggings I was wearing at his house earlier. I shiver under his scrutiny.
“Can I help you with something? Or did you just come to look?” I question, popping my hip to the side. His smile widens, drawing my attention to his lip ring.
“You left something at my place.”
“Oh,” I frown, looking at his empty hands. “What is it?”
“This.” Before I can respond, Rhys grips my chin and claims my mouth in a kiss so fierce, it knocks the breath from my lungs.
His lips crash against mine, rough and needy, tasting heavily of whiskey.
My surprise melts the instant his tongue sweeps across mine, coaxing a helpless sound from the back of my throat.
The room spins. My fingers clutch at his shirt, searching for balance as his hands frame my face, thumbs pressing lightly at my jaw to keep me exactly where he wants me.
There’s no urgency, only the intent that has my pulse thundering in my ears and every coherent thought burning away in the fire he’s ignited.
When he finally pulls back, it’s only far enough to let me breathe.
His mouth hovers inches from mine, a slow, wicked smile curving his lips as if he can still sense my surrender.
My own lips are swollen and tingling, a tremor threatening to buckle my knees as he turns casually and walks further into the room, leaving me standing there with heat pooling between my legs.
Spinning on my heels, I notice Addy tucking her phone away, a menacing grin on her face. Oh god, don’t tell me she filmed that whole thing?! She catches my eye and signs, that was so hot, whilst Rhys removes his jacket. I blink hard, pulling myself together and closing the door with my back.
“Um, it’s girl’s night,” I say weakly. Rhys wobbles slightly as he drops onto my side of the bed, reaching for the popcorn. He’s wasted.
“Sounds good. What are we watching?” he asks, indulging himself in our snacks.
Heat creeps up my neck and lands in my cheeks.
He’s sinfully gorgeous in the low lighting, shadows accentuating his sharp jaw and seeping into his inked skin.
Finally shifting my gaze back to the TV, I can’t even remember the name of the film, but Addy saves me from answering anyway.
“Actually, we were about to paint our toenails. What color do you want, Master Waversea, strawberry margarita or cranberry flame?” She places the choices in Rhys’ lap as he chokes on his salted snack. I use his distraction to quickly sign.
“What are you doing?”
“Proving a point,” she bobs her brows. A tremor of disdain rattles through me.
Rhys isn’t perfect, and his boredom creates havoc for anyone nearby, but he’s not some test subject.
Maybe he has changed, as the hashtag suggests, but not because he was a problem that needed fixing.
It’s because the version of him who he was supposed to be was beaten down and withered by his father, where it waited for the right person to set it free.
Oblivious to the rage that’s stirring within me, Rhys downs my water to clear his throat.
“There’s no fucking way you’re painting my toenails,” he croaks. I catch Addy’s mischievous expression as she raises her shoulders in a nonchalant shrug.
“I’m sure Clayton would—”
“Give me the fucking cranberry,” Rhys spits.
My jaw drops, whilst Addy makes a high pitched noise I grimace at.
I’m getting far too tired for all this noise.
Rhys removes his socks and jeans, reclining in just black tank top and boxers with yellow cordoned stripes around a sign in the center that reads, ‘Caution: May contain nuts.’
“You really don’t have to,” I tell Rhys but he’s already reclining against the headboard, his limbs growing limp.
“Have your girl’s night, do your girly things.
I’ll just…lie here,” he mumbles, his eyelids lowering.
Five bucks says he’ll pass out before she’s even done.
Humming a little tune to herself, Addy paints Rhys’ toenails at lightning speed, pushing the brush back into the pot with a satisfied nod of her head.
“All done princess,” she teases to his sleeping form, and I give her a glare. Excusing herself to the bathroom, I catch up with her in the hallway by dragging her arm backwards.
“That wasn’t cool,” I sign, in case of eavesdroppers. A frown forms on Addy’s face.
“I didn’t mean to cause offence,” she shakes her head slightly. “I’m sorry, I thought we were having fun.”
“Well next time, don’t do it at his expense. He’s not some lab rat to be tested for the amusement of others.” My hands are a flurry of movement, shaking slightly, and I head back to the dorm.
“Harper,” Addy calls after me out loud. “Harper, wait.” I don’t wait. I slip inside and nudge Rhys to wake up.
“Hey, you can’t stay here,” I push against his arm until his blue eyes flicker back open. Staring at the ceiling, Rhys takes a minute to revive himself enough to realize where he is. “Let’s get you back home.”
“Home,” Rhys mutters, dragging himself upright by pure will.
He leans against the wall whilst I grab some necessities and shove my feet into my biker boots.
Dressing Rhys is a damn sight harder, but he rouses enough to do up his jeans button and throw on his jacket.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, the thickness of his voice returning.
“All fine,” I smile weakly, shouldering my bag and leading him out into the hallway.
He hisses at the harsh lights. Addy lingers by the bathroom, watching us leave, her face the picture of confusion.
A stab of guilt bursts in my chest, wondering if I’ve made a mistake, if my gut feeling to protect Rhys has caused me to misinterpret Addy’s intentions.
Either way, we step out into the cold, heading back to the house I was adamant I wasn’t going to stay in whilst Clay was on campus.
I didn’t want to be seen choosing a side, or inadvertently cut ties I’m not ready to cut.
Rhys keeps his arm around me, only stumbling a few times whilst trying to get a glimpse of my face in the streetlamps.
“When we get back, will you tell me what’s upset you?” he asks. I huff a cloud of white in front of my face, although my cheeks are on fire.
“Maybe,” I settle down, looking both ways as we cross the road to his pathway. “Depends how much whiskey you’ve got left.”