Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
“You’re right. That’s strange,” Sarah said while brushing her blonde hair. “I’ve known Emily since freshman year, and the two of us have never hung out alone in one of our dorm rooms.”
Last night, I had fun with Emily. We’d watched several of my favorite rom-coms and ate popcorn. The issue was that I had this weird feeling she hadn’t been here because she wanted to be but rather, because she had to. As if she were babysitting me. Which was crazy and made no sense.
“Maybe she just needed some downtime,” Sarah said. “I know field hockey season can be intense.”
“I thought about that.” And I got it, I really did. I loved my own downtime.
“Don’t forget, Rowan was away last night,” Sarah pointed out. “Besides her boyfriend, she mostly hangs out with Kara and Marlow. They’re on the field hockey team with her.”
“It’s just that, all last week, I swear at least one rugby player was following me around.
Then they go out of town, and suddenly Emily is there with me, and she’s dating a rugby player.
” I sounded crazy and paranoid but couldn’t help how I felt.
“Even this morning at breakfast, Rowan and Danny were there.”
“Did they talk to you?”
“No.” They’d remained at their own table across the room, looking my way every so often. “They live in an off-campus house. Why would they be at the dining hall?”
She shrugged. “Maybe it’s an athlete thing. I think their nutrition is monitored. The school probably pays for their meal plans so they eat healthy and all that.”
I supposed that made sense. “I’ve never seen them there before.
” There were a few dining halls. The fact that they’d gone to the one closest to my dorm and not their house seemed strange.
And when I’d left, they’d gotten up and followed me.
At least, it seemed as if that was what they were doing.
They weren’t close enough to talk or anything, but I was so physically aware of Rowan, that I could feel him when he was near.
“Maybe you need to stop hanging out with the rugby players and their girlfriends.”
I wasn’t hanging out with rugby players. We just kept running into each other. Or, and I shivered just thinking about it, they were watching me for some strange, probably sick, reason.
Someone knocked on the door. Sarah and I looked at each other, confused. No one just showed up without texting first.
Since Sarah was closest, she answered it.
“Hey,” Emily said. “Is Laney here?”
Sarah opened the door wider, letting Emily in.
“Did you forget something here last night?” I asked.
“No. I came by to see if you wanted to do something.”
“I’ve got a date with George,” Sarah said before leaning toward her mirror and applying mascara.
“I actually came here for Laney,” Emily said.
Sarah narrowed her eyes. “Laney is going with me.”
This was news to me.
Emily folded her arms. “Laney is going with you on your date with George?” she asked pointedly, sounding like she didn’t believe her.
“Yes.” Sarah capped her mascara and faced Emily. “We’re going on a double date. I hate to shove you out, but you need to go so we can finish getting ready.” Sarah opened the door, motioning for Emily to leave.
“Where are you guys going?” Emily asked as she headed for the door.
“I don’t know,” Sarah said. “It’s a surprise. The guys planned it.”
“Can Rowan and I join you?” she asked, pausing at the doorway.
The last thing I wanted was for Rowan and Emily to come with us.
“That might be weird,” Sarah responded, not missing a beat.
“Why? I’ve met George,” Emily said. “I know him as well as Laney does.”
“Laney and I made these plans days ago. The guys are already on their way. I don’t want to change anything at the last minute. I’m sorry.”
Emily chewed on her bottom lip, glancing between us. “I don’t mean to sound pathetic, but I don’t want to sit in my room tonight. I want to go out.”
“Em, we love you and totally understand, but you have a boyfriend. Make him take you out. That’s what a boyfriend is good for.”
“Fine,” Emily moaned. “Have fun.” She finally left.
When the door shut, Sarah turned to face me. “What was that about?”
“See, I told you. It’s strange, right?” It wasn’t just me. This entire situation was getting out of control.
“Not that I didn’t believe you before, but after seeing that, you’re completely right.
That was super strange. No more rugby players or their girlfriends for you.
” She went into the bathroom, leaving the door open.
I heard the water run, then shut off. When she came into the room, she said, “I’ve decided you’re coming with me tonight.
” She picked up her phone and started texting.
“I don’t need to go,” I assured her. “I don’t want to be a third wheel.” And I had plenty of studying and reading to do, especially since I’d spent last night watching movies.
“Curtis’s girlfriend just broke up with him, and he’s super depressed. George wants to get him out of their apartment so he’s not sitting around drinking.”
“I don’t want to go on a date.” Especially with Curtis, since I wasn’t interested in him.
“It’s not a date. You both just need to get out, away from school. This is two friends hanging out. Don’t worry, he’s not looking to date. He just needs to get his mind off his ex.”
“I don’t know.” I went over to the window, peering outside. I spotted Emily talking with Rowan and Danny. She gestured her hands wildly, pointing up toward me. I shivered. “You know what? Count me in.” Whatever was going on with those three, I wanted no part of it.
“Smart choice, roomie.”
“What are we doing?”
“We’re just going to the movies. It’ll be completely low-key.”
Perfect. A movie wouldn’t require Curtis or me to make forced conversation. I changed into jeans and a clean t-shirt. I put my hair into a messy bun and applied a little bit of makeup.
“They’re here,” Sarah said.
We exited the dorm and met them in the parking lot at George’s car. The guys sat up front, while Sarah and I sat in the back. On the way there, George and Sarah weren’t acting like a couple, which made it easier for Curtis and me to be included without things being weird.
When we got there, we each bought our own ticket.
I got in line for popcorn while everyone else went to find seats.
After I paid, the guy working behind the counter handed me my bag of popcorn.
I turned, about to head toward the theater, when a jolt of heat shot through me.
I immediately glanced around for Rowan, but didn’t see him anywhere.
I shook my head, mentally berating myself.
Ever since the dog attack, I’d been on edge.
It didn’t help having these strange feelings anytime Rowan was around.
It also freaked me out that either Rowan or one of the rugby players always seemed to be watching me.
Taking a deep breath, I tried calming myself down as I headed into the theater and found my friends. I sat next to Sarah, George beside her, and Curtis on the other end. Perfect. The movie started, and I scooted lower on the seat, putting my legs up and getting comfy.
That strange sense of warmth filled me again. I hunched farther down, then peered between the seats, looking for Rowan. Closing my eyes, I sat there and just let myself feel. A strong sensation of longing came from the back right. I opened my eyes and slowly tilted my head that way.
Rowan was sitting there, staring at me with his impossibly blue eyes under the hood of a baseball cap.
I twisted around. “Fuck.”
“What?” Sarah asked, taking a handful of popcorn.
“Rowan is here.”
“No way.”
“Back row, right side. Baseball hat.”
“Is he with Emily?”
“Nope.” And Emily had begged to go with us. “Why is he here?” Because he couldn’t be following me. It made no sense. That was creepy behavior, and he didn’t seem the type. Maybe there was something wrong with my medication, and it was making me paranoid.
“Are you sure he’s not here with Emily?”
“I don’t see her.” Tears pricked my eyes as overwhelming emotions flooded into me.
Sarah grabbed my arm. “Go to the bathroom. Maybe Emily is in there. If she is, flat out ask her why she’s here and if she’s following you.”
“And if she’s not in there?” I whispered.
“Do you really think Rowan came for you?”
I shrugged. I believed he was here for me but couldn’t voice that. It would make me sound crazy.
“Then I guess we’ll see if he follows you to the bathroom. That’ll be your answer.”
“Don’t you think that’s…” Weird, strange, creepy.
She patted my arm. “One thing at a time. Go to the bathroom. Look for Emily, and I’ll watch to see if Rowan follows you. We’ll go from there. You’re not alone in this. I’ve got you.”
A sense of comfort filled me. “That means a lot to me. Thank you.”
I started to get up. “What do I do if he follows me? Do I talk to him?”
“Yes. Demand to know what’s going on. Now go. I’ll hold your popcorn.”
All I’d wanted was to have an easy night out, watch a movie, and not deal with Rowan Ward. Gah.
I moved into the aisle, head down, purposefully ignoring Rowan, as I headed out of the theater, pretending as if I didn’t know he was there.
My hands shook as I headed for the bathroom off the main lobby. Warmth seeped into my back, and I knew, without looking, that Rowan was following me. I continued to ignore him and entered the women’s bathroom. I glanced under the stalls, searching for Emily. No one else was in there.
Leaning against the counter, I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to decide what to do next.
I had to confront Rowan. But I sucked at confrontations and despised arguing or questioning people.
Welp, this needed to be done. I knew something was going on.
Ignoring it or pretending otherwise would only exacerbate the problem.
Metaphorically speaking, I put my big girl panties on and exited the bathroom. The lobby was mostly empty, and I immediately spotted Rowan across the way, his head down. As if he could blend in.