Chapter 34
Tatum
Six months…
“Girl, it's bonfire night. You are coming!” I roll my eyes at Janet, her excitement is catchy and it's annoying as hell.
“I have to study, I have a paper due?—”
“Tatum! You are coming with us, don’t argue.” I groan. Janet beams at Nova, knowing there is no way I’ll win an argument against her. Vivian joins us then and I know without a doubt that she has already picked all of our outfits out. Janet and Vivian begin planning how we can do our hair. Nova is much like me, we don’t give a shit what we look like. I met Janet on my first day here at CHU. I was a nervous wreck and scared as hell, but she clung to me and helped me adapt to everything. The fact she gets on with Vivian and Nova as well as she does makes everything work with our little foursome.
“You okay?” Nova asks as we follow behind Janet and Vivian.
I release a tired sigh. “Yeah, just haven’t been sleeping well,” I admit.
“Still having those weird dreams?” she asks quietly.
I nod. “I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.”
She nods. “I get it. That shit takes a long time to get over. If you need to talk, I’m here.” I smile my thanks but don’t reply. I've been struggling for a couple of months to get more than a couple of hours of sleep a night. I thought I was past this shit but I guess not. A couple of weeks back I woke up and swore I saw a shadow in the corner of my room, but when I turned the light on, it was gone. A part of me wishes it was Alex but another part doesn’t. He’s clearly moved on and it's whatever.
I tried to reach out to him but his number is disconnected, so are the others. It hurt knowing that the guys cut me off. The one that stings just as badly as Alex is Omen. I thought he and I were friends, but that’s just another thing I was wrong about. For the rest of the afternoon I’m caught up in my head and don’t snap out of it until we get to the beach. I look around at all the students smiling and drinking like life is the greatest gift. I envy their happiness.
“Dawson is checking you out,” Vivian whispers. I snap my head toward her and frown.
“We’re just friends,” I defend.
She waggles her brows and backs away toward where Vox and the other guys stand. “Does he know you’ve friend zoned him?” she fires back. I roll my eyes and turn toward Janet who squeals and rushes across the sand toward her boyfriend Kyle. Nova bumps her shoulder into mine, drawing my focus to her.
“There is no time frame on healing. Dawson is great…” When I sigh, she smiles and shakes her head. Vox suddenly appears behind her and wraps his arms around her waist. She melts into him instantly and jealousy rears its ugly head inside me. “What I was going to say is, Dawson is a great guy but he isn’t Alex.” My mouth parts in a silent gasp. “I get it, truly I do. He doesn’t have that aura of darkness that clings to your man effortlessly. But, what I will say is, I really like Dawson and he's a great friend. Don’t invest your time in him unless you are truly over Alex because I would hate to see him get hurt.”
“Witch, I’ve had enough of hearing you talk about other guys,” Vox growls, then drags Nova away. The sound of her laughter brings a smile to my face. That smile slowly fades when Dawson appears in front of me. I feel guilty because Dawson is freaking handsome and any girl would be lucky to have a guy like him, but he just isn’t the guy for me.
“Something on your mind?” he asks.
I nibble on my bottom lip and debate how to answer that question. “Dawson, are we friends?” He frowns and nods cautiously.
“I’d like to think so,” he says skeptically.
“I want us to stay that way…” Nerves thrum through me, this is the very reason I didn’t want to come tonight, because I knew he would find me and I would have to try to find a way to dodge his request to go for coffee or something. It surprises me when he smiles wide and slings his arm over my shoulders and draws me into his side.
“No offense, Tate. I really like you and everything and I’m sorry if I came off as wanting to date you, but I was genuinely just trying to be friendly because you always look so freaking sad.” My mouth parts and I balk up at him. He rolls his lips over his teeth to keep from laughing. Shame washes over me. I bury my face in my hands as his laughter booms out of him and I wish a tidal wave would come and wash me away.
“I’m so sorry,” I mumble into my hands.
“I swear, I’m totally good with being friend zoned.” The humor is clear in his tone and I want to facepalm myself but refrain.
“Okay, well, now that we have that sorted, I’m gonna go die of shame in my dorm.” I turn to flee, only for Dawson to catch up to me a couple of steps later. “Let me die alone please,” I beg.
He just laughs and throws his arm around my shoulders. “Never. I’m gonna walk you back to your dorm.”
“No you don’t have to,” I say as we reach the sidewalk that is shrouded in shadows from the trees. The street lamps afford us enough light to see our way until we reach the main street near campus.
“Yes, I do,” he counters.
“No, you don’t.” I slam to a halt at the sound of the voice. I feel Dawson tense beside me as we both stand here watching as a shadow materializes from behind the trees, my breath hitches at the sight and my knees go weak. Dawson instinctively shifts his hold and wraps his arm around my waist to keep me from falling into a heap. His green eyes shine with rage as he stares at Dawson’s arm around me. I guess it doesn't help that I'm standing here in a bikini top and denim cut offs. His gaze takes in the sight of the ink across my collarbone and I scold myself internally for leaving that exposed.
“We don’t want any trouble?—”
He cuts Dawson off before he can finish. “Then I suggest you turn the fuck around and go back to your party,” he snarls in a tone laced with venom.
Dawson’s grip on me tightens. I try to get my mouth to work but no words come out. “Yeah, I’m not leaving her here with you, asshole.”
When he takes a step toward us I tense. I know what’s going to happen if I can’t get myself under control. He’ll kill Dawson and I can’t let that happen. When he’s mere feet from us I manage to pull free of Dawson’s hold and cut in front of him just in time to place my hand against his chest, stopping him from reaching my friend. His eyes blaze at the feeling of my hand on him and has lava filling my veins, having him this close again.
“Tatum, get out of here,” Dawson growls.
“Dawson!” At the sound of Vox’s voice I look to the side to see him, Ezekiel, Nova, Vivian, Hayze and Archer rushing toward us. Both the girls look shocked to see Alexander standing before me but not the guys. I narrow my eyes when they come to a stop near us. Archer at least has the decency to look guilty when he meets my accusing stare.
“You guys knew he was here,” I whisper, hurt lacing my words and the four guys all nod. I scoff, then tear my gaze from them to meet those green eyes I have been dreaming about for months. I can see so many emotions swirling in the depths of his eyes, but I ignore them. I can’t handle that right now. “Six months,” I say quietly. He exhales and implores me with his eyes not to push him away. “I searched for you, I tried to find you. I flew to Denver.”
“I know,” he says brokenly.
“Don’t speak,” I snap. He clamps his mouth closed instantly, tears blur my vision as all the pain I have repressed for six months rushes to the surface, threatening to break me. “You left me. You turned your fucking back on me and now you decide you want to come back?” I shout, unable to control my rising emotions. “Fuck you, Alexander Denver, I hate you,” I snap, then shove against his chest. The asshole doesn't budge. “You son of a bitch!” I scream as my tears fall and I pound my fists against his chest. He allows me to continue to hit him and scream at him without doing a damn thing.
“Touch her and I’ll snap your fucking neck,” Alex sneers. I snap out of my haze and turn to see Dawson frowning at him. Ez reaches out and grabs his arm, pulling him away from me.
“Don’t fucking hurt her,” Hayze snaps at Alex.
“Wait, I’m not leaving her,” Nova says.
“Me either,” Vivian adds. I attempt to move toward my friends but Alex grabs my arm, halting me. Without thought I whirl around and slap him. His eyes blaze. I give him an ‘I don’t give a fuck’ glare.
“Get your fucking hands off me, you son of a bitch,” I scream.
“Stop calling my mom a bitch!” he snaps. My nostrils flare and his upper lip pulls back in a snarl.
“Witch, walk away now or I'll throw you over my shoulder. Same goes for you, Vivian. This has nothing to do with either of you,” Vox barks.
“Like fuck. She’s our friend and he broke her heart!” Vivian fires back. Alex flinches at her words. I try to pull free but he won’t release his hold on me.
Alex turns to Vivian. “She’ll be back at the end of spring break, you have my word.” I balk up at him.
“The fuck do you mean?” I snap. Alex bends at the knees, then throws me over his shoulder before I can do a goddamn thing about it. I start punching his back and digging my nails into the scars that mar his back.
“Alex–”
“Vivian, this has nothing to do with you. She’s coming with me whether you like it or not. I’m not asking your permission, I’m telling you. She’ll call you when she calms down,” Alex says.
“I’m not going anywhere with you!” I yell.
“Yeah you are, Bambi,” is all he says before he turns and starts walking away. I lift my head to see the four guys holding the girls and Dawson back.
“Hurt her and I’ll kill you, Alexander!” Nova yells after us.
“Noted,” Alex mumbles.
“Put me down!” I hiss.
“No. Your defiant ass will just try to run away and I’m too tired to chase you,” he claps back.
“I don’t want you to chase me.”
“Bullshit, Bambi. It gets you wet when I hunt you down.” I balk at his rudeness but I can’t lie and say that his words don’t have my pussy clamping down on air. I haven’t had any reaction from that nasty bitch for six months, and now, suddenly, mere seconds after being around this asshole, she seems to flare back to life.
“I hate you,” I snicker.
“I fucking love you.” His words have my breath hitching. I remain silent and don’t fight his hold. When he finally comes to a stop, he makes sure I feel every inch of him when he slides me down his front. Fuck, I can feel he’s hard for me and its taking a lot more self-control than I want to admit to keep focused. He reaches out and cups my face between his hands, his eyes bore into mine and it’s too much. I reel back and shake free of his hold. I spin away from him, ready to run but I come face to face with Omen. A ghost of a smile crests on his lips, his eyes are filled with remorse. I can’t stop myself.
I lurch forward and he catches me with ease. I bury my face in the crook of his neck and hold him tight, my tears fall silently and soak into his skin. His hold on me tightens. Neither of us utter a word for a long time. When my tears finally stop falling, I pull back. He places me on my feet and smiles sadly down at me.
“Hi, Tate,” He whispers.
“Hi, Omen,” I say quietly.
His smile widens but I see the sadness in his eyes. It's consuming him and I know why that is. I reach out and clasp his hands in mine. “I hear we’re spending spring break together?” He cuts a glance above my head to look at Alex for a second before focusing back on me.
“If it helps, I packed your bag?”
I sigh dejectedly and roll my eyes. “No it doesn’t, but me complaining about it isn’t going to change things, is it?” He shakes his head then leads me to the car that’s idling at the curb. The back door opens and Carnage steps out. My eyes widen at the sight of him. “I see you’re still around.”
Carnage scoffs. “Yeah, nice to see you too, brat,” he mutters. I slip inside the car and shake my head.
“Of course he brought the fucking calvary.” I snicker when I see Pope, Vatican and Halo. The guys laugh. I move to the back of the car, Carnage claims the seat beside Halo and Alex and Omen climb in the back with me, forcing me to sit in the middle. I press in as close as I can to Omen, not wanting to touch Alex at all if I can help it. Omen sighs and shakes his head but I ignore him. Alex is growling and I can feel him glaring holes into the side of my head but fuck him!
“Airport?” Pope asks from the front seat.
“Yeah,” Alex clips out.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Home—”
“I wasn’t talking to you, asshole!” I snap, cutting Alex off. I ignore the four dicks in the front snickering and look up at Omen who has his gaze trained on Alex.
“You know he has a gun pointed at me, right?” Omen says with humor lacing his words. We all know Alex will never pull that trigger.
“He’s just got his panties in a bunch because I’m happy to see you and not his mug.” Omen bites down on his lips to keep from laughing, but Vatican and Carnage have no issues with releasing their humor.
“ He can hear you,” Alex snarls.
I roll my eyes, forcing Omen to smile and shake his head. “And your point is?” I snap still keeping my back to him.
“My point is I’m about to lose my shit Tatum, and you won’t like what happens—” I spin around and face him, pinning him with a look of malice.
“Don’t you fucking threaten me!” I scream. I feel Omen flinch behind me. “You don’t get to come back into my life after six fucking months and think I’ll drop to my knees and worship you like some fucking God!”
Alex snaps his hand out and grips the back of my neck. He and I both freeze when we hear guns cocking. I dart my gaze to the side to see both Carnage and Halo have their guns drawn, I know without a doubt Omen has his drawn as well. Alex grinds his teeth as he shoots each of the guys a scathing look.
“Don’t keep pushing me, Tate.”
I snort. “Oh, I’m fucking trembling, Alex. What are you going to do, chain me up? No, your ex did that. You going to drug me? Nope, your ex did that as well. Wait, are you going to stab me?” He releases me and recoils into his side. “Nope, your ex did that as well. Oh, I know. How about you wait till I’m on my deathbed and then disappear from my fucking life after I risked everything to save you!” I don’t realize I’m screaming or even crying until I finish. “She nearly killed me,” I whisper. He flinches as if I’ve caused him physical pain. “She was going to have her men rape me while you watched.”
“She’s dead,” Alex grits out.
“You don’t fucking get it,” I whisper brokenly as the car comes to a stop. When Halo and Carnage climb out I rush to follow after them. I nearly make it to the plane before Alex grabs my waist and yanks me back until I face him.
“What don’t I get?” he roars.
“You leaving me hurt more than anything she did. You once asked me who hurt me , the answer to that is you .”