Chapter 33 #2
He’d asked me if she told me everything. I was beginning to suspect she hadn’t. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I trusted her. Had I made a mistake? Or had she held back the fact that her dad knew more than she told me she thought he did?
That was more likely.
I had a lot to consider.
I also had to get these freaking women to stop side-eyeing me.
I left the coffee shop with my coffee and an attitude I hadn’t gone in with.
I went to find my nook in the library, where no one could give me any looks that questioned what I had done to Slater to make him have a relationship, or worse, what he could possibly see in me.
I’d seen the comments on social media. The ones about my face, my body, my weight, what I must have done to ‘land him’ — what I must be like in bed. The usual thoughtlessness.
Assholes.
People were very brave when they had a keyboard to hide their identity. I’d love for half of them to be brave enough to come and tell me to my face.
My nook was empty. I set up and got to work, drafting up a piece that, the more I wrote, sounded more like a ‘whodunnit’ than an investigative piece of journalism.
After an hour of hardly any productivity, I packed up and headed out. I had to meet Slater’s parents tomorrow. I’d better find something decent in my closet.
On the way out, a stunning redhead made a remark about the fact that my purse wasn’t designer, and I was obviously only after Dustin for his money.
I turned around and smiled at her. “Not interested in his wallet. Just his cock.” I looked her over. “I’m sure you know what I mean, you look like the type he used to be attracted to.”
I left her and the library, complete silence following me out.
Ugh. Now I had to confess I made a scene. Did I?
As luck would have it, Noah and Dustin were walking across the quad. I was so done with all the whispers, the looks, and the snide comments. I walked right up to Dustin, hooked my hand in his hoodie, and dragged him down for a kiss.
He didn’t hesitate. His arms wrapped around me, and I was lifted off my feet as my ‘boyfriend’ kissed me like he hadn’t seen me for three years. When we broke apart, he grinned.
“What did you do, and is it bad?”
I laughed. “I called one of your former fun times a ho.”
Noah snorted. “I love you, Hadley. You have absolutely zero shits to give, I respect that.”
I bumped fists with Noah. Dustin slung his arm over my shoulders. “Which one?”
I didn’t comment on the fact that he seemed to play the boyfriend role very well. Or that it felt completely natural to walk along the quad with his arm draped over my shoulders.
“How the fuck would I know?” I asked him. “Tall, big boobs, red hair, attitude problem.”
He frowned. “Nah. I got nothing.”
“Neither did she.”
Noah made a ‘meow’ sound, and I giggled. “Where’s the third part of your slick wheel?”
Noah stopped grinning, and Dustin sighed.
“Oh my God, you two? Really?” I reached over and grabbed Noah’s arm. “You and him need to talk.”
“I don’t have anything to say to him,” Noah muttered.
“Big baby,” I scolded. “I can help if you like? I have plenty to say to both of you. Come on, both of you, home.”
“Do I get a vote?” Dustin asked.
“No.” The three of us headed to their dorm. Dustin glanced at me once, but I pretended I didn’t see him. He squeezed my ass in reprimand.
Their apartment was empty. I wasn’t to be deterred. I called Savannah. “Hey, Savvy, it’s me, hi.” I narrowed my eyes at the two guys in front of me. “I need you to return QB10 to the apartment.”
“Why?” Savannah asked.
“Because I had a chat with your dad this afternoon, and I want to tell everyone together what he told me.”
“My dad spoke to you about this? Really?”
I felt slightly guilty for leading her on. “He did.”
“We’ll be right over.”
I got off the call, and Noah looked at me with reproach. “That wasn’t fair to her.”
I knew that.
I nodded. “I did talk to him about it, he just didn’t tell me much,” I confessed. “But I made progress.”
“You spoke to the dean about what is happening here?” Dustin asked me with surprise. “Was that wise? What did he say?”
“Yes, yes, and you can wait until they’re here.”
Noah mumbled that he was going to his room to change. I leaned against the kitchen counter as I waited. Dustin was on his phone.
“You told the head cheerleader she was a skanky ho?” he asked me, surprised.
“Did I?”
He showed me his phone.
“Yeah, that was her.”
Dustin shook his head. “You’re going to cause me more trouble than I need, Peterson.”
“You should be more discerning with your taste.”
“Snob.”
“Manwhore.”
“Bitch.”
I grinned. “Don’t ever forget it.”
He laughed and stepped into my space.
“What are you doing?” I asked nervously, looking past him to Noah’s closed door.
“Practicing.”
He kissed me deep and slow. His mouth moved over mine with no urgency, his hand cupped my face, the other rested on my hip, no wandering, just holding me where he needed me.
My toes curled in my boots as I kissed him back.
I don’t know how long he kissed me for, but I suspected that when Dante cleared his throat behind us, it wasn’t the first time they’d tried to get our attention.
Dustin stepped back. “Hey,” he greeted them, kissing me one final time before turning to them. “You got here quick.”
“Did we?” Dante drawled, shaking his head as he walked past. “You two know no one can see you in here, you don’t have to pretend.”
Neither of us answered.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever been pretending.
Had he?
I glanced at Dustin, who was looking at me, and he didn’t look called out. I blushed, and when I turned away, I saw Savannah try to hide her smile.
Yeah, I wasn’t unpacking my relationship with Dustin Slater right now.
“Noah!” I yelled. “Ass out here.”
A few moments later, he stepped out of his room.
“Slater? On the door,” I ordered. I marched into the center of the room, dragging the quarterback with me by his arm. “Here.” I pointed at the spot on the floor, ignoring his loud protests. “Noah!” I pointed at the spot beside me. “Here.”
Neither moved.
“Oh my God, both of you, just remember you’re adults.”
Noah came over. I stepped out from between them and turned to face them.
“You’re both letting this get out of control.
” I glared at them both. “Savannah woke Noah up by screaming in his ear and scared him. He reacted. He reacted in a way most of us wouldn’t, but he apologized.
Immediately. He was so distraught! The poor guy almost cried.
Savannah, the only person who needed to, forgave him the moment he hit her. You know why? It was an accident.”
I jabbed Dante in the chest. “You, you stupid man-child, reacted to your girlfriend getting hurt. It’s natural. You lashed out because you were scared, and you reacted. Exactly what Noah did.”
I turned to Noah and pointed at his chest. “You, you stupid man-child, had a scare and reacted, then realized you hurt her. You felt like shit, you apologized, but you reacted to the situation as it presented itself to you. You didn’t need this one here—” I pointed at Dante again — “to lash out at you. You’re hurt he would think you would willingly hurt Savvy. Who, as we all know, is your favorite.”
“Why am I not his favorite?”
“Not the time, Slater,” I barked, not looking at him. “You two. You’re both idiots, you both overreacted, and now you’re just being stubborn mules. Hug it out and move on.”
I waited.
“I will kick your ass, both of you.”
“My money’s on Hadley to win,” Savannah told them. “Who’s going to bet against her?”
Dante smirked. “Not me.” He turned to Noah. “I shouldn’t have hit you.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” He looked uncomfortable.
“I’m not making this a thing, because this isn’t a thing.
Okay. I do not talk about it, because it rarely bothers me.
And if you ask me, I will ignore you.” He gave us each a stern stare.
“I had a . . . period in my teens when my sleeping situation wasn’t permanent. ”
“What does that mean?” Savvy asked. “Foster care?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that sleep wasn’t always guaranteed to be peaceful. Some nights I needed to be ready to defend myself.” He glanced at Savvy. “It really was the worst way you could have woken me up.”
“I’m so sorry, Noah.” She came forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, and he hugged her back.
I turned to look at Dante, who hadn’t moved or said anything. He was looking at Noah with an expression I couldn’t entirely read, not surprise exactly, but he did look like a piece of something had just clicked into place.
I waited. I looked over my shoulder at Savannah, who looked a little disappointed that her man was saying nothing.
I glanced at Dustin when I heard the rustling and saw he was eating a bag of chips.
“Where did you get those?”
He pointed at my bag. “You.”
And somehow it was Slater who broke the tension.