Chapter Nine
I groan. My mouth is dry and scratchy. Laughing stirs me.
Darius and some girl flop onto his bed, and I startle awake, sitting upright.
I snap my eyes over to them, but I’m dizzy, disoriented, and clearly drunk.
There’s a glass of water and two tablets on my bedside table, and I reach over to grab them.
I don’t remember putting them there. I don’t remember getting home.
I stare down at myself. I’m half undressed, my dick is almost hanging out of my boxers, and I reach down and tuck it away.
It feels strange, damp almost, but my addled brain doesn’t compute what happened or how I got here.
There’s an unfamiliar smell, heady, masculine.
I remember being at the club. I remember the drinks, so many drinks.
Shit, I semi-panic at the cost, knowing I can’t afford that before exhaling out a breath and remembering him, my sister’s fiancé, paying for them all night. I must remember to say thank you.
Then I remember him saying they aren’t getting married.
I take the tablets and flop back down; the smell engulfs me again, confusing and stifling.
I tug at my shirt, bringing it to my nose.
It’s my shirt, with an overwhelming smell—heady, masculine, expensive, classy, with a hint of cigars.
I yank my shirt off and toss it on the floor.
I hear Darius and whoever he has in his bed groaning and slurping at each other.
I roll over, tugging the pillow over my head, and try to fall asleep before they start fucking, because Darius is fucking vocal and likes his women to be too.
I really don’t need to hear any of that.
I close my eyes and concentrate on passing back out, hoping for the best.
I’ve felt like shit all day. I’ve got a date with Lexi, though, and I can’t wait.
It puts a little pep in my step as I head across campus to the coffee shop.
I head straight to a booth at the back to give us some privacy.
I flick through my phone until I see her push inside.
She’s stunning—slim, blonde hair, so fucking beautiful—one of the popular girls, and I pinch myself, thinking how did I get this lucky that she would want to date me.
It’s new, really new, but I think it could be something.
I step out of the booth to greet her, and I lean in for a kiss, but she turns, and I catch her cheek.
I pull back and stare at her. She gives me a slight shrug and slides into the booth, staying on the end of the seat so I can’t slide in beside.
The waitress steps up to take our order, so I awkwardly sit back down opposite her.
Once the waitress has gone, I smile at her and reach across for her hand, but she moves it and tucks her hair behind her ears.
“Something’s come up. I can’t stay. Do you have the coursework you promised me?”
“Erm, no… I… we went out, and I haven’t finished it.”
“When will you have it ready?”
“I… well… couple of days.”
She stands abruptly. “I have to go, Leo. Don’t let me down, okay.
” She smiles at me and walks off. I stare after her for a few minutes.
There’s a clunk on the table, and I look down to see the two drinks being placed on it.
Great, I’m gonna have to pay for these now, and I don’t have cash to waste on stupid fucking pumpkin spiced fuckachinos.
I tip my head back and blow out a breath. I feel defeated. I want to buy her nice things to take her nice places, but I just can’t afford it. My grant only goes so far. I really need to get this year over with so I can move and start work, find my dream job. Maybe Lexi will come with me?