Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Shannon
I hurry into Broad Street Beans to get a break from the chill outside.
The scent of coffee brewing smacks me in the face.
Rubbing my hands together, I tip my nose in the air and take in the delicious aroma.
I try to save my money for more important things than expensive coffee drinks, but it’s too damn cold outside to wait for the bus without a warm cup in my hand.
I order a hot chocolate and then move over to the counter where the barista is setting down mugs. Most of the campus appears to be inside, not an open seat in the house. So much for hanging out here until the bus comes.
After my drink is ready, I spin around to leave when someone calls out my name. It’s a woman’s voice, one I don’t recognize until I turn around. Taylor Bradshaw has her hand raised in the air, waving to me from across the crowded space.
Smiling, I wave back. She gestures for me to come over to the table where she’s sitting with Bex Bryant. Bex flashes a closed-mouth smile in my direction. She looks upset, her gaze lowering to the table in front of her.
“Hey,” I say as I approach their table.
Taylor pulls out an extra chair and pats the wooden seat. “Sit with us. We have some room.”
I swat my hand to refuse her offer. “No, that’s okay. I have to take the bus soon. Gotta get to work.”
“Hang out for a minute,” Taylor insists, tapping her fingers on the seat. “We haven’t seen you in forever.”
“I broke up with Jamie,” I admit.
Taylor nods. “I heard.”
Bex sniffs and rubs the corner of her eye. “Preston’s suspended,” she announces. “Which means his college hockey career is over. And now, he won’t even talk to me. Because he blames me for everything that’s happened.”
I sit between Taylor and Bex, drinking from the Styrofoam cup in my hand. Clueless, I ask, “What happened?”
Taylor’s head snaps in my direction. “You haven’t heard?”
“I thought everyone on campus knew by now,” Bex says. “I’m surprised it’s not on Dethroned.”
“I hate that bitch,” Taylor growls.
“Me, too,” Bex adds. “She’s such an asshole. Like our lives aren’t hard enough, we need someone with nothing better to do than sneaking around behind our backs to report on us.”
“Jamie’s been looking for her since her first post,” I offer. “He couldn’t handle being bested by a girl.”
Bex snorts. “Typical man. They can’t deal with a girl doing anything that trumps their accomplishments.”
“That’s not what Preston is doing,” Taylor says. “You just need to give him time to process.”
She rolls her eyes and then takes a sip from her mug.
“I have never met a more complicated man in my life. I never thought Preston would act like such a baby. Just because I was the reason he fought Kellan doesn’t mean I should suffer for his stupid decision.
I love him even more for standing up for me, but I really wish he’d have backed down to him and just let it go.
Now, my past could ruin our future. And it’s all my fault. ”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Taylor says. “You didn’t force him to beat the shit out of Kellan. And Kellan deserved more than a beat down. I’m surprised your dad didn’t jump in, too.”
“I’m so confused,” I interject. “Who’s Kellan, and why did Preston get into a fight with him?”
“My ex-boyfriend,” Bex says, her voice low and soft.
“He did horrible things to me when we were in high school. I told Preston about it. He promised not to go after him. But apparently, Kellan egged him on, and Preston snapped. So now, he has his friends giving me shitty excuses for why he can’t talk to me.
He hasn’t left the house all week. It’s not like him to miss class. ”
“Drake said he’s not speaking to anyone,” Taylor says. “Don’t take it personally.”
“What’s up with you and Drake?” I ask, hoping it’s not too much of an intrusion.
She bites the inside of her cheek as if she has to consider my question. “I don’t know. He’s such a player. And a pain in my ass.”
“Jamie said he talks about you all the time.”
“As far as I know, he’s not talking to other girls,” Taylor says. “But I don’t know if I want to get involved with him. I’m moving back to California after graduation for grad school. It’s not like a relationship between us could last.”
“Everyone on campus has seen pictures of Little Drake,” Bex says with a chuckle.
“It’s not little,” Taylor says, laughing.
“Maybe you should jump on it while you can.” Bex winks at Taylor. “At least you know he’s a good time.”
Taylor laughs so hard she snorts, and I join in their laughter.
Literally, everyone at Strickland University has seen a Drake Donovan dick pic.
It’s really something to look at. Jamie’s big enough for me, but Drake is a whole other level of wow.
Sex with Drake would probably scare the crap out of me.
“What are you doing after graduation?” Taylor asks me. “You going to grad school or have a job lined up?”
“No, to both.” I set my drink on the table and explain how much I love to cook.
I tell her about my job at Rizzo’s and how it made me realize I want to be a baker.
“I’ve been saving money for the last four years to hopefully one day open my bakery.
Cupcakes are my specialty. I get a lot of orders for them. ”
“That’s awesome,” Taylor says. “I hope you do it. I love cupcakes. Red velvet with the creamy icing is my favorite.”
“I use buttercream for all of my cupcakes,” I admit.
“I could see the yuppies downtown buying fancy cupcakes,” Bex says.
I sigh. “If only I could afford the rent.”
“Have you thought about a food truck?” Taylor suggests.
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t, but I like the idea. Do you think I could sell cupcakes and pastries from a truck?”
“People sell cheesesteaks and fruit from them,” Bex says. “I don’t see why you couldn’t do it with cupcakes.”
“I was thinking about calling it Shake-n-Cake,” I say. “What do you think of the name?”
Taylor’s face brightens. “I love it.” Her voice reaches a higher octave. “So cute.”
“Me, too,” Bex says, a hint of a smile turning up the corners of her mouth. “It’s catchy. I like it.”
Taylor crosses her legs and leans back in her chair. “Well, if you open your own store, you better invite me.”
A cell phone buzzes on the table, and Taylor lifts it to check the message. Her nose scrunches as she reads it. “Drake says Preston is finally eating with them. He hasn’t done that since before the Boston game.”
Bex rolls her shoulders, staring out the long window that spans the wall next to our table.
“That means he’ll apologize soon,” Taylor adds.
“We’ll see,” Bex says, devoid of emotion. “But I’m glad he’s feeling better.”
“So…” Taylor says, looking at me, “… you and Jamie. What’s going on with him? Are you gonna get back together?”
“He’s in love with his girlfriend,” I whisper.
She seems confused. “Jamie doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
“Yes, he does. Cece. The girl he got caught kissing. Even The Queen called him out for it.”
“That girl is his ex,” Bex says. “Preston hates her. He said she’s trying to ruin Jamie’s life.”
Shit. So, he was telling the truth? Maybe I jumped to conclusions a little too fast because of my fear of getting hurt.
“What’s she doing to him?” I ask.
“Her dad is buying his dad’s company,” Bex says. “Preston said Jamie’s a mess over it. He’s kind of paranoid. Jamie thinks The Queen has something to do with it.”
I slide my chair closer to the table and lower my voice. “Why would she care about his dad’s company?”
Bex holds her palms up and shrugs. “Not sure. Preston didn’t get into it. He said Jamie has a conspiracy theory about The Queen. Sounds like he’s losing his mind over it.”
“Poor Jamie,” I say, now feeling bad for turning my back on him. “You think I should talk to him? I told him not to call me. He’s kept his distance.”
“Call him,” Taylor says. “Or text. What’s the worst that can happen?”
He could tell me to fuck off. Like I did to him.
It feels weird to hang out with the girlfriends of Jamie’s friends, but I enjoy being around them. Jamie respected my wishes, and he hasn’t called or texted in over a month. I know what I said, but a small part of me had hoped he’d at least try.
Bex and Taylor fill me in on everything I missed. I already knew about Jemma being pregnant since I’m her Kappa Delta Big Sister. From the sounds of it, Jamie has a lot going on.
I want to reach out to Jamie.
I miss him so damn much.
But I’m so afraid he’ll hurt me again.