Chapter 11
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
Rory
“Ugh, I can’t study here,” Kenna groans, sitting up and letting the heavy textbook she was reading fall onto the floor with a clatter.
I glance over from my spot in the chair, typing on my laptop. I have a paper due in my English class and I’ve been putting it off. It’s not like me to not get my homework done immediately but the topic, discussing classic poems and how the history of their time overlaps into their meaning and how it can be interpreted differently today, doesn’t excite me.
Li peeks over top of her computer, a sour gummy worm hanging out of her mouth. “Why not?”
Kenna stands up, grabbing a bottle of root beer from the fridge. “I need a change of scenery. If I have to keep staring at these beige walls I’ll lose my mind.”
“We could go to the library.” They both glance at me when I voice my suggestion.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Kenna concedes. “Li, you in?”
The three of us agreed early in the week to spend Saturday studying and catching up on homework before going out. I’ve spent several nights this week working and while I would have preferred to work tonight too since it’s Saturday, I knew I needed to get this essay done and spend time with the girls. Besides, if all I do is school and work I’ll burn out fast and I can’t afford that with all the years I have ahead of me. Everyone deserves a night off now and then.
Li chews and swallows her sour gummy worm. “Library means no snacks though.”
Kenna’s face falls. Brightening she argues, “True, but that’ll make us work faster so we can eat.”
Li shrugs, her lips flattening. “All right. I’m in.”
The three of us gather what we need in our backpacks and head across campus to the massive building.
I’ve been a few times in the month I’ve been at school. It’s my favorite place on campus. Large and imposing, there are three stories of aisle after aisle of bookshelves. Long wooden tables line the middle for students to work at, with a few smaller tables and chairs tucked into corners.
Trudging up the stone steps into the library, a wistful smile touches my lips. Almost daily I find myself having a moment where I’m overcome with joy because I’m here . I did it. I made it. All on my own.
Often times my mom wanted to make me think I couldn’t do anything or be anything without her. It was a lie to try to trap me.
Inside, I follow behind the girls, gawking around in awe at the rich wood shelves, glittering chandeliers, and the magic every library has to transport us to another world.
You’d think since I’ve been here multiple times I’d be over the beauty of it, but I’m not.
“Here’s one.” Kenna slams her bag down on one of the long tables. There are two people at the other end with plenty of empty chairs between them and us.
Li slides in across from Kenna and I pull out the chair beside her.
Placing my laptop onto the table the three of us get to work, silence stretching between us. Perhaps it’s the magical powers of the library, but I’m able to get in the zone and within two hours my paper is done and the girls are finishing up.
I stretch my arms above my head, stifling a yawn.
Closing her laptop Kenna groans. “That’s it. I’m finished. I can’t even think about homework for at least another twenty-four hours.”
“Agreed.” Li begins packing her things away in her bag.
“Harvey’s for dinner and drinks?”
I have to stifle my cringe at Kenna’s suggestion. We haven’t been back since our first night out and I really don’t want to have a repeat. The solution is simple though. No drinking.
“I could use a drink.” Li stands, shrugging her bag around her shoulders. “But I need to shower and change first.”
“Me too.” I sniff discreetly at myself.
“I’m going to third wheel that.” Kenna cackles, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
Outside, we walk side by side back to our dorm. The sun hasn’t set yet, but it will shortly. For now, I soak in what’s left of the sun’s rays, knowing it’ll be gone by the time we go to the bar.
“How’s the job going?” Li’s voice breaks me out of my thoughts.
“Pretty good. I like it.” Izzy has mellowed out some, she was able to hire two more waiters so that things aren’t stretched so thin. I get along well with everyone and the tips aren’t bad. I feel like things have worked out better than I could’ve hoped for.
“Maybe I should get a job,” Kenna muses, tilting her head to the side.
“Why?” Li blurts, stifling a giggle. “You’re rich.”
“My dad’s rich,” she corrects. “Besides, I think a job could be fun.”
Only someone with money could think working and going to school could be fun . I don’t tell her that. I don’t want to start a squabble over a trivial comment. She’s a nice girl and I know she didn’t mean to come off rude.
I reach the dorm first and swipe my keycard, letting us inside the building. We grab the elevator up to our floor.
“Rock, paper, scissors for the shower?” I arch a brow, waiting for their response. Both nod and we stand in a circle. “Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.” I do paper and they both do rock. “I go first,” I sing-song, adding in a little shimmy.
Stepping back, they go again, Kenna doing scissors and Li paper. Li’s shoulders fall dejectedly. “You guys suck. Third it is.”
“Hey, it’s the fairest way.” I flick the end of her braid playfully as I pass her to my room so I can grab my shower stuff. I learned quick to keep it in my room. Kenna likes to ‘try’ everyone else’s stuff.
With my shower caddy in hand I lock myself in the bathroom. I let the water heat up, fogging the mirror, and turn on my music to play.
Stripping out of the sweatpants and t-shirt I wore today I leave them in a pile on the floor. I’ll add them to the hamper in my room. I need to make a trip down to the laundry room on the first-floor tomorrow.
Finishing my shower, Kenna hurries inside the steamy room while I lock myself in my room to get ready, putting in extra effort to look somewhat put together.
I blow dry and curl my hair, even taking the time to put on some makeup. I figure if I’m going out I might as well look the part.
Two hours later the three of us are ready and pile into Kenna’s car once again.
No drinking tonight, Rory. None whatsoever.
The parking lot of Harvey’s is full and as soon as my heeled booties touch down in the gravel parking lot I can feel the thump of the music.
Kenna lets out a little squeal, pointing ahead of her. “Five-dollar margarita night! Yes!” I don’t tell her, but back home there were dollar margarita nights. “I’m going to get shit-faced. What about you?” she addresses me.
I hold my hands up in surrender. “Not tonight.”
“Excellent. You’re the DD then.” She passes me the keys to her luxury SUV and I swear even the key fob feels expensive.
Li pats my shoulder, grinning at me. “Thanks for taking one for the team.”
“It’s not a problem.”
Alcohol and I are currently not on speaking terms.
I’ve spotted Cole a few times on campus and he always smiles when he sees me, but we’ve never spoken again. I’ve heard murmurings on campus about him. Apparently, he’s a scholarship student here because he’s incredible at basketball. The way people talk it’s like they expect him to become a legend or something. Like Mascen he’s a pretty big deal.
“Time to relax, ladies.” Kenna does a little shimmy before opening the door into the bar.
The two of us have very different ideas of relaxing. For me, it’s lounging in my PJs, sans makeup, binge-watching a TV show. A loud, chaotic, bar filled with drunk college students does not fall into the relaxing category for me.
Kenna breezes in, pushing her way through the crowd. It seems a lot of people here don’t bother with a table, instead opting to stand around and drink while they socialize. The dance floor is empty for the moment, but it’s still early in the evening. I have a feeling in the next hour it’ll be packed with sweaty dancing bodies.
We find a high-top table with three chairs and snag it. It’s near the bar and Kenna raises her fingers in signal. Within seconds a frazzled waitress appears at our table.
“What can I get y’all?”
“Margaritas for us and…” Kenna pauses eyeing me.
“Dr. Pepper for me. And chicken tenders.”
The waitress is gone, her hair flipping around her shoulders as she goes.
“Chicken tenders?” Li tries not to smile.
I shrug. “Chicken tenders are my weakness.”
And luckily, if memory serves me correct, the food was true greasy bar food, not the gourmet version I was expecting.
The waitress drops off their margaritas and both girls sip happily at them. When half of Kenna’s is gone she stands, wiggling her hips. “I’m going to go pick a song from the juke box. Any requests ladies?”
“One Direction,” I mutter, totally kidding, but she grins from ear to ear.
“I love them! Li, what about you?”
“Anything that makes me dance is fine by me.”
Kenna claps her hands excitedly. “I’ll be right back.”
I watch her push through the crowd to the opposite side of the restaurant. Kenna is always so full of energy and almost constantly happy. I wish I had a little bit of her pep instead of being so cynical.
Li sips at her drink, tucking a piece of long straight black hair behind her ear. “How are you doing handling school and working?”
“Pretty good, I guess. I have to do it, so I’m learning how to balance my time so I study and get homework done on time.”
“I don’t think I could do it.” She bites her bottom lip lightly. “I kind of envy you for that.”
I wrinkle my nose. “For working?”
A light laugh leaves her. “I know I sound like a spoiled brat. I’m lucky that my parents are paying my way and I don’t have to worry, but you’re so … composed. You have your shit together. It seems like you can handle anything. That’s what I envy.” Her eyes sparkle with humor. “I certainly don’t have my ducks in a row. Those losers are always getting lost and waddling away.”
Kenna pops up back at the table, sliding onto her stool. “All right, ladies, I put a song on rotation for each of us. We’re going to tear up the dance floor.”
“Oh, no, no, no,” I chant, swishing my arms in an X shape through the air. “No dancing for me tonight. Nope. Not happening. I’m on babysitting duty.”
“Babysitting? There aren’t any kids here,” Kenna blurts, the rest of her margarita already gone.
Li elbows her. “She meant us.”
Kenna’s lips part in a perfect O. Pulling her brown hair over her shoulder she grins at me. “I knew that.”
Kenna’s not dumb. In fact, I think she’s one of those deceptively smart people, but sometimes things leave her mouth before she thinks.
“Chicken tenders and Dr. Pepper.” The waitress sets down my basket of tenders with honey mustard.
“Thanks.” I pick up a fry, chewing on the end of it. Kenna reaches for one and I playfully swat her hand away. “Get your own.”
Pouting her bottom lip she gives me puppy eyes. “Please, just one?”
“Fine.” I stick my tongue out at her and slide the basket her way. “Li, you want one?”
“Sure.” She shrugs, grabbing two and winking at me.
“Ooh, these are delicious. We need a whole basket.” Kenna hops up yet again, running off to find the waitress.
Li props her elbow on the table and her head in her hand. “Sometimes I wonder if that girl ever runs out of energy.”
“I don’t think she does.”
Kenna has the personality of someone who always has to be doing something or going somewhere. I don’t know her that well yet, it’s not like any of us have talked about the deep stuff or dark secrets of our pasts, but sometimes I think that she’s running from something.
Munching on a fry, I look around the bar to see if I recognize any familiar faces from my classes. I spot a girl from math class. She catches my eye and waves.
“I put an order in for us, Li.” Kenna slides onto the barstool, two fresh margaritas in hand. She gives one to Li, tilting her head to the side as she looks at me. “Are you sure you don’t want a drink? We can always Uber home if you change your mind.”
“I’m positive.”
I shudder at what happened last time, my chicken tenders suddenly sitting heavy in my stomach. I’ll never drink that much again. I’ve learned my limit and I won’t exceed it.
It isn’t long before the waitress drops off the food for Li and Kenna. They both dig in and I push my now empty basket to the side. Somehow in the thirty minutes we’ve been here the bar has become even more packed. Soon it’ll be standing room only. The press of bodies closing in makes me feel a tad claustrophobic, but I refuse to let it get to me too much.
Suddenly, the opening notes of One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful comes on.
“It’s your song!” Kenna cries, pushing her basket aside.
“I was kidding about the One Direction thing,” I groan as she tugs my hand, pulling me from the chair.
“I don’t care, we’re dancing.”
“No, no, no,” I laugh, trying to escape her.
“Come on, it’ll be fun.” Li joins us, pushing at my back to help her get me on the dance floor.
“Yeah, but you guys are buzzed, I’m perfectly sober.”
“Who gives a shit?” Kenna smiles at me, eyes twinkling. “You only live once, so live . Make a fool of yourself, make out with a random guy, just dance. ”
“Fine,” I agree reluctantly.
Fully on the dance floor now, the three of us start dancing, shout-singing the lyrics while we do. As hard as it is for me, in that moment I allow myself to let go. I’m not the girl whose whole life changed course thanks to a single moment. I don’t let guilt weigh me down. And I don’t give a single fuck what anyone watching might think.
Sweat quickly dampens my skin from the heat of lights and packed bodies.
I spin in a circle, singing the poppy song at the top of my lungs, when I get a prickle on the back of my neck like I’m being watched.
Turning to face the opposite direction I see Cole sitting at a table, beer in hand. He’s laughing at something one of his friends has said, but he’s not the one watching me.
Even across the room Mascen’s gray eyes have the ability to freeze me in place. A shiver makes its way down my spine and I feel my nipples tighten, probably visible through my shirt now if the way his eyes narrow are any indication.
Everything about him, from his stormy eyes, sharp cheekbones, and full lips, screams danger. He’s everything I should stay away from. Not just because I used to know him, but because my gut knows he’d ruin me in every possible way.
He frowns as he watches me, steepling his fingers in front of his lips. A black baseball cap sits backwards on his head.
Suddenly, his eyes leave me and that’s when I notice the blonde beside him leaning in to whisper in his ear. He shakes his head at whatever she says, muttering something in rapid succession. She rolls her eyes and gets up, moving to a different guy.
Swallowing, I force myself to look away from him.
I don’t feel like dancing anymore and thankfully the song ends giving me an easy escape.
The girls and I start back to the table, but I don’t make it far before a large muscular arm loops around me. I spin into the massive body, caught off guard. My hands flying up to a hard chest. Stupidly, I expect to see Mascen towering above me, but instead it’s Cole. His amber eyes glitter down upon me, his grin the kind of smile that should make my stomach do flips but I … I feel nothing.
“I haven’t seen you around in a while, Rory.” His smile is infectious and I can’t help finding myself smiling back. I hate to admit I’m surprised that he remembered me. I figured after the day he chased me down that’d be the last I’d ever see of him. Guys like him have plenty of girls to keep their interest. I’m not anyone special.
“I’ve been busy with class.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear, my head tilted back to look at him. I don’t remember him being so tall. I guess before I was too drunk to notice and the day on campus too surprised by his sudden appearance.
“Yeah, yeah, I get how that is. Been busy too.” He chuckles, the sound warm and husky, almost sexy sounding. “You wanna join us?” He points to his table and I glance over, catching Mascen’s narrowed gaze.
“I’m sorry.” I frown, rocking back on my heels. “I’m here with my friends.”
“Right, of course.” He continues to blind me with his bright smile. “How about a dance then?”
This time I’m the one to laugh, my cheeks heating. “Well, remember how that went last time?”
Somehow his smile grows impossibly bigger. “All the more reason to dance—I need to give you something to remember me by.”
Biting my lip, I glance back in the direction of the table Kenna and Li are at, but can’t see them. Blowing out a breath, I nod. “One dance.” I wiggle a finger, showing him I’m serious when I say one .
“Sure thing, beautiful.” He takes my hand, tugging me back onto the dance floor.
I don’t even know what song is playing, but I follow his lead.
Cole is a surprisingly good dancer, moving his feet and hips in time with the music. I let him guide me, laughing when I step on his toes by mistake.
“It’s okay,” he coaxes, “keep going.” His large hand settles low on my waist and he pulls me as close to him as I can get. His pelvis grinds into me to the beat of the song, his eyes never leaving mine. But while I try to return his look, I can still feel the searing gaze of Mascen following us. His eyes feel like a brand on the back of my neck. There’s a sting there I want to rub, but I don’t dare lift my hand to feel the skin. I know he’d get way too much satisfaction out of the gesture.
I let Cole spin me around, a giggle bursting out of my throat.
I feel free, light, as I dance with him. I never got to experience things like this before. When I wasn’t in school I was working. I didn’t have time for a social life. The hookups I had were about mutual satisfaction and not about genuinely getting to know each other.
The song ends, bleeding into another. I try to pull away from him anyway, but he grins down at me. “One more, pretty girl.”
I nod, because frankly I’m enjoying myself despite Mascen’s death glare from a distance. If he’s tried to warn Cole away from me it’s clearly not working. But from my brief interactions with him in the last month he doesn’t seem like the type to say anything at all. No, Mascen Wade is the kind of guy who keeps everything to himself, letting it build until one day he explodes, taking out innocent bystanders in the process.
It ends up being three more songs before Cole and I part. He heads back to his table and after a brief check in with the girls I make my way down the hall to the restroom. Slipping inside there’s thankfully one empty stall and I relieve my protesting bladder.
“Did you see Mascen tonight?” One girl says from in front of the mirrors, her conversation impossible not to hear.
“I know! Talk about moody and broody.” Another says. “He looks hot as hell pissed off, though.”
The first one gives a snort. “He’s hot any time. That baseball cap? I want him to fuck me while he wears that.”
I have to suppress my snicker as I pull up my pants and flush the toilet.
When I exit the stall they’ve left, so the sinks are empty. I wash my hands, taking in my flushed cheeks in the reflection of the mirror. A light sheen of perspiration clings to my skin and my hair has definitely looked better. But the smile on my face says it all. It’s the genuine happy smile of someone who isn’t afraid anymore.
Drying my hands, I open the door to leave the bathroom. A squeak flies out of my throat when a large hand closes around my wrist. The heat of the person pierces my skin, their intoxicating smell hitting me a second later.
Citrus and wood invades my senses, my brain whispering Mascen to me.
I find myself yanked into a dark closet and even though I can’t see him I feel him. His presence is always overwhelming but in the tiny closet I’m certain I’m going to suffocate from his proximity.
“Why are you here ?” he growls, his breath fanning across my cheek, the slight smell of whiskey clinging to his lips. I bet it’s the most expensive kind the bar serves. Mascen doesn’t do cheap , and that’s exactly what he thinks I am.
“H-Here?” I stuttered, my heart racing—not in fear, but excitement . “Spending time with my roommates.” Somehow I manage to sound breathy, but sure of myself, my backbone firmly in place.
“Not here as in Harvey’s. Why are you at this school? Why Tennessee? Why are you suddenly in my life again? Invading my space. You’re every-fucking-where.” His lips are suddenly right beside my cheek, brushing against my sensitive skin with each and every word. I’m thankful for the fact he can’t see the goosebumps pimpling my skin or my hardening nipples begging for his touch. “I can’t fucking escape you.”
He grows quiet and I realize the questions I thought were rhetorical are in fact very real.
“I … you want an answer?”
“Yes, Sleeping Beauty, I want a fucking answer. That’s why I asked the question. I’m not in the habit of wasting words. Life’s too short not to say shit you mean.”
I can’t see him but I know he rolled his eyes at me.
“I … this is the school I wanted to go to.” I try to keep my voice calm, but I’m sure he notices the quiver to my words, all because of his proximity. “I got a scholarship, so here I am. As for bumping into each other…” I gather my breath, because he’s stealing all the oxygen in the small room. “It’s a large campus, but not that large.”
“Did you know I went here?”
His words take me aback. “Excuse me? Are you implying I chose this school because I found out you went here? I haven’t seen you since I was eight years old. Don’t flatter yourself Mascen.”
He lets out a humorless laugh. “Still ironic, though, huh, Princess? Out of all the universities in the entire United States you choose this one. Where I am. Reunited once again.”
“Why did you really pull me into the closet?” My pulse stutters when I feel the brush of his nose against my neck. “I don’t think it was to discuss why I’m attending school here.”
His laughter rumbles through his chest and I feel the vibration in mine. “I wanted to tell you to stay away from Cole.”
“Why?” My treacherous breath catches when his lips brush against mine. It’s not a kiss. His lips are there and then gone.
Against my right ear, he leans in so his mouth touches the sensitive skin with every word. “Because you don’t belong to him .”
The word comes out as a growl, making my breath catch audibly. Before I can find words, he opens the door, light flooding inside for one second, and then he’s gone leaving me wondering if he was ever there at all.
Mascen Wade seems more like a ghost than a human.