Chapter 36
CHAPTER
THIRTY-SIX
Mascen
Arriving back on campus feels stifling. A weight I hadn’t realized had left is suddenly back. Here, things are different. People know me one way, but over the last two weeks Rory has unknowingly been whittling away at that version of me. It’s both thrilling and terrifying.
I pull up outside her dorm putting my Land Rover in park. She sighs, looking crestfallen, but she doesn’t say anything.
That’s one of the things I like about her. She’s not whiny and she won’t beg.
“It looks like this is where we part.”
“I can carry your bag up.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not that heavy and there’s an elevator. I can handle it. Besides, I’m sure most girls are arriving back right now and you’d cause a riot.” I grin at that, amused by the idea. “Don’t be so smug about it,” she mutters, reaching for the seatbelt. “You know most of the girls on campus are in love with you. I heard one girl already has personalized wedding invitations printed.”
I stare blankly at her. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re annoyingly gullible.”
She reaches for the door but I pull her back, my eyes searching her face before making eye contact. “I don’t … I don’t know how to do this .” I wave a hand between us.
“How about you don’t overthink it?”
“I’m not good at that either.”
“Maybe you should practice instead of thinking the whole world and everyone in it needs to cater to you and your sensitivities.” She sticks her tongue out at me playfully.
I don’t want to say goodbye to her. I know when she gets out of the car everything changes. We’re in a different world now. Things aren’t the same on campus like they were at my home.
Cradling her cheek in my hand I rub my thumb over her silky soft skin.
“What is it?”
“Nothing,” I murmur, lowering my mouth to hers. A tiny mewling sound leaves her throat. I don’t think she’s even aware of the noises she makes when I kiss her, but I love every single one.
I don’t want to let her leave the car, but I know she has to go. I pull away and her eyes slowly blink open, hazy with lust. Last night in the treehouse feels like forever ago. I want her again and again, but I know I have to let go. For now.
“You better get out, Princess. I might corrupt you if you stay any longer.”
She shakes her head free of cobwebs, her tiny smile amusing to me. She gets out, grabbing her bag from the backseat. I roll down the passenger window when she pauses outside of it.
“What?”
Her smile grows. “Why do you think it’s you that’s doing the corrupting?”
She winks and before I can generate a response she’s walking away. I think she purposely puts more sway in her steps to entice me. If we were anywhere else I’d be out of this car and on her in a heartbeat, tossing her over my shoulder and carrying her to bed.
It’s late at night before Cole gets home. He finds me lounging in the living room watching TV. His heavy duffle bag hangs off his shoulder and he looks tired.
“Fuck,” he rubs his eyes, “there was an accident on the highway. It took an extra two hours to get home.”
“That’s the worst.” He’s only been home two-point-five seconds and I already feel guilt creeping in. I’m not one to normally feel that way—I do what I want without remorse, but I know if he finds out Rory went home with me it won’t sit well. Clearing my throat I turn the volume down on the TV. “Need me to grab anything from your car?”
“Nah.” He drops his heavy bag down on the floor. “This was it.”
He crosses the room to the kitchen grabbing a beer from the fridge. “Want one?”
“I’m good.”
He comes back dropping onto the opposite end of the couch. “How was your break? Everything good at home?”
I cross my arms over my chest, not seeming to know what to do with my hands.
“It was nice, my cousin flew in from California.”
“Hmm.” He takes a swig of beer.
“What about you?”
“It was nice seeing my parents and sister, but I’m glad to be back.” He kicks his feet up on the ottoman. “Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but being on my own-or you know, rooming with you—is a lot more peaceful.”
“Don’t forget no one bossing you around.”
He chuckles. “Amen.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out finding a text from Rory.
Princess: Hey, Satan—how’s the temperature in hell? Not warm enough without me, amiright?
Me: You definitely make things hotter.
I glance at Cole but he’s busy looking at the TV.
Me: You get settled all right?
Princess: I just gasped. Are you concerned about me?
Me: It was a question.
Princess: I’m fine.
Me: Just fine? Last night you were screaming my name, you should be fucking fantastic.
Princess: You’re not fucking me right now are you? No, so just fine it is.
Me: Are you saying you want me to fuck you right now?
Princess: I’m going to bed.
Me: I was just getting started. We can dirty talk.
Princess: I’m ignoring you.
Me: You’re evil. You can’t bring up this topic of conversation and just ditch me.
But of course she does just that and stops replying.
“You’re smiling, it’s weird,” Cole remarks. My head jerks up to look at him.
“I’m not smiling.” I put my phone away before he can see the screen, not that he’d know who Princess is, but the contact name would still pique his interest.
“You definitely are. Who is it?”
I roll my head towards him playing nonchalant. “Nobody, seriously.”
He stands, the empty beer bottle dangling from his fingers. “You know, when someone says nobody it usually means it’s somebody special.” He walks past me, smacking me on the shoulder. “You deserve to be happy man. Whoever she is don’t fuck it up.”
I hold my breath as he throws away the bottle and grabs his bag heading up the stairs. Something tells me if he knew it was Rory he’d be singing a different tune.