20. Vanessa
CHAPTER 20
VANESSA
I’m already running late for class, but that doesn’t stop me from stopping at the coffee shop for a much-needed caffeine fix. Luckily, Professor Franklin doesn’t pay attention to anything that isn’t right in front of his face, so chances are I can slip in unnoticed.
Yanking open the door, I suppress my urge to groan out loud at the sight of the long line.
If I was smart, I would turn around and leave.
But, coffee.
While standing in line, I dig my wallet out of my backpack, so I don’t have to do it when I get to the register. After placing my order, I step to the side, leaning against the exposed brick wall out of the way of other people. People never used to notice me, but now I feel the stares and wish I could sink into the wall and disappear.
“He’s going to get tired of you, you know?”
I’m not paying attention, and it doesn’t click in my brain right away that the words are meant for me.
“I’m talking to you,” the voice snaps, closer to me than before, and this time I do pay attention.
A petite blonde, her hair slicked back in a ponytail, with pert breasts highlighted by her tight top glares at me like I kicked her puppy. Which I would never. Puppies are precious.
“Um … can I help you?”
She rolls her eyes, letting out a haughty sigh. “You’re dating Teddy, I was just saying he’s going to get tired of you. You’re not his type.”
I snort at her declaration. Sure, her rude words sting, but I won’t let it get to me. “Yeah, that’s why he’s dating me and not you.”
Her full lips part in indignation. Her wrist flicks and I don’t have time to move before her iced coffee is sailing out of the cup and all over me.
The cold stings my skin, ice and coffee dripping off my body.
“Bitch,” she hisses—but from where I’m standing, I’m not the one spewing hate or throwing drinks at people, so she seriously needs to redefine her definition of the word.
“What the fuck?” I recognize the voice and the girl in front of me pales, not bothering to stick around. “Shit. Are you okay?” A big hand loops around my wrist and turns me around, taking in the coffee staining my sweater.
“I’m fine,” I grit my teeth, holding back tears of embarrassment.
“What was that about?” Jude looks around for the girl who’s already fled out the door.
“She was trying to stake her territory.” I pick a piece of ice off my sweater and drop it on the floor. “I’m so sorry about this,” I apologize to the worker who comes over to clean up the mess.
“Wasn’t your fault.” She flashes a tired smile, blushing when she notices Jude.
My name is called out for my order and he points. “Yours?” I nod and he goes and grabs it. With my coffee in his hand, he takes my elbow and leads me outside.
“Where are we going?” My tone is a rough demand as the beefy football player pulls me along.
“I’m not letting you walk around campus in a coffee-soaked shirt. That’s not cool.”
I don’t point out that I could always go back to my dorm and change, because it’s all the way on the other side of campus and I hadn’t planned on it anyway. I’m already late so I would’ve toughed it out in my wet shirt.
He opens the door to a building and sets my coffee and his backpack on the floor, rummaging inside. He produces an Aldridge U football sweatshirt and passes it to me.
“Thank you.” I take it gratefully. We’re in a low traffic area, where not a single soul has passed us yet, so I turn my back to him and slip out of the sweater and pull his sweatshirt over me. It smells like his cologne and is super soft like he’s washed it a million times. Balling up my shirt I stuff it in my bag. Facing him, I lift my chin. “Could we maybe keep this between us?”
He stares at me like I’ve grown another head. “You don’t want Teddy to know?” I bite my lip, shaking my head wordlessly. “Why the hell not?”
I look away, down the brightly lit hall fighting the stinging in my eyes. “Because it’s just not that important.”
“Vanessa—”
“Thank you, again,” I hurry to say, “but I’m going to be late to class.”
He calls after me, but it’s too late. I’m already out the door.
I don’t go to class.