Chapter 6 – Haley
Later that afternoon, I walk over to the library to check out a copy of Jane Eyre.
It’s on the list of elective reading options for my Brit Lit course that the instructor e-mailed to us ahead of class starting tomorrow.
I left my copy at home. We’re supposed to pick one book from the list and write a paper on it.
I’ve read that book at least half a dozen times, and it’s one of my all-time favorites.
I figure I might as well get a jump start on that assignment.
I have an electronic copy on my tablet, of course, but sometimes it’s nice to read a well-loved physical copy. There’s something comforting about holding a library book.
I’m back in my room when Philip texts me to tell me he’s on his way up. Fortunately, I have the room to myself right now. Melissa is at a dinner for the track team, and she said she probably wouldn’t return until around eight.
When there’s a knock on my door, I jump up to open it, excited to see Philip again. I know I just saw him Saturday, but that feels like ages ago.
I open the door and blurt out, “Hi!”
“That’s quite an enthusiastic welcome.”
My stomach drops. “Mark? What are you doing here?”
“I looked up your dorm room number in the student directory.” He peers past me into the room. “Is your roommate in?”
“No, she—”
“Great,” he says. “Are you in the mood for some company?”
I’m blocking the doorway, otherwise, I think he’d already be inside my room. “I’m sorry, but—”
“Hey, babe,” Philip says as he appears out of nowhere. He’s standing behind Mark, a full head taller, looming over him like an avenger.
Relief rushes through me as I meet his gaze. “Philip, hi.”
“I don’t think we’ve met,” Philip says to Mark. “I’m Haley’s boyfriend.”
For a long, uncomfortable moment, Mark just stares at Philip. Then he turns to me and smiles. “I’ll catch up with you later, Haley. We should find time to go over Wednesday’s lab assignment.” He smiles coldly at Philip. “I’m Haley’s chemistry lab partner.”
Philip pats Mark on the shoulder. “Lucky for you, then. At least you’ll be guaranteed to get an A.”
“I’ll see you later, Haley,” Mark says. His expression sours as he walks away.
“Who was that?” Philips asks when Mark is out of hearing range.
“My chemistry lab partner.”
Philip frowns. “I know, but why is he at your door?”
“I’m not sure. He’s a bit pushy, though. I’ll give him that.”
Philip watches until Mark steps into an elevator. “If he causes you any trouble, let me know. I’ll have a friendly chat with him.”
I chuckle. There’s nothing about Philip right now that looks friendly. I reach for his hand. “I’m glad you’re here. Your timing is impeccable.”
Now that I really have a chance to look at him, my belly does a fluttery somersault.
The ends of his hair are damp, which means he took a shower before coming over.
He’s wearing nice jeans, no tears; a dark blue, button-down shirt; and a pair of new boots.
I detect a faint whiff of Polo, the popular men’s cologne I gave him for Christmas.
“You look awfully dressed up,” I say as I step back so he can enter.
“This?” He gestures to himself. “Nah. It’s what I always wear.” But his grin gives him away. He did dress up for me.
I gesture at my jean shorts, a university logo T-shirt, and bare feet. “You should have told me you were dressing up. Now I’m seriously underdressed.”
Philip closes the door behind him and turns the deadbolt. He paces toward me like a prowling tiger, and I laugh as I step back, and back, and back, until I hit the wall.
He swoops in and nuzzles the crook of my neck until I’m giggling.
“That tickles!” I push ineffectively at his broad chest. When that doesn’t work, I grasp his upper arms, but I’m distracted by how hard his biceps are. They’re like large, smooth stones beneath human flesh.
He glances around the room. “Melissa’s not here?”
“No. She’s at a track dinner. Why?” As if I don’t know.
“How long do we have the room?”
“She said she’d be back around eight.”
“That’s plenty of time.”
“For what?”
“This.” He pins my hands to the wall above my head and leans down to nuzzle my neck, breathing deeply. “God, I’ve missed you.”
Instantly, my belly drops into a free fall, and my nerve endings start singing. When his mouth covers mine, nudging my lips apart, my knees practically buckle. If he wasn’t been holding my wrists, I might have swooned. When I make an involuntary whimpering sound, he chuckles.
“We saw each other Saturday,” I remind him. “And the day before that.”
“I know, but that was ages ago.” He growls low in his throat. “I’m finding it harder and harder to be away from you. And now I have to worry about all these guys hitting on you.”
“Hitting on me? What are you—oh. You mean Mark. He wasn’t hitting on me.”
Philip pulls back and cocks an eyebrow. “Are you serious? Of course, he was.”
“I certainly don’t want him to.”
“You’re in a co-ed dorm with dozens of guys. Athletes, brainiacs, pre-med, pre-law. It’s a bit intimidating, Hale.”
“I’m not intimidated.”
“Not you,” he says with a reluctant groan. “I meant me.”
“You feel intimidated? What in the world are you talking about?”
He looks away, as if he regrets saying anything.
“Philip.” I break one of my hands free so I can cup his face and make him look at me. “What are you talking about?”
“Look, we both know you’re a lot smarter than I am.
I slogged through high school barely making C’s.
If it weren’t for football, I don’t think I would have done as well as I did.
I would never have made it through physics and chemistry without tutors.
I did marginally better in college, but I wasn’t a straight A student like you.
And here you are rubbing shoulders with future doctors and lawyers. ”
I laugh. “Not everyone is planning on going into medicine or law.”
“You are.” He shakes his head. “Ignore me. I’m being an idiot. Tell me how your first day of classes went.”
I give him the abridged version, just the highlights, leaving out the part about Mark asking me to have coffee with him after class. That wouldn’t go over well. “How was your day?”
He shrugs. “I spied on a middle-aged bank manager all day, collecting evidence to bust him on embezzlement charges. He stole more money from that bank in the past month than I make in a year, and trust me, Shane pays well.”
“I admire what you do,” I say. “We need good guys in the world to offset the crap the bad guys do.”
He smiles at that as he links our fingers together. “Ready to go grab some dinner?”
“Yes.”
“On my way here, I spotted what looks like an authentic Mexican restaurant on Lafayette, just a few blocks away. How do tacos sound?”
“That sounds great.” He knows what I like. “Let me grab my shoes and freshen up really quick.”
When we leave my room, we come across Ryan waiting for the elevator down the hall.
“Haley, hi,” he says. “How did your first day of classes go?”
“Good.” I gesture to Philip. “This is my boyfriend, Philip. Philip, this is Ryan. He’s the RA I told you about.”
Ryan gives Philip a welcoming smile. “Nice to meet you, Philip. Are you a student here, too?”
“No,” Philip says. “I’m just dating one.”
Ryan laughs. “It looks like you’re on your way out. Have fun. Haley, don’t forget curfew. In your room by ten. Lights out at eleven.”
I wave. “I won’t forget.”
We take the stairs down to the ground floor and cross the lobby to the main doors. Philip takes my hand and leads me out the door.
We walk hand in hand a couple of blocks until we reach Lafayette Street.
On our way to the restaurant, we pass a tattoo parlor, a couple of bars, a pharmacy, and a small independent grocery store.
Lafayette is busy this evening, the sidewalk filled with pedestrians.
Cars move slowly along the street to avoid hitting jaywalking students who are crossing the street willy-nilly as they try to take it all in.
As we pass a used book store, I peer inside the windows at the cluttered, disorganized interior. There are countless racks and bookcases filled to the brim with books. I spot a set of beautifully illustrated Jane Austen hardcovers on display in the window. “Those are gorgeous.”
Philip puts his arm across my shoulders and draws me close. “After we eat, if you like, we can stop here on the way back to your dorm.”
“I would love that.” I slip my arm around his waist and smile. He knows me so well.
The restaurant is crowded, but we manage to get a small table for two. We munch on chips and salsa while we wait for our food to arrive. I order chicken soft tacos with refried beans and rice. Philip orders enchiladas.
As usual, I order a soft drink. “You can get a beer or a margarita, if you want, since we’re walking.” He doesn’t drink alcohol when he’s driving me.
He shakes his head. “That’s okay. I’ll have what you’re having.”
The food is delicious, and when we’re done eating, we’re too stuffed too even think about dessert.
On our way back to campus, we stop at the bookstore.
After browsing around, I check out the set of illustrated Austen books in the window.
I’ve been obsessed with her books since I was in middle school, after falling in love with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
He made quite an impact on my highly impressionable thirteen-year-old mind.
I gaze down at the beautiful, yet pricey, matched set of vintage books with gorgeous color illustrations. They’re certainly nowhere near as expensive as a set of first editions, but they’re still pretty expensive. Too expensive for me.
Philip watches me fawn over the books. “Are you getting them?”
“I wish.” I show him the two-hundred-and-fifty dollar price tag for the set. “Too pricey for me.”
He frowns. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Sadly, I leave the bookstore empty handed. It’s nine-thirty when we make it back to my room. Philip notices a flyer lying on the welcome mat in front of my door. He picks it up, reads it, and then hands it to me. He takes my key from my hand and unlocks my door as I read the flyer.
It’s an advertisement for Game Night, Friday at eight, in the dorm’s community room. Pizza and soft drinks provided. According to the flyer, it’s a joint mixer between two neighboring dorms, Faulkner Hall and Milton Hall.
I toss the flyer in the trash can just inside my room.
“You’re not interested in going?” Philip asks.
“No. I’d much rather spend my Friday night with you than play games with strangers.”
“Then it sounds like we have a date Friday night.”
I smile. “We sure do.”