Why couldn’t I just write him off like I had all the others?
“Yep, hotter than a Times Square Rolex,” I murmured to myself.
He came to a stop in front of the counter. “Hey. You good today?”
I squirmed at the attention. He meant the nightmare. It had been several days since our sleepover and he’d been checking in with me each morning in Lit class, keeping it casual but always asking if I was okay.
“Yeah. And you?”
He nodded.
Dax came crashing into us, the girl he’d been talking to tagging along behind him. “What’s going on? Anybody want to come to the house and hang out?” He came over and tossed an arm around me. “Hey, love, when do you get off work?”
Blake answered. “We’re going to the movies later. Sorry.”
I didn’t recall agreeing to a movie. Seems my friends had decided what my plans were for the evening when really I needed to get home and study.
“Sounds kinda boring, but I’m in,” Dax said with a clap of his hands. He left me to toss an arm around the random girl. “You too?”
She blushed.
“Actually, Elizabeth and I already have plans tonight. I was just coming by to confirm,” Declan inserted smoothly.
All eyes turned to me and then bounced back to Declan.
“Plans?” Shelley squeaked. “You didn’t tell moi?”
“But, the movie …” Blake’s voice trailed off.
Dax’s eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t see that coming.”
Rick moved to the cash register to check someone out but not before looking at me with questioning eyebrows.
Seemed like everyone had a damn opinion on the matter.
“You still coming?” Declan said, a slight edge to his voice as he turned to look at me.
A hush had settled over the group.
I set down the book I’d been holding. Swallowed.
Was this a real date-date? One without sex at the end or one with sex at the end? God, I didn’t know because I hadn’t had a real date since Colby.
Or had he figured out I didn’t want to go anywhere at all and was just trying to rescue me from my well-meaning friends?
“Yes, of course,” I said. “Where are we going?”
He grinned, a soft boyishness settling on his face. “It’s a surprise.”
Shelley giggled, abruptly clamming up when I glared at her.
Blake snapped up and took off for the café. Dammit. I watched him go with a heavy sigh and then turned back to Declan.
“I don’t get off for another hour.”
He looked at the books scattered around me. “I can help you. What needs to be done?”
“Oh, thank you, but only employees can shelve. Rick’s rule. I appreciate it though. Are you sure you don’t mind waiting?”
“Good things are worth waiting on.”
I smiled. Breathless.
He sent me a grin. “Nice shirt, by the way.” He raked his eyes over me, lingering on the T-shirt he’d given me a few nights ago. Made of thin white cotton, it featured the Front Street Gym logo, which was a black circle with two fists meeting and the gym name written around the circle. On the back of the shirt in Old English font was written Property of Dirty English. I’d been surprised as hell when he’d knocked on my door and handed it to me, saying he’d designed it and wanted my opinion before ordering in bulk for his gym’s grand opening. It fit tight across my chest. He lifted his eyes up to mine.
“Thanks. Some cocky guy gave it to me.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “He must be a nice bloke to give you a free T-shirt.”
“Very. Although I think he gave me a size too small. On purpose.”
His eyes landed on my breasts and he smiled before focusing back on my face. “Perhaps he never thought you’d wear it in public. Is he handsome?”
“He thinks so.” My face felt like it might split in half I was grinning so big. What was it about him that had me feeling so giddy?
Shelley linked an arm through Dax’s. “Well, I still want you to come along with us to the movies.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Indeed. You’re far too hot to say no to. Tell me, do you dig threesomes?”
She giggled and tapped his arm. “Behave.”
They got out their phones to finalize movie times, and I started in with the duties I did at the end of my shift. Half an hour later, I’d gotten the new books shelved and had broken down boxes and carried them to the back storage room. I piled them up in a corner next to the trash and then went to the broom closet. I opened it and pulled out the wide, heavy-duty dust mop.
When I turned around Blake was standing there.
“Oh! You scared me!” I laughed, clutching my chest. “What are you doing back here?” I looked past his shoulder. I didn’t think Rick would mind that he was in a restricted area, but you could never tell.
He scrubbed a hand through his auburn hair roughly, making the ends stand up. “I can’t believe you have a date with him after what I told you.”
“Blake—”
“Since when does he get to march in here and act like he owns you?” He paced around, his movements swift and sharp, as if he were holding in banked anger.
I stiffened. “You’re the one acting possessive. He’s a good guy. In fact, you outright lied about him at the party. Care to explain that?”
His eyes widened. “I was desperate. I don’t want you with him, okay? It’s just—I told you how I feel, and you haven’t said a word about it. You just keep going about your day, not wanting to accept that our relationship is changing. I can’t just be your friend anymore and see you screw around with other guys.”
I shook my head. “You’re my friend. I need you.” I only had two in the whole world.
He exhaled. “Just give us a chance. We’ll take it slow, I promise. No crazy stuff.” His hand reached out to touch my cheek, soft and easy as if I were a skittish animal he wanted to tame. “I won’t ever pressure you or push you to do anything you don’t want to do, I promise.”
And the thing was, there was a tiny bit of something in my heart for him. A spark of whatever we’d had in prep school still lingering. But being with Blake meant commitment.
I—I just couldn’t do it.
“Everything okay back here?” Rick’s voice cut through the tension. “You need some help, Elizabeth?”
I cleared my throat and stepped back around Blake. “No, it’s good. Coming out to mop soon.”
Blake reached out to clasp my hand. “Wait, Elizabeth. I’m not the only one with feelings here. Talk to me.”
I sighed, changing gears. Anything to get away from this topic. “Look, I have a lot on my mind right now. There’s something I haven’t told you. Colby—he came to see me the night before the semester started. He—he’s enrolled here now. I haven’t seen him since, but I’m going to. I just know it. He’s not going away.” I heard the fear in my voice and cringed.
He gathered me in his arms. “Fuck. I’m so sorry. What can I do to help?”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “There’s nothing to be done. It’s something I’m going to have to deal with, and I really need you here beside me. I can’t do it without you.”
He let out a long breath and kissed my forehead. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”
LATER WE LEFT the bookstore and headed out to the parking lot, where Declan took the top and sides off his Jeep. We’d decided to leave my car there and have him bring me back later from wherever we were going.
I got in on the passenger side and buckled up. “Want to tell me what that was all about in there? We never made plans.”
He smirked. “What? You’ve wanted me to ask you out since the moment you saw me at the frat house.”
“You mean when you wouldn’t even dance with me?” I snapped.