by Moxie North
“Hey Krissy, how are things going?” Quinn threw her purse onto a couch and flopped down next to it.
“Good! Sara wanted to add balloons, but we told her that didn’t really represent the safe place we were trying to provide.”
“Smart move. I swear I don’t get that girl. Her heart is in the right place she just goes after everything like a bulldozer.”
“I guess she means well, it’s just… she’s so mean,” Krissy lowered her voice to a whisper.
“I know. You’ve done a lot for this event, Krissy. Thank you.”
She blushed. “Stop, I’m just following your example. I’ve heard about all you’ve done. The hazing issue with the sororities and fraternities, the bias that faculty was showing towards engineering interns. I mean these are issues that nobody wanted to touch.”
“It’s only because I like ruffling feathers. I figure I’m only here for four years. What does it matter if people don’t like me? Besides, if my voice is loud enough then maybe someone will come behind me and want to be louder.”
“Seems to be working. So you have a job?” she asked, gesturing to Quinn’s shirt.
“Oh yes, I’m thinking about making fruit blending into a career.”
Krissy frowned at her missing the joke.
“I’m kidding, Krissy. It’s just to make enough money to cover anything my scholarship doesn’t.”
“I admire you. I can barely get my school work done. I can’t imagine working a job too.”
“It gets easier. You’ll figure it out as you go along. Classes change and you have more flexibility.”
“Still, I want to be just like you.”
Quinn thought it was sweet and a little weird but didn’t tell the girl. She was idealistic and had the world before her spread out like she could pick any road. Quinn didn’t want to burst her bubble.
“So what needs to be done?”
“I’m afraid to use the staple gun to put the posters on the sticks. Could you do that?”
Quinn gave her a wry smile. “Yeah, I’ll handle the heavy lifting. You start over on that poster and try spelling you’re right.”
Krissy looked down at the board she was working on. “Dang it!”
Laughing, she got to work stapling signs together. She needed sleep and some studying time later. Although if the subject was anything but cute boys, she might not get much done.
Chapter 16
Quinn made a cup of coffee to motivate herself to shower and dress so she could hit Starbucks before class. Her venti peppermint mocha was almost gone and she was going to need more, and possibly a bathroom. Soon.
“I’m thinking twenty-four ounces of coffee was a bad idea before class.” She said to the man sitting next to her. They had an informal no name relationship that was based on simple conversation.
“You’re brave. I had Captain Crunch with orange juice for breakfast.”
“That sounds healthy,” she said quietly as the professor walked in.
“No, I was out of milk. I put the OJ on my cereal. It was disgusting.”
“Yuck,” was all she managed before the lecture started.
She hit her dorm room after class, set the alarm on her phone to wake her up in two hours. Since her nap with Rain, falling asleep was easier. She pulled down a sleeping mask and dozed off.
If felt like she had just closed her eyes when her alarm went off.
She groaned and felt around for her phone to mute the alarm. Getting up and grabbing her toiletry kit, she headed to the bathroom.
She came back and grabbed a semi-clean t-shirt out of her closet that said Fries before Guys. It might not be totally appropriate, but she figured it was better than some of her other choices. Grabbing a pair of gray leggings, she pulled them on and found her worn pair of black Doc Martens.
Giving her hair a fluff she thought she should probably pick another color soon. She was feeling purplish. Maybe purple with pink tips. Change things up a bit.
But she didn’t have any time for any of that now. She needed to get down to the square and help set up for the rally. Her skin felt like it was numb, tingling with the anticipation of seeing Rain. It wasn’t what she should be focused on. She was hoping that they’d have a good turn out to raise awareness. It was definitely not the place to be flirting with Rain.
Shit, had she been flirting? Of course she had. It wasn’t voluntary. Flirting always seemed like a practiced skill that you had to get really good at. She had never practiced a day in her life how to talk to a boy. Her disinterest growing up, or more to the point her mother’s abject dislike of men had colored her feelings about them.
Keeping the opposite sex at arm’s length was so old hat that she didn’t know she was supposed to bat her eyelashes and laugh at their jokes even if they were bad. Quinn thought that was what girls were supposed to do. Then again that might be what you used to do, she had no idea.
She could only be herself, and so far Rain seemed to like that.
“Who care what he likes.”
“He likes what?” Harmony walked through the door and tossed her bag on her bed.
“I’m just obsessing like a seventh-grader.”
“Ahh, Rain on your mind?”
“The irony of a guy named Rain in Seattle is not lost on me. I’d start calling him by his full name, but that wouldn’t help.”
“What’s his full name?”
“Rainier.”
“Like the mountain or the beer?”
Quinn laughed. “I asked the same thing. He says mountain.”
“Sure, sure. So are you heading out?”
“Yup, there are tablecloths needing to be taped down I’m sure. Nobody ever wants that job. Arranging pamphlets is the coveted job.”
“Oh be still my heart, pamphlets. I’m going to shower and change. I’ll be out there when it starts. Lars is coming to pick me up.”
“Okay, see you there.” Quinn gave her a peace sign as she left.
It was a nice day and they had lucked out on the weather. No rain, a little sun, and only the slightest chill to the air. She hurried over to where they were meeting and saw a few people already trying to set up some pop-up awnings.
Being a go-getter, she jumped in and started helping. Between setting up tables and thanking people for coming early, she kept an eye out for Rain. As she was fanning out a stack of brochures, she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Turning around she saw him walking towards the group. Behind him were his brother and a few other guys that looked suspiciously fratish and were laughing like they were in a zit cream commercial
His eyes were on her and his mouth was set in a firm line. That didn’t seem like a good thing at all. She’d automatically smiled the second she saw him, but now her smile was fading.
As he got closer she tried to read his emotions. But she didn’t get a chance to ask. The second she was within arm’s reach of him, he wrapped a hand around her neck and pulled her in for a toe curling, nipple tightening kiss.
She kissed him back without thinking. She threaded her hands into his hair and tangled her tongue with his.
It was a long moment before she heard a few people clearing their throats. Then there was a round of fake coughing.
Quinn’s brain was trying to tell her that everything that was transpiring was wrong place, wrong time. She finally listened to it and broke off the kiss. Rain dropped his head to hers as he breathed heavily.
“I’m sorry. Shit, that was bad form. I felt like I was going crazy yesterday being away from you. I kept thinking of ways to run into you, or hell, just show up where I knew you’d be. I didn’t want to freak you out, or push you, or rush you into anything. Yesterday fucking sucked without you, Quinn.”
She could hear the pain and frustration in his voice. He was seriously struggling. She felt a little better about her day of not being able to keep him out of her mind. It seemed like he’d had a tougher day.
“I thought about you too,” she admitt
ed.
“Did you have someone purposely keep you distracted all day and then did you go for a five mile jog after you’d spent two hours rock climbing, just to burn off energy?”
Quinn looked up to him. “Uh no?”
“Fuck, you’re beautiful. I spent the day remembering your face.”
Holy crickets, she was at a loss. This was uncharted territory for her and she could feel dozens of eyes on her.
“Maybe we should talk about this later?”
She watched his head turn around at the assembled crowd. “Fuck, sorry. I lost my head for a minute.”
“I’m going to get an earful about this anyway. So are you here to stay?”
“Yes, I’m here as long as you are. But I do have to warn you. I’m thinking that we shouldn’t be going days without seeing each other, or at least talking. Phone calls, texts, anything. Hell, I’ll take funny GIFs or emojis.”
Quinn let out a giggle. “I think I can handle that.”
Rain quickly introduced the group that had followed him and they all fanned out to find places to help. Quinn ignored the rest of the group behind her as she turned back to the table and handed him a stack of paper.
“Make it pretty,” she whispered to him as he tried to straighten the stack and leave it in a pile on the table.
“What the fuck does that mean?” he whispered back.
“You know, like a fan, but make sure they can see there are lots so they feel like they can take one.”
“Is there a science to this?”
“I’m sure someone is majoring in it,” she laughed.
“Proper pamphlet placement 101,” Rain mumbled under his breath.
They worked together then stood back away from the tables and let the professionals step forward. The signs were placed along the pathways with their motivational messages. Everyone kept it casual so they didn’t look like an intimidating front.
Slowly people started showing up. They talked to counselors and even talked to campus security. The volunteers handed out whistles and phone numbers for free rides home if they got drunk at a party and didn’t have a safe ride home. All things to provide options and information to those that might need it the most. For many students this was their first time away from the oversight of their parents. It was a freedom that came with a lot of responsibility.
The event started to wrap up, and Quinn and Rain stuck around and helped clean up. They had chatted with others, and Quinn had introduced him around to her group.
When everything was tidied up, Rain grabbed her hand.
“Food, me, and you.”
It wasn’t a request it was a definitive plan.
Chapter 17
“Rain, it’s okay, really. I’m not that hungry.”
Rain looked at her as they walked. That was the second time she’d said that. He wasn’t trying to ignore her. He just needed more time with her. After climbing with Fin and then his jog, he still wasn’t coping well. He had sat up all night resisting the urge to drag his claws down the walls. He texted Cash and got some brotherly advice, which amounted to ‘suck it up.’
Cash was probably elbow deep in poopy diapers and not up for the extra support that Rain needed. He understood that it wasn’t Cash’s fault, but it wasn’t helping. Fin didn’t have any advice to give; he was just as confused by the whole process as Rain was.
It had been the longest night of his life and he honestly didn’t know how he was going to be able to cope with another one like it. He knew they couldn’t be together all the time. If he was older, had a job, a home, it could work. But they were living apart. Telling her he was a bear that needed her near him all the time still wasn’t an option.
He was walking her towards his car without really thinking. Stopping he turned towards her. “I’m sorry. I hear you. I do. I’m just… I had a bad night.”
“What happened? Did something go wrong?”
“I wasn’t with you. I didn’t know where you were or if you were safe.”
“Rain, I was working, and checking in on the rally. Then I went to my room and studied. That’s about as exciting as my life gets. I manage to work and go to class all safely on my own. I’ve been on my own for a long time. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Yes, I do have to worry about you. I didn’t know you before. If I did I would have been arrested for stalking, because there is no way I can let you out of my sight now.”
“Rain, seriously. Do you hear yourself? I like you, obviously. But it doesn’t mean that I need anything from you. I’m an adult; I can and will take care of myself.”
She pulled her hand from his and he realized that he’d pushed her too hard.
“I’m sorry. Shit, I’m sorry. I don’t want to make you do anything you don’t want to.” He ran his hands through his hair.
He turned around, he couldn’t look at her. How could he possibly be failing at this relationship already? He’d given himself a long pep talk walking to the rally. Play it cool, don’t be too aggressive, don’t fucking scare her. So far he was failing miserably. His animal side was in way more control than he was happy with right now.
“Rain, I think we need to take a few days. Maybe we can get together on Monday after classes?”
Rain didn’t want to spend the next two days away from her. Honestly, he didn’t know if he could physically handle it. There was also a very good chance that if he didn’t give her the time he could lose her. Was a few days apart enough to show her he wasn’t scary or crazy?
“Yeah, let me walk you to your dorm. Can you at least text me? I know you don’t owe me anything. I just want to know that you’re okay. I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself. Of course you can. I just feel very, protective of you.”
“That’s sweet, I think.”
Her tone was hesitant and it tore him up to hear it.
“Let’s get you home.”
He held out his hand and she took it after a moment’s pause. The delay made his bear wince.
Clasping her hand, he turned towards her dorm. They walked inside when they reached the building and he didn’t stop, he just asked her what room was hers. Reaching her door he let go of her hand.
“Goodnight, then.”
Rain turned to leave and felt her hand grab his.
“Rain, don’t.”
“Don’t what?” he asked not turning back to her.
“Don’t walk away like that. I’m not trying to be a bitch here.”
He spun towards her, “I would never say that about you. Never,” he ground out.
“I know you wouldn’t. I’m not saying anything that you should consider permanent. I’ll text you tomorrow, I’ll call you before I go to bed to tell you I’m okay.”
“Yeah, sure.”
He turned to leave again and her grip tightened. She pulled him back towards her, put her hands on his chest and pushed him against the wall. Rain thought about leaning away as her lips came towards his. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kiss her, he did. But he wanted to do a lot more than that.
Her soft lips pressed against his and his bear sucked in her scent. She smelled so fucking good, just like sweet berries. The tip of her tongue tickled against his lips urging his mouth open.
He tried. He really tried not to kiss her back. His soul, no his souls, were tearing apart at what he perceived as her rejection.
But he was still a man. One who had a little brain in his pants that had a one-track mind.
“Rain, it’s okay. Can’t you stay?”
“Stay? I thought you didn’t want….”
“I don’t need you to worry about me. That’s what I’m saying. I wasn’t saying that I don’t want to spend time with you. I like you. I want you to stay the night with me.”
“Christ, Quinn. I want that more than anything. But… I can’t until we are in a different place.”
“Different how? I’m asking you to stay over because I want you to.”
Rain wrapped his hands around h
er face. “I can’t, baby. I need you too much to make this a one-night stand.”
“I’m not offering that. I’m saying stay with me tonight then I’ll see you on Monday. It’s not a crazy idea.”
“It is for me. It has to be all or nothing between us.”
She pushed back from him angrily. “That’s bullshit, Rain!”
“Why is that bullshit? That I want something more?”
“Because we’re in college. I’m sure you’ve had your way through the last three years with your looks.”
Rain stared at her, willing her to believe him. “There has been no one before and there will be no one after you, Quinn. No one.”
He waited for her to register what he was saying.
Her forehead creased, her eyes searching his. Then a light came on behind her eyes. “No, shit?”
Not exactly the response he expected. He almost laughed.
“No shit. I’m not who you think I am. That’s why I want to show you. I want you to like me for who I am, for what I intend to be in the future. I have a plan now that includes you. So I can’t stay with you tonight because you think I’m a little crazy now. After we’ve been together, I won’t be able to be apart from you. So this is your chance. You need some time this weekend. Take it. I’m going out of town. I need to see my family. I need some time to figure out how I’m supposed to get you to love me.”
With that, he kissed her on the forehead and walked away.
Chapter 18
“Rainier Rochon, you give those little hellions any more sugar I will cut your dick off.”
“Sprite, not around the kids,” Cash called out.
Cassie threw a pillow in his general direction where he was sitting at their kitchen table.
“They like the spray frosting. Plus, it’s funny to watch them open their mouths like little baby birds,” Rain laughed wickedly.
He’d gotten in his car after leaving Quinn’s dorm and drove straight out to his older brother’s house. He didn’t even call them to say he was coming. He realized that he probably should have, but he wasn’t thinking. Instead, when he pulled up to the house, he barely had the car off before the garage door was opening and his brother stood in the light.