I told that son of a bitch to stay away from her. Looks like he heard my warning loud and clear. “I’m sorry, Red.”
She looked at me with a smirk on her face. “You are not.”
“I didn’t like the guy, sure, but I do want you to be happy.”
“Well then, I guess it worked out for everyone, didn’t it?”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I chuckled.
***
I woke up on the couch. The TV was still on and Red was asleep on my chest. We must have fallen asleep and shifted during the night. Her breathing was soft and her head rose and fell with my breathing.
She looked so beautiful. I ran a hand through her hair and she stirred. She turned her face up to mine and opened those beautiful green eyes, focusing on me.
“Good morning, Red.”
She pushed herself off of me and sat up. “Hey.” She wiped a hand across her face. “We fell asleep?”
“Yeah.” I got to my feet and stretched out my back. “You want some coffee?” She shot me an are-you-kidding look. “Right, I’ll start a pot.”
Sean came out of his room and headed into the kitchen. “Good morning.” He shot me a wink. “You two looked cozy on the couch last night.” He stuck his head in the fridge.
“We fell asleep.”
“Sure you did.” He winked at me, sounding less than convinced.
“Whatever, man.”
Red came in the kitchen and yawned, rubbing at her face. “I have to get going. I’ll see you later.”
I nodded. She grabbed her bag and headed out. I watched her leave, keeping my eyes on the door long after she closed it.
Sean leaned against the counter with a cup of coffee. He shook his head at me.
“What?”
“You got it bad, dude.” He took a sip from his mug.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, pouring myself a cup of coffee.
“Yes, you do.” He set his cup down and turned to face me.
“Look, yes, she is beautiful…” I started, but Sean cut me off.
“That girl is gorgeous, inside and out.”
“It’s not like that. We are friends.”
Sean dropped his head and sighed. “Whether you choose to admit it or not, you want her.” I started to argue, but he held up a hand to stop me. “I just hope for your sake you don’t fuck it up. Someone like Alex has longevity, my friend. Before you make a move, you better be ready.”
“You know me. I don’t do relationships, man. It’s too much pressure. Besides, Red is not into me anyway. She thinks I’m a player.”
“She’s not wrong.”
“I’m twenty-two. What’s wrong with enjoying a little variety?” I smiled.
“Nothing, but just make sure you don’t enjoy that particular variety,” he said, gesturing toward the door Alex just left through. He slapped me on the back as he headed into his room.
Alex was beautiful, smart, and funny, but I was not going to go there. She was becoming way too important to me, and whether I wanted to admit it or not, Sean was right. If something ever happened between us, it would be something big, not just a one night stand.
I was thinking about this too much. Red was my friend, nothing more. I shook off my concerns and went to take a shower.
***
The cold weather had let up enough that some of the guys decided to play some touch football in the quad. As I headed over there, I sent a text to Red.
Drew: Hey there, Red. Got a game going in the quad. You down?
Alex: For what?
Drew: Football.
Alex: I can’t play with you goons. You will crush me.
Drew: You don’t have to play, just come hang out.
Drew: We usually go out for beers and some food after.
Alex: I have to study.
Drew: Come on, Red. Bring your shit and you can study there.
Drew: It’s finally warm enough to venture outside. Take advantage.
Alex: Fine, be there in 10.
We were still picking teams when I saw Red heading our way. She dropped her backpack next to a large oak tree and took a seat. I smiled and waved at her from the field. She nodded, grabbed a sketch pad from her bag, and set it on her knee.
“Who’s the girl?” Chuck said, eyeing Red with interest.
“Re—I mean, Alex.”
“You hittin’ that?”
Chuck was not one for subtlety. I wouldn’t call him a friend, exactly, but we hung out in the same crowd. I would run into him at parties now and then, but I knew one thing for sure. I didn’t want him anywhere near Red.
“No, she’s a friend,” I said, my voice coming out a bit more intense than I intended.
Chuck took a step back, holding his hands in the air. “If you say so, man.”
The game was rough, but it felt good to run again, stretch my muscles a bit, and have some fun. Between plays, I snuck a peek at Red, who was engrossed in whatever she was sketching. The look on her face was so intense, I couldn’t help but admire her focus.
She had her long red hair piled up in a bun on top of her head with a pencil stuck in the side. She was working with colored pencils, but every once in a while she would rip the pencil out of her hair and make some adjustments, then shove it back into her hair.
I was so busy watching Red that I didn’t see Frankie headed straight for me until it was too late. He hit me hard in the chest, taking me clear off my feet as he raced toward the end zone.
I went down hard on my back, which forced the air from my lungs. All I saw was sky as I lay there, blinking, trying to catch my breath. Then Frankie’s face appeared. He asked if I was okay, but he sounded weird, like he was talking in slow motion. Red’s face appeared. Her big green eyes were wide with fear.
“You okay?” she asked, her voice coming in a little clearer than Frankie’s.
I nodded and Frankie offered me a hand. He pulled me up. My chest ached from the impact, but my head was clear. No real damage except the wound to my pride.
“Dude, didn’t you see me coming?”
“Not until it was too late.” I chuckled.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Red asked.
“Yeah, I’m good, Red.” I gave her a small smile. She was cute when she was worried.
Red refused to take her eyes off of me the rest of the game. I could feel her watching me, afraid I would drop dead any moment. I caught her eye and mouthed, “I’m fine.” Finally, she seemed convinced and went back to sketching.
When the game was over and my team had lost by six, I grabbed my bag and headed over to Red. I dropped my gym bag at her feet and she jumped at the sound.
“What are you working on?” I looked down at her pad.
“It’s a design concept for my residential design class. I’ve been working on a master suite. What do you think?” She held it out for me to see.
I knew nothing about interior design, but her talent was pretty clear from the sketch. “It looks great to me.”
I pulled my shirt over my head. It was soaked with sweat and covered in dirt from running all over the field. I used the dirty shirt to wipe off my face and chest before I grabbed the clean one stuffed in my bag. I noticed Red’s eyes were focused on my chest. I smiled a bit, liking the fact that seeing my body had gotten a reaction out of her.
I was having too much fun not to mess with her, so I dropped the wet shirt next to my bag and rested my hands on my hips. “Like what you see, Red?” I asked, smiling down at her.
She blinked and started to gather her stuff. “No!” Her voice sounded a little rattled as she got to her feet.
“No?” I took a step toward her. “Then why were you staring?” Her face flushed, and let’s just say I was feeling way more than amused by her reaction.
“I was checking to see if you had a bruise from where you got hit,” she said as a cover, but her eyes were telling a very different story.
I took another step toward her, resting my hand on the
tree behind her head. “Oh really? So, you were just concerned for my well-being? How considerate of you.”
I stepped closer as she backed herself up against the tree. I was so close to her I could smell the delicious scent of her shampoo.
She swallowed as my eyes dropped to her full, pink lips. A few more inches and I could taste them. I looked back into those beautiful green eyes and saw nothing but panic. That one look brought me back to reality. What was I doing? I pushed off the tree and dug into my bag for a clean shirt.
“Don’t worry, no girl can resist.” I tugged the shirt over my head and winked at her.
Her face went from stunned to pissed instantly and I laughed as she pulled the pencil from her hair and threw it at me. I watched it sail a foot past my shoulder.
“Come on, let’s get you a beer.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She playfully swatted at me, but eventually relaxed, letting me lead her toward the bar.
The guys were already a pitcher in by the time we got there. We made our way back to the cluster of little tables they commandeered in the back. When we approached, the guys started chanting, “MVP,” and slamming their fists down on the table, mocking me for how shitty I had played. I nodded, raising my arms in the air to encourage them.
“All right, all right. I suck, I get it.”
“Nah, maybe a little distracted,” Frankie said, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I shot him a don’t-go-there look. He shook his head and drank his beer.
“Guys, this is Red.” I gestured to Alex, who was standing at my side.
“Alex,” she said, giving them all a little wave.
The guys appraised Red like vultures circling a fresh kill. I was starting to regret bringing her.
I grabbed a couple of chairs for us and poured some beers from the pitcher. Chuck leaned over the table to address Red, nodding in my direction. “What are you doing with Drewfus over here?” He really is an idiot.
“Eh, my slutty roommate introduced us. Haven’t been able to shake him.” She shrugged and took a sip from her beer. Chuck laughed and smiled at her. This could be trouble.
Frankie bought a round of fireball shots. “Here’s to staying positive and testing negative,” he said, raising his glass to toast before taking the shot. We all tapped glasses and tipped them back.
Red got to her feet and said, “I got the next round.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Chuck said. He got up and followed her to the bar.
I watched them go until Frankie said something I didn’t hear.
“What was that?
“I said, how’s your mom doing?”
I looked down into my almost empty glass. “Not bad, but not great either.”
“I’m sorry, man. No one deserves that shit, but especially not her.” He shook his head. I nodded and did my best to change the subject. Mom was not a subject I lingered on lately.
It had been a while and Red still hadn’t come back. I looked around and saw her leaning against the bar, smiling at Chuck, who reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. I could feel myself getting seriously pissed. I hated the idea of his hands on her. Hell, anyone’s hands on her.
I got to my feet and headed in their direction. “How are those shots coming, Red?”
“Oh, right.” She reached for the tray of shots. “Chuck and I were just talking.”
“No problem.” I took the tray from her and led her away from Chuck, shooting him a look that said hands off. He chuckled and shook his head as he followed us back to the table.
It was getting late and Red had a few too many, so I said goodbye to the guys and ushered her out of the bar. We stepped outside. The night air was crisp and a little cold. We stopped at the crosswalk, waiting for the light to change.
Red was starting to shiver, so I pulled her close to my chest, rubbing my hands up and down her arms to warm her up. She relaxed against me, dropping her head back against my shoulder as she let out a soft sigh. I wrapped my arms around her, breathed her in, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. This girl was getting under my skin. I’d never felt this way about anyone.
The light changed and I released her. I took her by the hand and led her back to campus. She stayed close to me as we walked and threaded her fingers through mine. I loved how easy things were with her, like this was how we were always supposed to be.
We walked in silence across the quad, toward her dorm. There were a few people milling around, but the night was mostly quiet. She leaned against me, a lazy smile spreading across her face. She looked happy and so beautiful in the soft light of the street lamps. I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. She had a power over me I couldn’t explain. It was amazing and terrifying, but I couldn’t get enough.
When we got to her room, she pulled the keys from her bag and tried to fit them into the lock but kept missing. I chuckled and reached for her hand, helping to guide the key into the lock. She turned the key and pushed the door open, almost falling into the dark, empty room. I grabbed her around the waist to keep her from falling as she laughed.
Once I was sure she had regained her balance, I let her go. She stepped away from me, dropping her bag next to her bed. She dropped down onto the mattress, kicked out of her shoes, and started to unbutton her jeans. I started to turn away, but she stood up too fast and lost her balance again, so I reached out to catch her. I held on to her as she stepped out of her jeans.
She pulled her shirt off like I wasn’t there and pulled open her dresser drawer, searching for something. I couldn’t help but stare at her as she rifled through the drawer. Her skin was perfect. The smooth slope of her naked back was begging for me to just reach out and touch her.
I turned my back to her and ran a hand over my face, trying to get a grip. When I turned around, she was wearing an oversized white t-shirt that was so thin, I could see she had taken off her bra. I swallowed quickly and blinked, resisting the urge to explore what that thin little shirt was hiding from me.
“You should get to bed,” I choked out, pulling back the covers of her bed.
She climbed in and I pulled the covers over her as she snuggled into her pillow. “Good night, Red,” I whispered. Her eyes were closed and I smiled as I turned to leave.
She reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me back down to her. “You know what?” she said, her voice soft. “I’d be lost without you, Drew.”
I smiled down at her. “Me too, Red.”
She was quiet, so I pulled away from her grasp and headed for the door. When I reached for the knob, I heard her mumble, “You should have kissed me.”
I headed out, softly closing the door behind me.
When I was safely in the hall with a locked door between us, I let out a breath. Fuck, I’m in way over my head.
Chapter 14
Alex (Now)
The next morning, I was heading to work when I spotted Drew coming out of his building across the square. He stopped when he saw me, but just shook his head and got in his car. Why was he being such a dick? He was the one who busted into my apartment last night, not the other way around. We both said some pretty hateful things, but now he was going to pretend he didn’t see me? Well, two can play at that game, buddy.
I stomped my way to work with renewed anger. If he thought I was going to be the one to cave and apologize first, he had another think coming. I didn’t do anything wrong. He was the one trying to control me. He was the one in an outrage after seeing me making out with someone.
I saw him kissing countless girls at parties over the years. Not to mention all the times he brought one of the vacuous bimbos to hang out with the group. I never said anything to him. I would never try to undermine his happiness like that. If having a trampy girl on his knee was his idea of fun, he could have at it.
I was so wrapped up in the rant going on in my head that I walked right past my office. I saw the sign for Down the Street and realized my mistake. I headed in to get some coffee, trying to convince myself that I meant to pas
s my building. Stupid.
I still got to the office before Gwen. I had just set my stuff down when I heard her clomping down the hallway. I knew I was about to get a barrage of insults and not-so-subtle digs about what she witnessed at the bar.
She stopped in the doorway and just shook her head at me with a smug smile. I refused to let her get to me. She settled in her chair, grinning like my humiliation was her own personal victory. Her phone vibrated on her desk. She picked it up and a mischievous smile spread across her face, so wide I thought her head would split in half.
“Drew is so sweet,” she squealed.
My head snapped up. Excuse me? Did she just say Drew? As in, my Drew? I stared at her with wide eyes. Was Drew texting her now? What the holy fuck? Is this his idea of payback? I went out with someone he didn’t like, so he is going out with someone I loathe to hurt me! That bastard! As if things weren’t already bad between us. Now that psychotic plastic floatation device was rubbing it in my face.
I’m sure that after my little display the other night at the bar, Gwen was very aware of how I feel about Drew, as was everyone else, so now her plan was to do everything she could to take him from me. The only issue with her plan was that Drew was never mine to begin with.
I felt the angry tears beginning to well up and I knew I had to get out of there. Gwen glanced up from her phone with a smirk. I rose from my desk and walked as quickly as I could to the bathroom without drawing too much attention.
I made it to the bathroom and slammed my fist into the wall before sliding down to the floor and releasing the sob. This was an ugly cry, with snot and mascara dripping down my face. Tears came so hard, I felt like I would choke on them.
I heard a knock at the door. “Alexandra? Is that you in there?” It was Madeline. Oh great, to make matters worse, my boss caught me in the middle of a sob fest at work.
“Can I come in, dear?” she asked softly. I got to my feet and opened the door. When she walked in, I turned to the sink and grabbed a tissue in an attempt to clean up my face. I looked up into the mirror. Oh God! I blew my nose and attempted to clean the lines of black from under my eyes. Jesus, I looked like Alice Cooper.
Somewhere In Between (Madison Square Book 1) Page 14