by Carter Ashby
She sighed. "I'd rather go on a date with you."
He simply shook his head. She gathered her things and left.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Addy's apartment was filled with squeals and giggles. She loved the sounds of her friends being over. Most of the time it was so quiet, there, since she was a quiet person. It was nice to have the occasional disruption.
Kellen and Jayce sat on the sofa, their legs splayed in front of them, watching television and waiting on their women. Zoey and Maya were fighting over who got to pick Addy's earrings. Addy was trying to be excited about this date with a gorgeous guy who'd behaved heroically, but she couldn't get past her grief for very long at a time. Grey hadn't spoken to her the rest of the week.
There was a knock at the door before she'd even done her makeup, so Zoey ran to answer it. Addy could hear her greeting poor Ben with overwhelming enthusiasm.
"You look so pretty," Maya said quietly.
"Thanks." Maya installed Addy's earrings while Addy applied some color to her lips. "How are things with you and Jayce?"
Addy watched Maya in the mirror. The woman blushed. She liked that about Maya, she was never so worldly that she stopped blushing. "Very good. He's so good to me and the kids."
"How many times has he proposed to you, now?"
Maya laughed. "Four. And a half…I stopped him mid-proposal last week because I couldn't bear to reject him again."
"He's probably just making sure he doesn't miss his moment."
"I told him he's done so much proposing, to take some time off and let me do the next one. He said, 'No chance, Babe.' So I'm expecting another proposal soon."
Addy finished up her makeup and turned to Maya. "Do us all a favor and say yes, one of these times. He's a really good catch."
Maya giggled. "He is, isn't he?" She sighed with a longing glance at the living room. She snapped out of it and turned back to Addy. "Come on. I'm dying to meet Ben."
They went out into the living room. Ben was lounging in a chair chatting with the guys. Zoey was sitting on Kellen's lap. When Ben saw Addy, he smiled and stood. "Wow. I like the hair down."
"I hear tell it makes me more approachable." He let a few strands of her hair play through his fingers.
"It definitely adds another dimension to your appeal."
She found herself without inhibitions and slipped her arm around his waist to lead him downstairs. They took two cars to a fine, Italian restaurant at a place called The Hill. Addy knew what a treat it was for Maya to go to nice places. Zoey couldn't care less, and Jayce got itchy whenever he was forced anywhere fancy, but Maya looked like Cinderella at the ball.
"So are you a grad student, Ben?" Maya asked after the server brought their drinks and took their orders.
"No, actually," he said, "I'm a freshman undergrad. Kind of got a late start."
"Nothing wrong with that," Maya said. "I'm enrolling for my first time next fall."
"Never too late," he said, and clinked glasses with her.
Addy looked up at him. His arm was along the back of her chair. "So what's your story?"
"Well, I joined the Army, junior year of high school. So now I'm making use of that GI Bill to get a business degree."
"Ooooh, Addy, you caught yourself a soldier," Zoey said.
Addy rolled her eyes. "What made you join up?" she asked Ben.
"Well," he said pensively, "at the time, I didn't really know what I wanted to do with my life. But I always knew I wanted to serve at least one tour of duty, you know, just to contribute."
Sighs from the girls across the table. Addy had to hold her breath to keep from sighing. She managed to keep her voice level. "So, did you see combat?"
"A couple of times. Nothing devastating, but also not very polite dinner conversation."
Addy smiled at this. Her parents were going to like this guy.
The server brought their dinner. Kellen and Ben found topics to discuss, as they were both well traveled. Jayce talked martial arts. Maya asked him what it was like being in school with people six years younger than him. Zoey asked all the impertinent questions about his past with women, and what his religious and political affiliations were. Addy often found Zoey's conversation coarse and uncivilized…but incredibly useful.
Their plates were cleared away and dessert brought. Now, Ben kept his hand on the bare part of Addy's back, and she found she didn't mind at all.
Ben's arm came around her shoulders. "Wanna go dancing?"
She beamed up at him. "Really?"
"Yeah, silly. I asked, didn't I?"
"I would absolutely love to go dancing. Jayce? Dancing?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said, high-fiving her across the table. "I love to take my woman dancing." Maya smiled up at him like he was a god, and he kissed her so sweetly Addy had to look away.
Kellen was the only one who groaned in misery, not being a big fan of dancing. Ben led the way to a club within walking distance of the restaurant. They spent the evening drinking and dancing. Maya and Kellen drew the short straws, so they were designated drivers. Jayce and Maya wound up in a corner booth making out like teenagers. Kellen and Zoey were locked in a slow-dance embrace, blind and deaf to the world around them.
Addy rested her cheek against Ben's shoulder as they swayed to the music. "I've enjoyed spending time with you," he said. "You think we could hang out some more, maybe next week?"
She hesitated. Then she pulled back and shook her head. "Friendship is all I've got to offer. And quite honestly, I'm not that good of a friend."
He grinned. "Not the least bit attracted to me, are you?"
She looked him up and down. "In theory."
"In theory? How's that work?"
"Well, I definitely appreciate what's being offered. You're incredibly good looking. You seem to have integrity. You're intelligent. Cool-headed in a crisis. Funny and not too serious. So my head says yes. I just can't seem to get my heart and body on board at the moment."
He grinned and touched her cheek. "God, I like you. Listen, it's fine. I get it. Maybe you'll never feel it, that's the risk I take. But I still wanna hang out with you. So how about it?"
At last, she agreed. After that, they all went back to Addy's apartment, where Ben drank water until he was sober enough to drive home.
As soon as he left, the whole evening came crashing down on Addy. Ben was the nicest guy in the world, but to be with him meant forever closing the door on her feelings for Grey, which she was going to have to do anyway. Exhausted from the stress of the week, the dancing and the alcohol, she knew she needed to rush her friends out the door before she completely fell apart.
"I guess you guys better get home, huh?" she asked. "It's so late."
"Yeah," Jayce agreed. "Come on. Kellen, you drive this time?"
"So you can make out with Maya in the backseat? No way. If I drive, you ride up front with me."
Jayce gave him a blank look. Then turned to Maya. "Could I see you in the bathroom for about five minutes?"
"Jayce!" Maya cried, and threw a throw pillow at him. He caught it and threw it back at her.
Then he grabbed her by the wrists, pulled her to her feet, and into his arms, where it appeared he intended to keep her forever. Kellen drowsily dragged his fingers through Zoey's hair. They all looked so happy. Addy's chest tightened. "Stay as long as you like, of course. But I think I'm going to go to bed."
Zoey and Maya turned to her, like hawks spotting their prey. They studied her for so long that she had to look away.
"I've got a great idea," Zoey said. "How about you boys go on back home so we can have a girls-only sleepover. We haven't done that in ages."
Jayce's arms tightened around Maya. "I'm not going home without her."
Zoey rolled her eyes. "Maya, come on. Slumber party, right?"
"I think it's a great idea," Maya said, struggling to free herself from Jayce's embrace.
"I'm really not up for it," Addy said, fighting as hard as she could to hold ba
ck the tears. "But maybe next weekend, okay?"
"No," Zoey said. "We're staying tonight and that's that. Let her go, Jayce. You can have her back in the morning."
By this point, Jayce had turned his insightful gaze to Addy and seen what Zoey and Maya had seen. It was awfully big of him to let go of Maya. Kellen and Jayce kissed their girls goodnight and left.
Not a moment too soon. Addy fell onto the sofa and cried into Zoey's blouse. "I hate him," she sobbed irrationally. "I hate myself. I hate these feelings."
"Shhh, I know," Zoey said, rocking her back and forth. "It'll all work out."
Maya was busy pouring wine. "Addy, sweetheart, I hate to profit at your expense, but I must say, it's nice not being the one having an emotional breakdown."
Addy managed to laugh through her tears. She got the worst of the tears out and then fell back against the sofa and sipped some wine. "Ben's so hot. He swooped in, Tuesday, and totally saved the day. He was calm and collected. God, I'm such a fool."
"It's too soon to be dating," Maya said, matter-of-factly.
"Oh, come on, that's bullshit," Zoey said. "It's not like she and Grey were in love or anything."
"She is in love with him," Maya said. "Even if he doesn't return her love, she still needs time to grieve. Addy, don't beat yourself up for not having feelings for Ben. Just be up front with him, and if he wants to keep hanging out, trust him to manage his own feelings."
Addy nodded. "That's reasonable."
Zoey sighed. "I don't understand the difference between hanging out and dating."
"That's because you only hang out with men you wanna have sex with. Or you used to," Maya said.
Zoey shot her a look.
"Maya's right," Addy said. "And I have been up front with Ben. If he wants to keep seeing me, that'll have to be his decision."
She was calmed, for the moment. The pain over Grey still lingered in the background, but as long as it remained there, she could manage it.
The three of them stayed up late watching movies, drinking wine, and laughing.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Saturday morning, Grey found himself in a position he'd never imagined possible. A position so humiliating he doubted he'd ever be able to look himself in the mirror again. A position he'd thought existed only amongst teenage girls who watched too many vampire romance dramas.
He lay curled up on his bed, hugging the t-shirt Addison had worn that he still hadn't washed. He had to inhale deeply, but there still remained a hint of her scent.
Last night he'd taken Caroline out, fully intending to go back to her apartment with her. In fact he had gone back to her apartment, he just hadn't been able to seal the deal. It was humiliating.
He'd gone to her place after. She'd left him on the sofa with a drink while she went to her room to change. She'd come back looking drop-dead sexy in red lingerie. Grey should have felt nothing but lust. Lust was real. Lust was scientifically documented. There was no logical explanation for the guilt he felt looking at Caroline. He'd left her staring after him in shock and anger.
The rest of the night had been spent hugging the t-shirt and trying not to shed actual tears. Now, since he was already as pathetic as he could ever remember being, he pulled out his phone and got on Facebook. Addison rarely posted photos or updates, but often her friends would, and he'd get to see pictures of her smiling and laughing, just like she'd done last week, with him.
There was a photo of her and her friends from last night, and Grey let out a breath of relief from tension he hadn't realized he'd been holding. She'd had a sleepover with her friends. Not Ben. Not that perfect, young, athletic bastard Ben.
Grey became way too disgusted with himself so that by ten o'clock—way too late to be lying around in bed—he flung his legs over the edge and forced himself to his feet. He dragged those feet, weighted down by sadness like lead shoes, into the bathroom and forced himself to shave. He was not going to be one of those unshaven wallowers in self-pity. No, if he was going to wallow in self-pity, he was going to look his best, dammit.
The t-shirt was slung over his shoulder as he rinsed his smooth face and toweled it off. He looked at the shower and decided it was too much effort. In the kitchen he turned on the coffee pot and stood there watching it drip full. Oddly, he found the moment comforting, letting his mind go blank as the coffee pot gurgled and steamed.
He poured himself a cup and sat at the kitchen table with his laptop. There were papers to be graded, forum posts to be checked, emails to be answered. He opened his email program first and scrolled through the new messages until he saw one from Dean Richter, marked URGENT. He opened the email and felt the coffee burning his stomach lining.
Greyson, have you seen this?
www.gwenmorrisspeaksout.com
I think we should meet. Be at my office at one this afternoon.
Erika Richter
With a sinking dread in his gut, he clicked the link. The header had a photo of perky Gwen Morris. The content made Grey sick. She went on at length accusing him of attempting to get her to sleep with him for a grade. Then she posted an "update" informing her audience of Addison's relationship with Grey. She ended by inviting other girls to come forward, so that Grey was relying on the hope that he hadn't pissed off any other vengeful, teenage girls in recent years.
He wasn't shocked. After Tuesday, it had only been a matter of time before it got around that he'd kissed Addison. At the moment, Gwen was painting Addison as a victim, which was at least some relief. It would go over better for Addison with the thesis committee if it looked as though she was coerced rather than complicit. She might be able to muster enough sympathy to get her thesis accepted.
Grey sat back and blew out a breath. This was it, then. There was no avoiding disaster. Gwen had made Youtube videos that had thousands of views. Her Facebook page was loaded with hundreds upon hundreds of comments. Grey had no doubt that the school was being inundated with phone calls by concerned parents.
"Shit," he muttered. He clutched the t-shirt to his chest. He felt sick. Dirty. The thing with Addison was supposed to be beautiful. Now it would be tainted by one vindictive little bitch.
He went back to his room for his phone, intending to call Addison. He ended up holding it in his hand and staring at it. Perhaps he should wait until after the meeting with the dean. He needed to find out how serious this was. Besides, she was having a fun weekend with her friends. He didn't want to ruin it.
Saturday morning dawned way too bright and early. Addy dragged a pillow over her face. Her head felt stuffed with cotton. There was a leg on her leg and someone was asleep on her hair, so that when she tried to turn over, she was jerked back with a sharp pain.
"One of you was s'posed to sleep on the couch," she groaned.
"Your bed's so big," Maya sighed.
"I'm not on the couch?" Zoey asked.
"Maybe we had too much wine." Addy would have stayed in bed forever if she didn't have to visit the bathroom.
She climbed over Zoey and went to the bathroom. She splashed water on her face and brushed her teeth before going to the kitchen to drink about a gallon of water. She revved up the coffee pot, throwing in an extra scoop.
"Hey, you guys wanna go out for breakfast!" she shouted. As she turned back toward the bedroom she ran into Zoey whose hands were over her ears.
"Jesus fuck, what the hell, Addy?"
"Sorry, I thought you were back in bed."
"God. Out of my way, bitch, I need water."
Addy shoved past her, and fell onto the sofa to await the coffee. Maya came in, perky and refreshed. She grabbed a glass of water and plopped down on the sofa.
"How are you not hung over?" Addy asked, as she propped her feet in Maya's lap.
"I didn't drink."
"What? Why?"
Maya just shrugged.
With a sigh, Addy let her eyes drift shut. "Anyway, thank you guys for staying over. I really needed that."
"You're welcome," Maya said.
>
"There's a cute little café a few blocks away," Addy said. "I'll take ya'll out to breakfast if you want."
"I want," Maya said.
Zoey curled up in an armchair. "Yeah. But coffee first, or someone might die. Probably Maya because she looks way too cute right now."
Maya flipped her off, which caused Zoey to gape in astonishment.
They had their coffee, dressed, and found the café, where they sat down with yet more coffee accompanied by pastries. Addy tore off a piece of a very delicate croissant.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw 'mom' on the screen. "Not now, Mom," she said, pocketing the phone. It rang once more, but nothing after that.
"Hey, how are we getting back home?" Maya asked.
Addy snorted. "Honestly, I'm surprised Jayce didn't spend the night outside the apartment door."
"Me, too," Maya said.
"I'll take you home," Addy said. "Maybe I'll stay the weekend. I'm kind of over St. Louis, right now."
"Great," Maya said. "Because there's something I need to tell you guys, and…and it would be really great to get to be together for a while."
Addy and Zoey looked at each other.
"What is it, babe?" Zoey asked, having taken up Jayce's name for her.
"Yeah, babe, what is it?" Addy asked.
She slugged them both in the shoulder. "It's nothing. I don't think. I'm just…I'm two days late."
Addy and Zoey gasped.
Maya held her hands up in a 'calm-down' gesture. "It's not unusual. I mean, it hasn't happened in a while, but still, two days isn't that bad. I'd just feel better taking a pregnancy test, so maybe we can stop by a drugstore—"
"We'll go now," Zoey said, standing and gathering her plate. "Come on."
"Relax," Addy said. "We're going to finish our breakfast, then go back to my place so I can pack an overnight bag. Then we'll stop by a drugstore on the way back to Maya's, okay?"
Zoey wore a pouty face, but she managed to calm down. They did exactly as Addy suggested. Maya grabbed a three-pack of pregnancy tests at a little drug store in St. Claire. They went back to Maya's house, which used to be Zoey's house before she moved in with Kellen.