“Aww, that’s so sweet.” Anne was such a romantic at heart, even if she pretended she wasn’t.
“But, it’s not that simple.” I hated even having to think about the rest.
“Uh oh.” Tiffany looked at me nervously. “What happened?”
“It turns out her ex is a Pteron and he kidnapped her best friend from high school in an attempt to get her back.”
“Is that all of it?” Hailey looked at me.
“Pretty much.” I took out my stress on a throw pillow. That poor thing had put up with a lot lately.
Anne’s jaw dropped. “What? That’s insane! Where’s your friend?”
“Jared got some intel that she’s fine. She’s being kept in a house somewhere. Jared and Levi say they can’t get her until they find out more. Otherwise, she’ll just be at risk again.” The part I didn’t say was that Anne and Tiffany would be at risk too. Anyone who knew me probably was. There was no way I was letting any more of my friends get pulled into the mess that was my life.
“Have you thought about how random it is that you’ve dated two Pterons?” Tiffany said carefully.
“It can’t be random. I need to find out why.” I had a feeling it was the key to figuring out how to protect everyone around me.
Chapter Seven
“What do you know about Georgina?” I asked Jared as we waited for our professor in Organic Chemistry II. It was the first day, but I knew the professor would jump right in because it was just a continuation of the semester before.
“Levi’s grandma? Not too much. She’s a pretty intense lady. Actually, she kind of reminds me of you.” He smiled at a blonde who was eyeing him from across the aisle before turning his attention back to me.
“What?”
“You both scare me.”
I lightly punched his arm. “I do not scare you.”
“She says after she assaults me.”
“If I assaulted you, you’d know it.”
“Is that a threat?” He smirked.
“Do you feel threatened?”
“Very.” He leaned over and whispered. “You are a very threatening princess.”
“Be careful or I’ll beat you up with my tiara.”
“Just don’t break it. That thing has been in the Laurent family for years.”
“What? I was joking. I actually have a tiara?” I pulled out the brand-spanking-new light weight laptop Levi bought me for Christmas.
“Of course. Helen hasn’t showed you yet? You get to wear it at the ball.”
“Interesting.” A tiara made the princess stuff seem a whole lot more real.
“You’re such a girl.”
“As compared to what?”
“Nothing. I’ve just never seen your girly side. You’re all teeth and nails usually.” He held up his hands like claws.
“Wasn’t I the one you called weak a few months ago?”
“Weak and girly are two different things. Aren’t you going to turn it on?” He gestured to my laptop.
“I tried.”
He laughed. “You can’t figure out how to turn on your computer?”
“Don’t laugh. Fix it.”
“Didn’t you try it out?” He pressed a button I could have sworn I’d already tried. Of course, the thing booted instantly.
“No. Levi said he loaded everything for me.”
Jared shook his head. “At least you trust him again.”
“Shouldn’t I trust him?”
“Of course. I’m just saying, it took a while.”
“As it should have. He didn’t deserve easy forgiveness.”
The blonde glared at me, clearly getting the wrong impression about us. I just smiled back at her.
“I bet you’re still getting him to make it up to you.”
“Dare I ask what you’re implying?”
“You know exactly what I’m implying. I know about your challenges.”
“What!” I said it louder than I meant to.
“What’s the problem?” He grinned from ear to ear.
“Levi told you that?” I could barely breathe, I was so mortified.
“Yeah, so?”
“He’s dead. He’s absolutely one hundred percent dead.” I gritted my teeth. If Levi had been within arm’s reach, he’d have had a red mark on his face in the shape of my hand.
“Come on, Levi tells me everything. It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? I hate you both.” I picked up my laptop and tote bag and moved over a few seats.
Of course, Jared followed and he was laughing. “Do you think I care? I’m just glad you’re finally giving Levi some. He was such an ass when you were holding out on him.”
I turned around. Some nerdy looking guy behind us was watching us with interest. I faced forward again. “Shut up. Not another word.”
Thankfully, the professor came in. I’d never been more interested in aromatic hydrocarbons before.
Class went by at a snail’s pace, but it gave me time to calm down. Or so I thought.
“Are you still mad?” Jared asked as he followed me out of the room.
“What do you think?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“No, but your buddy did.” I still couldn’t believe Levi would humiliate me like that. What else was he telling his friends?
“My buddy? You’re his mate.”
“Don’t remind me.”
Jared laughed again. “Please don’t make a huge deal out of this. Who cares that you like sex with him transformed and your favorite position is—”
I pushed him. “Don’t say another word to me. Not one word.”
I pulled out my phone and texted Levi. You are in so much trouble. I put my phone away. Thankfully, my second class was on the same quad. I reached the building and turned to glare at Jared. “You can leave. I’m sure Owen’s waiting inside.”
“No can do. I need visual confirmation.”
I put a hand on my hip. “Visual confirmation?”
“Chill out, I’ll call him.” He pulled his phone from his pocket.
As expected, Owen walked outside. “Hey, couldn’t find the room?”
“Ha ha. So funny. Your friend here said he needed visual confirmation of my next babysitter.”
Jared shook his head. “Be careful, Owen, she’s a live one today.”
“It’s your fault.” I brushed past both of them and into the building.
I found a seat and set up my laptop. I had no trouble getting it out of sleep mode, thank goodness.
“What’s up with you?” Owen tossed his backpack on the floor and took a seat in the desk next to mine. I was actually really excited for our Southern History class to start. You don’t learn much about that subject when you grow up in New York.
“No comment.”
My phone vibrated. I had no doubt who was texting me. What did I do?
Our private life is exactly that, private. If you’re not man enough to keep it to yourself, then you’re not man enough to have one. I smiled, satisfied that I’d said my piece—until I saw him.
Owen leaned over me to read my phone screen. The smile that spread across his face confirmed that Levi had been blabbing to him too.
“If you so much as mention my sex life, I’m going to slap you.”
“Not saying a word.”
“Good.”
I got another text just as the professor walked in. Good thing I’m a Pteron then ;) Love ya, babe.
Was he serious? That was his response? I took a deep breath. There was nothing I could do until after class.
My professor was fantastic. She was young and obviously passionate about the subject. I was already excited to pick a term paper topic.
She let us out early, and Owen walked me back to my dorm. “Off the record, Levi should have kept his mouth shut.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that.”
“What do you appreciate?” Hailey joined us. She’d just gotten out of class too.
“I’ll tell you all about i
t upstairs.”
“This isn’t good, is it?”
Owen smiled. “Not for Levi.”
“What has the idiot done now?”
“Idiot?” Owen snapped. “Watch it, Hailey.”
“Oh shut up, Owen.” Hailey took my arm, and we headed inside. She waited until the door was closed to start asking questions.
“What did he do?”
I tossed my bag on my chair. “He just blabbed about our sex life in vivid detail to his two goons.”
“Ugh, he’s so dumb sometimes.” She kicked off her flip flops. It was fifty degrees and she was wearing sandals. I’d just taken off boots. “What are we going to do?”
“I love how you say we.”
“I’m always on your side. What kind of punishment is he getting?” She got a gleam in her eye. She felt bad for me, but she loved scheming.
“I’m not sure yet, but it’s got to be good. Look at this text.” I opened the message and tossed my phone to her.
“So are you thinking he gets a freeze out, public humiliation…”
“Oh, he’s getting a freeze out, but I need to come up with something better.” I sat down cross-legged on my bed.
Hailey laughed. “I love you, Allie.”
“Yeah, I love you too.”
Hailey still had my phone when I got another text. “Oh, you’re going to love this.”
She tossed my phone back. I caught it and looked at the screen. Lunch at 12?
You are so delusional.
Why?
I’m not answering that. If you can’t figure it out, ask your idiot friend, Jared. You already tell him everything.
I won’t do it again.
You’re going to have to do better than that. No lunch.
I put my phone down.
Hailey leaned over my shoulder. “Since you’re free for lunch, do you want to grab some? I’m starving.”
“Absolutely. Are Tiffany and Anne around?”
“I don’t know their new schedules yet.”
I laughed. “So ridiculous. It’s the first day of school and you don’t have their classes memorized.”
We grabbed our keys and IDs, and knocked next door. There was no answer, but I heard music. “Do you think Anne has someone in there?”
“Technically it could be Tiffany…” Hailey grinned. Tiffany was too good of a girl for that.
Hailey knocked again. “If you’re not having sex, we’re heading to the U.C. for lunch.” Everyone called the University Center by the acronym.
The door flew open and a red-faced Tiffany gaped at us. There was a guy sitting on her bed.
“Oh, sorry. We thought you were Anne,” Hailey stammered.
Tiffany turned an even deeper shade of red. “We weren’t doing anything. This is Cam, we’re just getting started on a project.”
“A project, eh?” Hailey tried to keep a straight face. I nudged her.
“Oh, cool. Sorry to interrupt.” I backed up.
“You didn’t interrupt.”
“Okay, well, we’ll leave you alone anyhow.” Hailey took my arm, and we headed to the stairs.
“Do you think they were fooling around?” I asked.
“Who knows? It’s not a bad thing. It’s better than her still having a crush on Jared.”
“Good point.”
We walked over to the U.C. without running into any Pterons. I don’t think I could have handled any more of them.
Chapter Eight
“You can’t be mad at me again.” Levi was leaning against the wall of our dorm when Hailey and I came home from dinner that night. I hated to admit it, but he looked so sexy with his arms crossed and that scowl. I just wanted to kiss it off his face.
“I can’t?”
“No. I hate fighting with you. I thought we were done with that.”
“Then why’d you go blabbing about our personal life to your friends?”
“I’m going to let you guys talk this one out.” Hailey hightailed it inside.
“I didn’t think it mattered.”
“You mean you didn’t think I’d find out.”
He reached out, grabbed my hand, and pulled me closer. I let him. “Is it really a bad thing that I like to brag about how amazing you are?”
“Uh huh, that’s what it’s about.”
“It is. Jared gave me hell the whole time you were holding out on me. It’s only natural I want to shove it back at him.”
“I’m still mad at you, but—”
“Would it help if I promised I won’t do it again?”
“I was trying to tell you that I’m sure you’ll find a way to make it up to me.”
He grinned. “What are you doing now?”
“Good try. Not tonight. Maybe this weekend.”
“All right, date night at our place?”
“You like saying that, don’t you?”
“Our place? Of course I do, but so do you.”
“Says who?”
“Says the look on your face. You may be making me wait until the weekend, but if you weren’t so determined to win every argument, you’d be getting into my car right now.”
“Tell yourself whatever you want.” I crossed my arms.
“Can I at least get a kiss good night?”
“Sure.” I leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. Then I thought better of it and left a light kiss on his lips. “Goodnight, Levi.”
He groaned. “You can’t do this to me. I need you.”
“If you can’t handle two nights without me in your bed, you’ve got problems.” Classes had started on a Wednesday again. I liked beginning with a short week.
“Did you have to add the ‘in my bed’ part?” He ran a hand down my arm. “You can’t put that picture in my head and leave me hanging.”
“I’m supposed to be mad at you.”
He smiled hesitantly. “Allie Davis, are you actually giving in to me?”
“Maybe…but only if I can go back to being mad at you in the morning.”
“You’re asking whether you can go back to being mad at me after spending the night with me?”
“Yes.” I tried to keep a straight face but a smile broke through. I was annoyed at him, but he was just too much for me. With everything else going on, I didn’t have the strength to fight it. Besides, Levi was the only one who could make my headaches go away. I’d use any rationalizations I had to.
“Do you want to grab a change of clothes?”
“Yes.”
“What are we waiting for?”
Hailey turned from her laptop when we walked in. Her eyes immediately went to our joined hands. “So much for our revenge.”
“Don’t worry, Hail. She’s going back to being mad at me in the morning.”
“I really don’t get you two, but I don’t think it matters. I’m guessing I’ll see you in the a.m., Allie?”
“You don’t mind, do you?”
“Nope. Anne’s been trying to talk me into going to the Boot tonight with her. I may just have to give in.”
“Want us to walk you?” I tossed a few sets of clothes into a small duffel. I figured I might as well have extras.
“No, I think I can handle the one minute walk alone.” She rolled her eyes. Sometimes I forgot she wasn’t human and didn’t need to worry about safety the way the rest of us did.
“All right, have fun.”
“You too. Don’t forget to be mad at him again in the morning.” She grinned.
***
Any thought of being mad at Levi disappeared when I woke up in his arms Thursday morning. I believed him. He really didn’t think he was doing anything wrong—sometimes it was frustrating being with someone so used to getting and doing anything he wanted.
I’d tried to sleep in a little later while he showered, but a phone call cut my sleep short. “Helen?”
“Hi, Allie. I’m calling to see if you’d like to take a drive out to see Georgina on Friday afternoon.”
“Oh, yeah that would be great
.” This was what I wanted. Too bad I was nervous. At least I’d made up with Levi. I predicted Helen’s next words before she said them.
“You should pack an overnight bag.”
Levi wouldn’t love the idea of me going away with his mom, but at least I’d just spent the night with him. It would have been worse if I’d made him suffer first.
“Okay, I will. Thanks for setting this up.”
“It’s not a problem, sweetie. It will be fun to spend some time away.” She sounded genuinely happy about it.
“Great. Just let me know when and where to meet you.”
“I will.”
I hung up just as Levi came out of the bathroom. I was glad I was already off the phone. Talking to his mom while watching him in a towel would have been seriously awkward.
Even with us on good terms, Levi was really surprised when I told him my new plans. I decided breakfast was as good a time as any to break the news to him. He’d taken me to breakfast at Camellia Grill. It’s a little restaurant right near campus with great breakfast food, burgers, and milk shakes. If it hadn’t been eight thirty in the morning, I probably would have gotten a shake.
“You’re going to see my grandma? Please tell me you’re kidding.” Levi took a bite of his omelet.
“It’s not a big deal. Your mom and I are going for one night.” I turned my stool to look at him. The only place to sit was at the counter.
“Not a big deal?” He put down his fork on his empty plate. “First you sneak over to have an afternoon coffee date with my mom, now both of you are going to visit my grandma?”
“It wasn’t a coffee date. We had mimosas, and you drove me. I didn’t sneak anywhere. Anyway, it’s a two hour drive.”
He smiled. “Just promise me I’m not in trouble. I can hardly handle you when you’re mad, and my mom, forget it. The three of you scheming against me together—I can’t even think about it.”
“Wow, the truth comes out.”
“The truth?” He put some cash down on the counter.
“You are terrified of women.” It was funny watching Levi act nervously about something. Very little scared him—well, besides, the thought of me leaving him.
“I am not.”
“Come on, Levi. You’re freaking out about your grandma.”
“See if you’re still making fun of me after you meet her. I love her, she’s an amazing lady, and generally I’m on her good side, but I’ve seen what happens to people when they make her mad.”
Found (The Crescent Chronicles #3) Page 5