by Dee C. May
Beck leaned down to me. “Hello.” I gulped and almost choked on my mouthful of beer.
“Hi,” I coughed out.
His smile reached his bright eyes. “I sent over a round of shots for you and your friends.”
I nodded, melting at his accent. “Thank you. Do you want to come over and meet them?” I didn’t have much of a choice, I knew. They were laughing and staring at us.
He made space for me to lead the way. I glanced over my shoulder and saw Quinn behind him. Hailey moved over in the booth, and I scooted in next to her. “Girls, this is Beck.” They all stared at him, not bothering to hide their grins, and introduced themselves.
“Hello, girls.” He looked more polished tonight, clean-shaven, the dark red shirt under his black leather jacket accentuating his skin. His hair was its usual tousled dirty blond. He was definitely older than us, I thought, but by how much I couldn’t tell.
Quinn cleared his throat, blue eyes shining. “Oh, I’m sorry. Everybody, this is Quinn,” Beck interjected.
“Hi, girls.” As he shook hands with the others and nodded specifically at Julia and I. I racked my brain to remember if he had been at the bar last weekend.
“Are you joining us for the shots?” Annie piped up. They exchanged a look I couldn’t read then pulled up chairs, motioning to Jim for another two shots.
Beck turned to me. “How was your week?” I stared at him as if he spoke another language. At this point, I couldn’t remember today, much less the entire week.
Julia came to the rescue. “Very sedate. She studied the whole time on the third floor of the library.”
Beck cocked his head toward me with an inquisitive look. “What does that mean?” Clearly, he wanted some conversation from me.
I took another swig of beer. “If you go to the library to socialize, you hang around the first floor. If your goal is to see people and study, you go to the second floor. And if you’re really a recluse and study hard, you go to the third floor,” I answered.
“Ah.” He nodded in understanding. “So, you were studying?”
“No, more like avoiding rumors and keeping a low profile,” Annie answered, always the honest one.
I half-smiled at Beck. “It’s a small school. Everybody knows your business.” He didn’t press further, but his smile faded and a look of anger crossed his face.
“How was your week?” I asked, fiddling with the label on the beer bottle. I couldn’t keep looking at him. My heart pounded, and my voice shook.
He took a drink. “It was good. I did some studying, too.” His anger seemed to have passed, and his crooked smile returned.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Beck—Stop and Shop
Three hours later, we were still there. The empty bottles and shot glasses filled the table, but no one made a move to leave. The girls laughed as they regaled us with stories of their college antics. They fed the jukebox money, and, between Julia and Quinn, an eclectic bunch of music pumped out from the Rolling Stones and U2, to Lady Gaga, the Fray, and Snow Patrol. As one-thirty closed in on two, we were the only ones left. I listened as much as I could, but Wynter’s nearness captured more of my attention. She wore a gray flimsy sleeveless top with shiny beaded things on it, and jeans. A silver pendant in a script W hung from her neck, and small silver hoops graced her ears. Her laughter, throaty and full, mesmerized me. When her friends made fun of some of her exploits, she dipped her head forward, letting her blond hair fall around her face. It was endearing and beautiful all in one.
Quinn, meanwhile, enjoyed digging into all the stories. “So, let me get this right. You were so drunk you lay down in the middle of the path and people were stepping over you on the way into the party?” He asked, grinning from ear to ear. Wynter, completely embarrassed, dropped her head on her folded arms, hiding her face. “And you found her?” He pointed at Julia, who nodded.
“Yes, but I don’t drink straight shots of vodka anymore,” came the reply from within Wynter’s arm.
Quinn grinned. “I bet not.” He glanced over to see my reaction.
She lifted her head, eyes flashing. “At least I wasn’t on the dorm roof rolling around.”
Quinn whipped his head around. “Who did that?” They all turned to Annie.
She took a swallow of beer, leaned back, and answered. “It was a bet, and I won it fair and square.”
Galen leaned forward over the table. “Just so you know, we really are nice girls!”
“Oh, that’s okay. We don’t care. I just want to know about the bet,” Quinn answered. I wondered if he was thinking about the hundreds of people we had killed. Under orders or not, because of war or the good guys, we still took lives. At night, their faces kept me awake.
Just then, I heard Wynter’s stomach rumble. She pressed her hand to it, something she had done periodically throughout the night. “Are you okay?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s just sensitive.” She frowned, and I noted Julia looking at her.
“Do you want to get something to eat?” I asked. That’s what university kids did—drink and then eat. Even I knew that.
“Who’s going to drive?” Sophie asked.
“I can,” I answered. Wynter looked at me. “I’m fine,” I assured her. She glanced at the table, then back. “Really, I’m not drunk.”
She nodded, still staring. I wanted to tell her it was near impossible for me to get drunk, but I couldn’t explain why. They all started getting their coats on and finding gloves and hats.
“Will we all fit?” Wynter asked. She pulled her coat on, fiddling with the buttons. I hesitated then raised my hand to pull her hair out of the collar, but she freed it before my hand made it there. She smiled up at me, and my heart ricocheted wildly. I reminded myself that this was not what I was after.
“I think so,” I managed to say.
***
Galen and Sophie opted to cab it back to campus, so it was the six of us. The girls piled in the back of the Jeep, laughing, their phones continuously beeping. I wished my eyesight extended behind me. I would have liked to have seen what they were texting. At one point, they actually spoke with Annie, whispering she hoped we weren’t serial killers disguised as nice guys. Quinn raised his eyebrows at me, obviously amused.
The girls chose the Stop and Shop Supermarket, scattering like bullets once through the doors, each going in search of their craving. Quinn followed Annie, intent on hearing the rest of the bet story.
Wynter wandered down the bakery section with Julia, where they began stuffing muffins into a bag, discussing the merits of bran versus corn while they did so.
She turned to me. “Aren’t you getting anything?” I shook my head, knowing I had no business playing in this girl’s world, trying to concentrate on why I was here. It was pointless. I wanted her naked in my bed.
Julia elbowed Wynter and whispered, “That’s why he looks so good. I bet he’s got really nice abs. See you at the checkout.” And then she was gone, leaving Wynter and I alone. She meandered down the aisle, pausing at the donuts. Just watching her drove me crazy. I wanted to turn her around and run my fingers through her hair and cup her face and kiss her long and soft, feel her body in my arms. I caught up with her and grazed past her, touching her hand lightly as if by accident. The heat from her skin was like an electric shock. She brushed me back as she headed toward the checkout.
I paused down the next aisle, trying to catch my bearings. I was getting in too deep. We were irrevocably separated by who we were; it didn’t matter that we met in that place.
I grabbed a Pepsi at the checkout counter and drank the entire bottle as we waited, trying to occupy my mind and body with anything other than her.
Quinn looked at me with eyebrows raised. “Thirsty?”
“You have no idea.”
They laughed the whole way back, discussing the checkout lady, Wynter’s diet—which seemed to consist of muffins and cold cereal—and Annie’s penchant for some place called th
e Whole Donut and her ability to drive there late at night. Quinn had finally gotten the bet story, which involved all of them and who could lure a guy up to one of the rooftops of the dorms. Sex wasn’t required to win but at least kissing and one or two bodily rolls. Though Annie had been the first to succeed, they were still disputing the prize of a case of beer versus a six-pack.
We dropped them off at their dorm, and they exited with goodbyes and thank yous, still giggling as they opened the dorm door. They made me smile with their exuberance.
Quinn smirked as we pulled away. “Well, that was fun.” I nodded, not trusting my voice. I kept remembering the way she peered at me through her hair as she wandered down the bakery aisle. I couldn’t stop smiling.
Quinn glanced at me again and shook his head. “This is not good.”
He was right. This could only end badly, but I was past the point of caring.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Wynter—Library
I pushed the turnstile to the library, listening to its creak and click. That sound, along with the smell of new and old books, always comforted me. No matter how bad, scandalous, or boring the weekend had been, Sunday night in the library offered new possibilities. Located in the center of campus, it was as much a hangout as a place to study. On Sundays, it was especially crowded while everyone scrambled to accomplish a weekend’s worth of studying in three hours—and exchange any gossip that had failed to surface during Sunday brunch.
Heading to the back corner of the first floor, where I knew Julia was, I spotted Sophie and Hailey. On their way upstairs, Sophie held up her phone, her way of asking if Beck had called I hadn’t heard from him yet, but I wasn’t freaking. For the first time in ages, I waited for someone other than Jason. That alone deserved a party. I shook my head no and kept going.
I unloaded my books in the carrel Julia had saved for me and checked my phone again. Nothing. She soon returned, having left to fill up her water bottle. “How’s it going?”
. “Nothing yet but good. See anyone interesting?”
Julia shook her head in answer and went back to work. .
I pulled out my civil war book and was rummaging through my back pack looking for the reading assignment when Julia gasped. I jerked my head up to see Beck weaving through the tables toward me. He had traded in his leather jacket for a black suede barn jacket and wore a dark green shirt and blue jeans. His stubble was back. He looked amazing, polished and rough all rolled into one. My heart yammered so loud for a moment, I didn’t hear whatever Julia whispered to me. He nodded at Julia as he passed then slowed and gave me that crooked smile. I wondered how he’d found me tucked in the corner.
“Hi,” he whispered, his accent sending chills up my spine. “First floor. Are you studying or socializing?”
I smiled at his Friday night reference and croaked out an answering hello, my mouth suddenly incredibly dry.
“I decided to take my chances and see if you could use a study break. I brought muffins.” He lifted the plastic bag he was holding in his hand. I stood up, hoping my legs would support me, and started packing up my things. I could hear the murmured undercurrent. Unknown visitors were a cause for gossip, especially good-looking ones. I went to grab my bag, and he had it before I could swing it on my back.
“Are you going to carry my books for me?” I asked incredulously. Had I died and gone to some alternate reality? Guys like this just didn’t exist. At least not for me.
“Of course.” He shrugged.
Julia smiled at me as we passed. “Have fun,” she whispered. I smirked and widened my eyes. She just laughed. Brian stood up. He wasn’t going to let me off so easily. My big brother, I thought, amused.
“I’m Brian.” He held out his hand.
Beck grabbed it. “Beck.” As if he knew why Brian had stopped him, Beck added, “I’ll have her home by midnight.”
Brian laughed. “No drinking or smoking, kids.” I smiled at him and then nearly sprinted for the main doors. I wanted out of here before anyone else stopped us.
“Where to?” Beck asked as the doors closed behind us. I looked back just in time to see Jason standing at the reference desk staring after us. It filled me with more than a hint of satisfaction.
I turned back to Beck. “I don’t know. Coffee? Soda? Beer?”
“How about a walk around campus?”
“Okay. I just need to stop for a drink at the snack bar.” I needed something hot to keep me warm. “How was your trip?” I asked and started walking again.
He followed. “It was good. We went to a hockey game. Saw some old friends.”
“Who won?” He liked hockey? He was too good to be true. I keyed in the code for the student center, and he opened the door for me, waiting for me to lead the way.
“The Bruins. How was your night?”
I tried to remember last night. “We party hopped around campus. It was fun.”
He nodded as if he understood.
Mark came up behind us as we were waiting to be served. “L,” he said in his soft voice.
I could feel my cheeks blush. “Mark.” He waited, expecting me to introduce him to Beck, I guessed. I hated introductions. I sucked at it, never sure whose name I was supposed to say first.
Beck held out his hand, “I’m Beck.”
Mark grabbed it, giving it a good shake. “Mark.”
He turned to me, eyebrows raised, too many questions on his face. “Whatcha up to, L?”
“Just getting some hot chocolate, Mark.” I ground my teeth.
“You?”
“Frozen yogurt for the woman.”
I nodded.
Beck watched the exchange silently then, raising his eyebrows, asked, “L?”
Mark laughed loudly. “You don’t know?” Beck shook his head as I stared at the ground, waiting for the infamous story. My cheeks burned, but it was pointless to ask Mark to stop. “Yep, I discovered Wynter’s best asset before I ever knew her. I was just an insignificant freshman, and my brother was driving me to college. We were on I-95 coming up from New York, and there was an overturned tractor-trailer which had traffic backed up for miles. My brother had his Nextel phone on, you know when they were all the rage. Anyway, he tried to find out what was going on, but the truckers were all talking about some girl in a convertible who was hanging her legs over the side of the car—and how incredible those legs were. We finally inched forward enough that I could see what they were talking about. And there’s Julia driving and Wyn reclined in the passenger seat, legs propped up on the side, sunning herself, and with absolutely no idea the hell she’s causing.”
I glanced at Beck, who just grinned. Mark shook his head and laughed, recalling the rest. “Of course, I didn’t know her yet, but when we finally got to school and I realized the girl with the legs was living on the floor above me, I just had to tell my buddies. So, that’s what we called her for months before we got to know her. Now, I just call her L.” He smiled conspiratorially at Beck. “Drives my girlfriend a little less nuts.”
“What does she think the L stands for?” I asked.
“Liz.”
“Liz?” I raised my eyebrows.
“Your middle name is Elizabeth,” he answered defensively but then recovered his bravado and shook hands with Beck again. “Take care. See you later, L.”
As Mark left, I pointed Beck toward the door on the opposite side of the room, hoping to avoid anyone else. Beck smiled at me, eyes twinkling. “Do I get to see the infamous legs?”
“Ha. Not in this cold!”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Beck—Night Walk
We walked around the south part of the campus. I didn’t know what to say now that we were alone. I couldn’t stop staring.
She finally asked, “What?” I grinned, thinking how adorable she looked, hands cupped around her hot chocolate as if that little cup could keep her warm.
I watched her lips pursed on the edge of the cup. “Wynter Elizabeth?” I asked in an effort to distr
act myself from what was really on my mind.
“Please. Could that be a worse name? What was my mom thinking? Nobody takes you seriously with a name like Wynter, even if it’s spelled with a y. Who even likes winter that much?”
“I like winter.”
“The name or the season?”
“You’re the first Wynter I ever met. But I like the season.”
“Seriously? It’s cold and dark.”
“I like the cold. And after winter comes spring. Winter holds the promise of more.”
“Oh.” Apparently, I wasn’t convincing her.
“Okay, so enough with Wynter. Where did Elizabeth come from?”
“That’s worse. My mom’s favorite book is Pride and Prejudice, and Elizabeth Bennett is her favorite heroine.”
“Ahh. And yours?”
“To Kill a Mockingbird,” she answered quickly and decisively.
“Why?”
“Well, Scout almost has a worse name than me. And I like the end when she’s standing on Boo Radley’s porch and says ‘you never really know what the view is like until you’re on the other porch.’ I like that. I think it’s true.”
I wondered if she could see the world from my point of view. “And what’s your favorite movie?”
She blew her breath out, taking her time to answer. “Gone with the Wind.”
I should have known, given she had quoted it the other night. “Again with that movie. Why?”
“I know it’s sad, but Rhett’s just so, umm, hot, for lack of a better word. And I love the beginning when he sees her at Twelve Oaks and before they start screwing everything up. It’s a great love story.” She paused, then added, “Did you ever notice that?”