I stepped back, putting some space between our bodies. Immediately, I missed her. My hand twitched, wanting to wrap around her waist and tuck her into my side.
“I’m fine. Just thinking about something else.”
“Is Cassidy okay?” Abbi’s concern washed over me, forming cracks in my much-needed self-control.
“She’s great. I went to her school yesterday and played the guitar while she rapped a poem.” I smiled. “She was good. Very Anna Kendrick.”
Abbi smiled, but her eyes were more guarded. Shit. I’d hurt her.
The unhappiness clawed at my gut. I didn’t know what to do with my jumbled emotions. She was dealing with too much, had already dealt with more than her fair share. But at the same time, I didn’t want to take advantage of her emotional needs.
I offered her my hand. She hesitated for a moment before she raised her arm and placed her palm in mine. The pulse in her neck pounded and her nostrils quivered. Good. I affected her like she affected me.
“I’ll pick you up after your lab. My brother told me when it was.”
Consternation fluttered across her face. “I’m not a charity case. I don’t want you to go to any trouble on my account.”
“I never thought you were. Look, Bethany’s actions . . . that’s my fault. She wouldn’t have bothered you if I wasn’t interested.”
Her face paled, her eyes seeming to grow and darken. “What do you mean exactly?”
Her voice was low, but she was steady. I let my hand drop back to my side.
“We’re already linked in the media. That’s also my fault. I asked you to dance. For now, I’m the other half of your ‘it,’ and I’m not letting you walk through this alone.”
Her skin paled so much I caught the faintest outline of freckles on her nose. I wanted to kiss them, nip at her jaw. I wanted to feel her writhe under me.
“Clay, you don’t understand.”
“Oh, I get it. And it pisses me off that someone’s preying on you. I’m sticking by you. So are Nessa, Jenna, and the guys.”
She wrapped her hands around her elbows, hugging herself. “I’m so thankful for you all. For the support. It’s making me rethink my stance on what happened before.”
She didn’t say it, but I could guess the words rolling through her head based on the look in her eyes: I hoped people here would like me. I hoped here would be different.
When she looked like that, trying so hard to be brave in the face of a terrible situation, she reminded me of my little sister. I might not like all Abbi’s choices, especially her decision to cut people out of her life, but she was doing her best.
“So you need to go to class. I’ll be here afterward. And Abbi, for the record, I don’t mind that the media’s paired us up. At all.”
She pulled her hand back slowly. Would she sneak out the back door while I waited at the front? Her next words, spoken even more quietly, were a surprise. “I really appreciate your help. Again. Seems like you’re always saving me.”
“Once we figure this out, you won’t need saving again. You’re more than capable of taking care of yourself.” I leaned in, enjoying our mingled breaths. “I heard about your throw down in calculus yesterday. Watched it on YouTube last night.”
Dull red built across her cheeks, and her mouth twisted. “Not my best moment.”
“I don’t know. Seemed pretty good to me. See you in a couple of hours.”
With a wink, I turned and walked away.
“Clay.” Her soft voice drifted over me, almost like a caress.
I glanced back over my shoulder.
“For what it’s worth, I wish I’d come to your concert. Either one.” She stepped close enough for me to smell her shampoo. Lavender, maybe. I liked it; I liked her minimal makeup and her cautious eyes. Much as I wanted her to be just a friend, she wasn’t. Not like Nes or Jenna.
“Next time,” I said. “I’ll pick you up.”
She blinked, nibbling her upper lip. I gently tugged it from between her straight, white teeth. Unable to stop myself, I ran my thumb over it and then her lower one and nearly groaned at the soft, lush feel of her skin under mine. “Wait for me.”
Like always, Bethany found me.
“Hi, Clay.”
Did she really expect me not to know? I swept the area one more time, looking for Jenna and Nes. Well, I wasn’t letting this opportunity go. I rearranged my scowl and turned to face her.
“Ah, just the woman I was looking for.”
Bethany, always the eager puppy, might as well have wagged her tail when she looked up at me.
“You were?” She grabbed my arm, but I shook off her pale fingers.
“You and I need to talk about what you did yesterday.”
She stepped back, finally hearing the anger I wasn’t trying to hide.
“You seem upset,” she said, eying the path near us.
I nearly snorted. She was going to see me more than a little upset.
“We’ve never been together, Bethany. We never will be. Ever. Is that clear enough for you?”
She shook her head, looking up at me with those huge eyes. Like I’d kicked her. Which made me angrier.
“I thought we were meeting at the fountain,” Nessa panted. Jenna was behind her. “Good thing Jenna spotted you. What did we miss?”
“Nessa told me about your visit to the dorm two weeks ago. I’ve talked to a victim advocate and the campus police about that and the comments you made to Charles and Neal. Nessa and Jenna did, too. In case you were wondering, Charles and Neal were more than happy to rat you out.”
Bethany’s face was scrunched up in consternation and more than a little bewilderment.
“What, why? I’m not allowed to talk to my friends?”
“Neal didn’t seem to think you’re as friendly as you do. Neal’s roommate heard your conversation on Sunday. His older sister committed suicide in high school after her classmates posted pictures of her in the gym changing room. He told the campus police about your conversation, handing over the pictures to Charles and Neal. They squealed immediately.”
“Those stories you told people about Abbi. Did you ever think what would happen if they were lies?” Jenna asked.
Bethany’s eyes filled with fire and her back stiffened.
“They’re not. My cousin was there, saw the whole thing first-hand. Abbi’s an attention-seeking slut.”
“No, it’s hearsay,” I growled. “Which is why I’m telling you to stop. This is your one warning. Slander isn’t something you can wiggle out from under. I’ll make sure it sticks.”
“She didn’t deny the allegations,” Bethany said. She shuffled her feet, her voice losing some of her confidence.
“She didn’t have to,” Nessa said. “Anyone who knows Abbi at all knows those posts were lies.”
“We’ve been friends for years, Clay,” Bethany said. “I can’t believe you’d throw that away on a-a—”
“Here’s the deal,” I said. My instincts about this girl had been right. “We aren’t friends. I get to decide who to spend my time with. It’s never been nor is it ever going to be you. I suggest you start cleaning up the mess you made. Otherwise, you’ll hear from my lawyer.”
“But . . .”
I turned away. I cupped Nessa and Jenna’s elbows so they’d have to walk with me.
“Aw, Clay. That was just getting fun,” Nessa complained.
“Did you record it?” I asked.
“Yep,” Jenna said, pulling out her phone. Nessa did the same, showing me the clip.
“Good. Thanks for talking to the campus police with me,” I said. I opened the door to the union, holding it so they could enter first. “And for leaving the bat in your dorm room.”
“I like that bat,” Jenna said with a grin. “I think I’m going to keep it around. You know, as an accessory. It looks good with my Chucks.”
“Bethany needed to come down a long way,” Nessa grumbled. “Who does that shit?”
“I wanna threa
ten Bethany again,” Jenna said. She leaped ahead and whooped.
“We didn’t threaten,” I chuckled. “We explained the situation.”
“Whatever,” Nessa yawned. “I had to get up at six to get Abbi to her class on time yesterday and then at seven thirty today. Dane isn’t happy. We missed two days of wake-up sex.”
“Don’t need to hear about that,” I sighed. Only because now I was once again thinking of Abbi, naked and flushed from sleep. Definitely not helping.
“So buy me the biggest, chocolatiest coffee you can find. It’s a poor substitute, but it’ll have to do.”
“But then we’re going back to see Jan Silver with your recordings.”
Jenna saluted while Nessa looked thoughtful.
“I hope Abbi’s grateful for how much trouble we’ve gone to on her behalf. Two mornings in a row, and I am not a morning person.”
“We aren’t telling her,” I reminded them. “She has enough going on without us adding to it.”
Nessa looked up at me, her mouth pulled into a thin line. “That’s a really bad idea. She’s not going to like us going behind her back.”
I’d worry about that later. Right now, I needed to make sure she was safe.
16
Abbi
I finished shoving my last book into my bag when someone sidled up to me. I whirled, surprised to see my instructor standing there. “Mr. Rippey.”
“Hey, Abbi. Sorry we didn’t get to talk more at the gala. I had a hot date.” He smiled.
My throat tightened. I did not need more speculation about the Rippeys and me.
“Cassidy’s speech was amazing,” I said, stepping back a little. “I’m sure you’re all very proud of her.”
“We are. And she is. My brother’s stopping by in a minute to walk you to your next class. I just wanted you to know the faculty’s aware of the situation, and we’re here to help.”
“Oh, okay,” I said. I didn’t bite my lip like I wanted. Instead, I squared my shoulders and lifted my chin. “I appreciate the concern, but I don’t want to be a burden.”
He leaned in, not so much into my personal space, but almost. I scooted back quickly, feeling like a hermit crab skittering across the inhospitable sand, looking for shelter. His eyes, similar to Clay’s, opened wider. He searched my eyes before I managed to drop my gaze.
“Be careful out there, Abbi.”
I picked up my bag and slid it over my shoulder.
“Thank you, Mr. Rippey. Is that all?”
He stepped farther back and I looked around, noting the interested looks and even some whispers from some of the girls trailing from the class. Did people think he was propositioning me? Fabulous.
I wanted to shut my eyes and pound my head against the desk, but I couldn’t. Not with everyone watching me.
He seemed to realize the curious stares at the same time. He dropped his head a little, looking both sheepish and frustrated. Yeah, this is what it was like to be me—the focus of speculation and the expectation of the salacious.
I turned on my heel and headed for the exit.
“Wait for Clay.”
I ignored his call and headed out of the lab, pulling my short corduroy jacket closer around my body.
“We had an understanding.”
I jumped and let out a squeal.
“Whoa, there, Abbi,” Clay said. “No need to freak.”
“You scared me,” I managed.
Clay chuckled. “Got that. Now, let me calm you down.” He waited until the last few students straggled past us. His brother saluted us as he headed the other direction, up the stairs to his office.
Clay cupped my elbow and led me from the building. Rain fell in a light mist, turning the world around us hazy and soft. Clay must have been holding an umbrella because he opened it as we stepped outside.
I moved closer to him when water spilled onto my shoulder. He slid his arm around my waist, and while I stiffened at the familiarity, I didn’t pull away. He felt too warm and solid. He smelled like rain and pine trees. I leaned closer still. Clay chuckled.
“If I knew you liked to snuggle, I would’ve waited for rain before I tried talking to you.”
“Oh. Sorry.” My cheeks flamed. “I was smelling you.” My face heated further. I lifted a cold hand to press to my cheek. He laughed harder.
“Do I meet your approval?”
“You know you smell good.”
“Most people need to be told these things.”
“Stop teasing me.”
“But it’s so easy.”
He glanced down at me, his fingers tightening at my waist, halting me. He waited until I lifted my eyes. All those white teeth flashed.
“You smell great. Almost as good as you look.”
“Thank you.”
“Want to get lunch?”
I did. I so did even if it meant braving the stares and whispered comments. Which was why I shouldn’t. I shook my head. “I’m meeting my aunt.”
He stopped walking. Turning, he focused on me. We stood there for a moment as he battled something, his eyes never leaving mine. With a sigh of resignation, he brushed my hair away from my face.
I couldn’t help the small sound that slipped out. He smiled again, broader, more predatory. My insides burned hotter than my cheeks.
“Give me your phone.”
Not what I was expecting him to say. I handed it over. He typed into it. After pressing a few more buttons, he handed it back.
“You have my number, and I texted my phone, so now I have yours.”
“Oh.”
“You could try to sound enthusiastic. It’s not like I hand my number out very often. At least not my private one.”
“Thank you,” I said, tucking my phone back into my jacket pocket.
“You should put a lock on yours. Doesn’t it have fingerprint recognition?”
“Probably. It’s one of those new ones.”
“Use it. If anyone wanted to get your personal information, like your list of contacts or emails, and that of the people you contact, they can. Doesn’t mean you should make it easy for them.”
He pulled my phone out of my pocket and showed me how to change the settings. After a few minutes, my phone was locked down, only responding to my fingerprint or special passcode.
“Thanks,” I said, nonplussed.
“C’mon, Abbi, don’t sound like that. This is your identity, your life. I want you safe.”
I nodded, understanding his point even as I hated yet another tiny piece of independence taken from me. I’d lost my dignity, and I didn’t want to lose my freedom as well.
He rubbed the back of his neck as I shoved my new Fort Knox-safe phone back into my pocket. His sigh was heavy.
“Text me the rest of your schedule. I’ll meet you when you get back to campus and walk you to your dorm. If you want to go out to the library or the union, text me. I’m at your disposal all day.” He winked.
Heat built in my chest, but it was from shame.
“Clay, I hate that you’ve been pulled into my problems. It’s not fair to ask, and I don’t want you to—”
“We’ve already been through this. Nessa and Jenna are walking you to class again in the morning. But I’d love to spend time with you this afternoon. Maybe you can come to my place? We can study. Get some dinner. Work on our newest ‘it’ couple outing.”
I blinked at him, wondering if I’d heard him correctly.
“You don’t have to babysit me,” I said.
“I’m not. I invited a friend over to hang out. Nes and Jenna will probably show up at some point.”
“When did you talk to them?” I tried to keep my voice neutral, but this was another kind of pressure. Made out of caring, sure, but they’d talked about me without me.
“After Dane told me about the pictures. I wanted to be here for you yesterday, but I had that thing with Cassie and some things to do in the afternoon that took longer than I expected. Nessa’s seriously pissed on your behalf
, by the way.”
“I know.”
He stopped walking and turned me toward him. “And you think we’re talking about you.”
Much as I didn’t want to, I forced myself to meet his eyes. “Aren’t you? Feeling sorry for me, too, I bet.”
“Not the way you think we are. You deserve privacy, Abbi. It’s something all of us close to famous people crave. Probably because we lack it.”
My chin jutted as my pride kicked in. “I can manage. It’s not like I have a choice.”
He leaned forward until his nose brushed mine. The unexpected gesture caught me so off guard, I wrapped my hand around his biceps to steady myself. He made a noise low in his throat and heat bloomed across my skin.
My eyes dropped to his lips, which quirked upward in a self-satisfied smirk. He knew exactly what he did to me, and he liked it. Problem was, I liked it, too. And I was finding it harder to logic out why I shouldn’t say yes to whatever he wanted.
“That’s the point. You don’t have to manage alone. The Times says we’re a couple. Let me help while I can. And—”
He dropped his voice so he had to lean in even closer. Need shivered over my skin.
“You can always make me dinner to show your gratitude.”
I shuffled back, my jacket dampening as the rain hit it. “Dinner?” I tried to state it but it came out more as a question.
“Tonight. At my place. But I should warn you, it’ll be for at least six people. Dane and Nes are attached more often than not and wherever Nes goes, Jenna isn’t far behind. Kai practically lives with us.”
“Your life is already so full,” I said, hoping I could use that as an excuse to back out of seeing him. I liked Clay, but my world was about to crash, and I didn’t want to take him down with me.
“Tell me about it. Now, I expect that text with the rest of your schedule. I’ll send you my address. You’ll come to my apartment?”
“Clay, it’s just that . . . I mean, people will assume when they see us together that, you know, you’re sleeping with me.”
He tucked me back into his side and started walking again. “Here’s the deal. I’ve thought about this a lot, and the bottom line is I don’t give a single fuck what other people think. I care about making sure you’re not harassed, especially since I caused part of the problem. Oh, and dinner. I like to eat. Here’s your car. I plan to hear from you within the hour. If I don’t, I will come find you.” His voice was stern.
Seattle Sound Series, The Collection: Books One to Five Page 85