“We need to get you to a doctor,” one of them says, but I can’t tell who it is. All I can do is focus on the stupid need to vomit. Banks takes my hair into his hands and holds it away from my face. My fingers grip on to the counter as everything pours out of me. By the time I’m done, my eyes are watering, and my throat is burning.
I know they’re right; the vomiting and exhaustion aren’t normal, and I should get checked out, but a part of me doesn’t want to know what’s wrong. A part of me hopes whatever is happening goes away. Maybe it’s just stress? I mean, what else could it be?
“I think it’s just stress, this is all too much…” I groan, taking the paper towel that Oliver offers me. Wiping at my mouth and eyes, I do my best to make sure that there isn’t any puke on my chin or lips.
“Even if it is stress, you’ve been getting sick a lot lately, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get checked out.”
“What if it turns out to be something more?” I ask, fear ringing my voice. “The doctors told me that I could possibly run into more problems from the accident down the road. Maybe that’s what he was talking about.”
“Then we deal with it.” Sullivan answers, his voice soft and warm, and all I want to do is go to him and let him wrap his arms around me.
Knowing there isn’t any point in trying to fight it, I agree. “Okay, I’ll make an appointment.”
“Thank you, that’s all we want. You are the most important thing to us, and if you’re sick, then we need to find a way to fix it.”
“Sometimes, things can’t be fixed.” I drop my gaze down to my hands. Shelby has been caught, life is good, and yet somehow it all seems temporary like at any minute the rug is going to be ripped out from underneath our feet.
Banks cups me by the cheek, and I nuzzle into his touch. “When it comes to you, everything can be fixed. Let’s get you a shower, something small to eat, and some rest.”
“Sullivan and I will get everything figured out so we can go back to classes,” Oliver announces.
That makes me perk up. Excitement bubbles through me. This is just what I needed to hear.
“Yes, we’re finally leaving and going back to classes. Now that Shelby has been caught, we have nothing to worry about.”
“We can finally all be together, and attend classes like we were meant to. Everything will go back to normal now. We’ll get to be normal, or as normal as we can be as college students.”
I smile because deep down, I am happy, but I can’t shake the inky dread that something bad will happen. It always does. It always finds a way to ruin the good in my life.
37
“I thought you would be excited to be back in classes?” Caroline says from her seat beside me. She must see the permanent scowl that seems to have taken up residence on my face this week.
Things have pretty much gone back to normal, even Tiffany and her cronies are treating me the same as they always have, no matter how much I try to ignore their jibes, I just can’t seem to. Merely thinking her name makes my brain scream.
“Earth to Harlow, you’re looking at Tiffany like you want to rip out her throat, are you okay?” Caroline’s soft voice fills my ears, and I look away from Tiffany before I do just that. She’s bitchier than I remember her being, and it’s taking everything in me to bite my tongue when she or her barbie brigade walks past me and calls me a slut beneath their breaths. It’s petty and childish, and I just want them to go away.
“I’m fine, just a little… aggravated,” I hiss, trying not to look in Tiffany’s direction.
“Could’ve fooled me. I thought you were plotting Tiffany’s murder there for a second.”
“That’s because I was.” I peek up at Tiffany again. She tosses her hair over her shoulder and laughs loudly at something one of her friends says. Bitches. Mean stuck-up bitches. That’s all they are. “I don’t understand why they have to be such assholes. It’s not like what I do with my life has any effect on them.” I’m merely venting now, and even though I should stop and save it for when I get back to the house, it feels good to let it out right now.
At least I’ll be less likely to reach out and bash Tiffany’s head against the wall this way.
“She’ll forever feel like you stole Oliver from her.” Caroline’s response makes me grit my teeth. “Before you bagged my cousins, she had her sights set on him, and from the look of it, she still does. I bet she hates you for having their hearts when she can’t even get their attention. Never could. Even when they were pretending to like her, all they would talk about was you.”
“Well, maybe if she wasn’t being a raging bitch all the time, she could get a guy to like her for more than her mouth or the thing between her legs.”
“Amen to that,” Caroline mumbles. “Maybe we should tell her that…”
Grinning, I shake my head. The last thing I need is more encouragement. I spend the rest of the class trying to ignore Tiffany and concentrate on the outline for my English literature paper instead. When the professor announces we’re free to go, I’m so relieved I practically sag in my seat. Who knew ignoring someone could be so draining? Then again, I guess the ignoring part wasn’t my problem. It’s more holding back my anger, so I don’t end up getting booted from the school.
Gathering my stuff quickly, I start to get excited when I realize that I’ll be seeing the guys in a few minutes. Like every day, we all meet for lunch, something that’s slowly becoming my favorite part of the day.
“In a hurry to get to your boyfriend?” One of Tiffany’s friends snarls, her voice condescending.
“Please, Claire, don’t be ridiculous and call them her boyfriends,” Tiffany decides to add her input. “She is nothing more than their little plaything. Don’t you remember how they used to talk about her? How we used to make fun of her with the guys? They don’t want her, at least, not like they would want you or me.” I can’t help myself. I look the bitch right in the eyes and just stare, wishing I could show her just how much they don’t want her.
“Why don’t you guys get lost,” Caroline snaps. “You’re just jealous because she has what you want.”
“Ha, jealous? Of her?” Tiffany’s nose wrinkles and I clench my free hand into a tight fist. Don’t slug her. My muscles burn, as anger pulses through me. Concentrating on not wiping the smug smile off her face… with my fist.
When they move to leave, Tiffany digs her shoulder into my arm in a feeble attempt to knock me over, but my body is too rigid, and the only thing she accomplishes is making my backpack slide off my shoulder.
“Oops,” she snickers and walks off as the bag slides down my arm and on to the floor.
God, I hate her.
“Congrats on having as much self-restraint as you do. I thought you were about to fight her for sure,” Caroline tells me when they leave, and we are the only two people left in the classroom.
“Yeah, I’m surprised myself,” I say with a shrug. “Maybe I just didn’t want to be late for lunch. I’m starving. My stomach’s been growling for the last hour.”
“Girl, you’ve been all about the food lately. That wouldn’t have anything to do with you meeting the guys for each meal, would it?” Caroline giggles.
“Maybe,” I grin.
We speed walk across campus to get to the sandwich shop where we are meeting the guys. As it turns out, a walk is exactly what I need. The fresh air helps me clear my head and cools my simmering anger toward that witch. When we arrive at the shop, all three of the Bishops are standing out front, waiting for us. Banks spots us first and gives me a panty-melting smile, and my mind goes blank for a moment, forgetting all about Tiffany and her group of barbies.
“Hey, you two,” Oliver greets us when we are only a few feet away.
I have this animalistic urge to give each of them a kiss, but we haven’t been that comfortable with public affection while we are out in the open like this, and it’s not because we don’t want to be seen with each other or because we’re hiding that we are together.<
br />
It’s more because we don’t want to draw any type of attention to us, and having three boyfriends will definitely do that.
Walking into the restaurant together, Oliver spots a table in the back that will fit all of us.
“How was your class?” Sullivan asks as I take a seat and read over the menu.
Before I can answer, Caroline opens her big fat mouth, “Tiffany was being a major bitch last class, but other than that, today has been fine.” I give her a side-eye.
Why can’t she keep her mouth shut? This is just going to worry the guys further.
“What do you mean she was being a bitch? Is she bothering you again?” Sullivan asks concern etched into his handsome features. Part of me wants to sweep it under the rug and tell them it’s nothing, but if I don’t tell them and they find out later, I’ll feel bad for having not been honest.
“Well, it seems as if she is under the impression, I stole Oliver from her, so she’s trying, like always, to pick a fight. That’s all. There’s no reason to worry. Can we eat now? I’m going to eat my left arm off if I don’t get something in my belly soon.”
“I’m sorry, Harlow… This is all our fault,” Oliver huffs, looking away from me as if he is too ashamed to look at me. My eyes catch on his shiny brown hair as he runs a hand through the thick strands. When he looks back at me, I can see the regret pooling there. “I kind of pretended to like her.”
“It’s in the past, this is the present, and we are only looking ahead, and from where I’m sitting, the future is looking pretty good,” I smile. “I mean, I do see a delicious Italian sub in the near future…so...” The waitress must have heard me, because just then she walks up to the table, a tablet in her hand, ready to take our orders.
For the rest of our lunch together, we don’t talk about Tiffany or anyone else we don’t like. Everything seems to feel better when I’m with the guys. Being with them reminds me that no one here is worth risking my happiness for.
Only after I’ve finished every bite of my sub, do I realize that Sullivan seems oddly withdrawn, barely looking at me and not even finishing his sandwich. I’m about to ask him what’s going on, when he pushes his plate away and gets up from the table, his chair scraping against the floor. My eyebrows draw together in confusion.
Where is he going?
“I’m gonna head out. I want to get to my next class a little early. I’ll see you later,” he doesn’t really speak to anyone in particular and starts walking away before any of us can respond. It feels like someone has stabbed a tiny knife into the corner of my heart. It doesn’t really hurt, but it leaves a noticeable ache behind.
That’s what Sullivan has just done to me. He’s left an ache behind, and I know without even asking that something is going on with him.
“What’s wrong with him?” Oliver asks out loud what I was wondering silently.
Banks shrugs, clearly not worried about his brother’s behavior. “His grades are probably slipping. His mind has been occupied as of late,” he grins at me, and I can tell he’s trying to lighten the mood. “You know how worried he gets about his perfect GPA.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he has to be rude,” Oliver growls, shoving a spoon full of soup past his lips.
“I just hope he’s okay. I’ll talk to him later tonight,” I announce before taking a sip of my soda.
“We better get going too,” Banks leans over and whispers into the shell of my ear. His hot breath fans against my skin and goosebumps erupt across my skin. The next class we have together, and the thought leaves me feeling all warm inside. I’ll be able to hold his hand for the next hour, and if that’s not a good way to make it through calculus, then I don’t know what is.
Even with Banks by my side, calculus is unbearable. Numbers are just not my thing, and while I luckily have Banks here to give me a little extra help, it’s not going to help me pass the tests that I’ll have to take on my own. I need to focus, to digest the words that are being spoken.
If Banks can sense my confusion and disappointment in myself, he doesn’t let on. Class seems to go on forever, and come the end when I’m gathering my things, the only thing I want to do is go back to the house with the guys and sleep.
With everything in my backpack, I step into the aisle and head for the door. I’ve made it a total of five feet when Professor Clarkson calls my name.
Gritting my teeth, I walk to the front of the room where his desk is. As soon as I reach his desk, my stomach starts to churn. The smell of his cologne is overpowering. It’s like I’m stepping into a cloud of some cheap masculine fragrance. The odor is so overwhelming that I don’t even want to open my mouth and talk.
“Miss. Lockwood,” Mr. Clarkson greets, “I just wanted to make sure you are doing okay with the work now. Your homework from last week was inconclusive, and you seemed to be having a difficult time in class today as well.”
Great. Of course, he needs to point out how horrible I am at this.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I say, concentrating on not throwing up all over his brown suit.
He looks at me like he doesn’t believe me, heck, I don’t even believe me.
“Are you sure? I can recommend you to some study groups or assign you a student tutor. If you start to fall behind, catching up will be difficult, and I don’t offer extra credit. I would hate for you—”
“I’ll help her with her homework,” Banks cuts in his blue eyes blazing. “She’ll be fine.”
Mr. Clarkson’s eyes narrow, and it seems like he wants to say something else, but instead, presses his lips into a firm line. He stares at me for a long second before speaking again.
“Very well, then. I expect your grades to be up in the coming weeks. I’ll see you next week,” he says while closing his laptop.
I take that as my cue to go, and hastily leave the room holding my breath along the way. Only after I’ve taken a few steps into the hallway do I release the burning air in my lungs and suck in an even larger breath of oxygen.
“Hey, wait up. Are you okay?” Banks calls after me.
“I’m fine,” I gasp, my lungs still burning as I lean against the nearest wall, my body swaying like a building during an earthquake. “I just couldn’t stand the smell of his cologne. It was so strong, he smelled like he poured the whole bottle on himself.”
“Are you sure that’s it?” Banks eyes me wearily, “Because you look like if the wall wasn’t holding you up that you’d be on the ground.”
Letting my eyes fall closed, I focus only on my breathing for a moment. Once my chest has stopped rising and falling like I’ve run a mile, and my stomach isn’t churning anymore, I open my eyes again. When I do, I find Banks has boxed me in with his body, his muscled arms frame my face, and suddenly my pulse starts to race for an entirely different reason. My cheeks heat at the indecent thoughts filling my mind.
Him taking me against the wall.
Me calling his name out as he brings me to orgasm over and over again….
“Is this too much for you?” Banks’ husky voice fills my ears and interrupts my thoughts. He’s staring at me with a hunger that only I can quench, and I want him, even now, right here in the middle of the hallway. Then it hits me, he asked me a question…
“God, no… this is… I feel better already,” I whisper, just before his lips descend on mine, making any discomfort I felt moments ago vanish into thin air. He kisses me with so much love like I am the earth, and he is the sun. Like I’m his first taste of water after months of drought.
When he pulls away, I whimper and grip on to his shirt, wanting to keep him close.
“That’s not what I mean, baby. I mean, me, my brothers, is all of this too much for you? All this shit with Tiffany, with our parents and yours. No one, including me, has stopped to ask how you’re handling all of this. If you’re okay?” He whispers the last part, his hot breath fanning against my lips as he pushes his forehead against mine.
This close I’m simply breathing him in, so
aking him up like a sponge.
“Of course, I’m okay. I’ve wanted this, wanted each of you for so long, and I don’t want to give you guys up. You’re all I have left. You’re the only people who care about me, who don’t try and control me.”
Banks’ tongue dips out of his mouth and on to his full bottom lip, and all over again, my thoughts shift.
“If this ever becomes too much for you, I want you to tell me. Please, Harlow…” The desperation in his voice reaches inside me and sinks its claws into my heart.
“You’ll never have to worry about that because it will never be too much for me. You and your brothers are all I want. All I’ll ever need.”
Banks stares at me for a long moment, his ocean blue gaze piercing my soul, fracturing it. He looks as if he doesn’t believe me, and the thought of that kills me. It makes me want to die a slow and painful death. He has to know that I mean what I’m saying. My heartbeat thunders in my ears, drowning out every other sound around me.
“I love you. You believe me, don’t you? That this isn’t too much? That I want you and your brothers?” Air stills in my lungs while I await his response.
“I do believe you, and I love you too.” His voice is soft, softer than normal, and when he presses a kiss to my forehead, it seems like everything is going to be okay. Taking my hand into his, we walk out of the building, and I feel a little better with every step I take. I don’t know what’s going on with me lately, but I need to figure it out. The dizziness, fatigue, and vomiting. None of it is normal, but after everything we’ve already been through, the last thing I want to do is add more to our already overflowing pot.
A smile pulls at my lips when the high hanging sun meets my skin. The warmth radiates through me, leaving me feeling warm all over. I can’t wait to get home and relax with my guys, curled up on the couch, where no one can judge us or look down on us just for loving each other. When we are at home, it’s just us, and that’s the way I prefer it to be.
The Bayshore Rivals: The Entier Series Page 35