Echoes and Entanglements (Remington Carter Book 1)

by Emma Cole

  “I’m going to just hang out a bit then head home with Adam. I’m danced out for now. Maybe next time?” I see a flash of irritation in his eyes, but he quickly covers it. As he turns he knocks my drink out of my hand spilling it.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t get any on you, did I? I think most of it went on me and the floor.” Christian grimaces in apology, like he didn’t just do that on purpose. He quickly grabs a towel and starts cleaning up. He walks over to the punch bowl and gets a new cup handing it to me. I don’t want to be obviously rude but I’m not drinking anything he hands me. He excuses himself to the bathroom to cleanup. As soon as he’s out of sight, I grab another cup.

  I drink it steadily over the next little bit while visiting with Adam. I didn’t realize how much alcohol was in that punch though. I hadn’t smelled much in it. “I think that drink is a little stronger than I thought it would be, I don’t think I should have another of those.” I tell Adam when he asks if I’d like another drink. We meander around visiting with some other people Adam knows. I start to feel a little buzzed and I’m getting tired. These heels, while sexy, are seriously starting to hurt. I ask Adam if he minds heading out soon. He agrees and we go find our jackets in the front closet on the way out. I get in my bag to switch into my flats, but I wobble a little and have to brace myself on the wall when I step out of the heels.

  “Here let me help.” Adam takes my shoes out of my hands, kneels down, and gently slides them on while I hold onto the wall for support. He pats my ankle a couple times as he lets go signaling he’s done. He really is a nice guy, I feel a little bad that I friend zoned him. After he stands up we go to walk down the stairs and it’s at this point I’m really starting to feel out of it. “Remi, are you okay? You look a kinda spacey.” Adam sounds concerned and a bit far away.

  “I’m not sure. I didn’t drink enough to get drunk and I only drank what I got myself.” I say with confusion at first. I quickly come to the realization that I may have fallen for the most cliché college party crime. Unfortunately, Adam’s next words confirm it.

  “Oh crap, someone must have spiked the punch. Hey!” Adam yells at someone he knows going in to get their attention. “I think the punch got spiked with something other than alcohol, can you make sure no one else drinks it? And check for rooms and the yard for anyone that was drinking in and passed out?” They guy agrees saying he’ll get some buddies to help and hurries off to take care of it. “Remi, where do you live sweetheart?” Adam pauses then says, “Or if you’d rather I can take you back to my place.” I just want to get home to my room and hopefully Eli. Adam seems alright and nice, but I don’t really know him.

  “I’m staying at the Greyside building. Do you know where that is? I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk there. I’m really not feeling well.” Things are getting blurry and sounds are starting to get far away. “Get my phone, call Eli please.”

  Adam pulling my phone out of my bag is the last thing I see before I pass out.

  ------

  Hoping she’s going to be okay I fish Remi’s phone out of her bag. This is not going to look good with her passed out and I hope Eli doesn’t freak out on me for it. If I wouldn’t have to leave her alone I would go find that piece of crap Christian. I find Eli in the contacts and listen as it starts ring. Her friend will be super pissed at me too after she left her with me. I try to think how this conversation is going to go. I can’t believe I was such an idiot. I hope she doesn’t blame me when she wakes up. The call goes to voicemail and I hang up without leaving a message. If I didn’t think she would freak out I’d take her back to my place anyway, but she asked me to call a friend so I try the call again. I get her over to one of the porch chairs and covered with her jacket. If he doesn’t pick up this time I’ll try her friend Alex that left earlier. Finally, a voice on the other end picks up.

  Five

  Eli

  My phone buzzes on the coffee table of my teammates studio apartment where we’re playing a video game. I glance at it and see that it’s Remi. I silence it and go back to my game. It starts buzzing again a few seconds later. I ignore it. I’m not going to be drunk dialed when she wants attention. We have to live together and I’m sticking to my decision for her to make up her mind. Another drunk come on that I can’t take advantage of is not my style. She can come to me when she’s sober and in control of herself. She never would have told me that she was interested if I hadn’t all but forced her into it. I can’t say that I accuse her of stringing me along and it’s not been quite two months, but I feel like a douche that I kept pushing the issue and she was too nice to say she wasn’t interested in anything romantic with me. Unfortunately, if she doesn’t come to her own conclusion that we should be together I don’t think I can really be her friend, I’m too into her for that. Disappearing as often as possible when I can’t be in my room or class is the best course of action for now. Letting her take her time is wearing on me though as is keeping my hands to myself. The cooking lessons and dinners are hard to get through without touching her. I’m getting a little irritated that it’s taking so long for her to decide, I’m not exactly patient on the subject. She really is a great cook, I could see her opening a café or doing something professional with it. I can’t make myself not eat what she makes, so instead I torture myself sitting through those dinners. She has seemed on the verge of saying something several time but so far she hasn’t. I want her to be absolutely sure of her choice. I have no intention of letting her go once she chooses me and I’m fairly certain that will happen. I feel like an angsty teenager with the thoughts running around my head. That girl has got me twisted up. As my phone goes off again my friend Roger gestures towards it, “Hey man you might wanna get that. What if something’s wrong?”

  “I doubt it, probably being drunk dialed.” I don’t want to let my buddy know what’s going on, so I decide to answer it. I pause the game getting up and grabbing my phone I walk into the kitchen area. “Hello?”

  “Is this Elliot?”, a male voice asks. Now I’m really irritated. What the hell is going on that a guy is calling me from Remi’s phone? Last I knew her and Alex were going to a party. I get ready to hang up, but decide to find out what the guy wants first.

  “Where is Remi? Who is this and why do you have her phone?” The words tumble out, worry making them harsh.

  “This is Adam. Remi is passed out outside the sorority house. Someone put something in the punch the girls made and she drank it. We were getting ready to leave and she started feeling bad and crashed on the porch outside. She asked me to call you before she passed out. Can you tell me where to take her? She said she was staying at the Greyside building, but I don’t know what apartment number she lives in. I offered to take her back to my place before but she didn’t want to do that, she said to call you instead. If you’d rather I can take her to my place anyway.” Oh, hell no he’s not. She’s coming home. Period. And I’m going to go get her. I run back inside to grab my keys.

  “Which sorority house are you at? I have my Jeep I’ll come get you.” Adam tells me where the house is and where they are outside. I can’t believe I have to give her and her date a ride. I thought she was going with Alex and my feelings are hurt, but I’m not about to leave her there. “Roger,” I say to my friend, “I need to go pick some people up, I’ll see you later man.”

  As I pull up I see a tall man about my same height and if I have to admit it he’s attractive from anyone’s point of view. He’s holding Remi propped up, but stands with her bridal style with her long hair swinging free over his arm. As I get close enough to see details I realize I know him from the training team that takes care of the players. I’m trying to remember his name as I simultaneously tamp down on my raging jealousy. Adam, that’s his name. I park and get out, going around the front to take Remi from Adam. During the transfer I make sure to keep her dress covering her perky ass. What little dress there is, she looks hot and now I kinda feel bad for perving on her passed out. He seems reluctant to
let her go. Can’t say I blame him. Since she seems to be breathing okay and sleeping soundly I decide to take her home instead of the hospital. I get her buckled into the passenger seat and tell Adam to get in.

  “Where do you want me to drop you?” I ask, looking into the mirror at him.

  “I’ll go with Remi, I don’t think she should be alone until whatever she drank wears off.” He says this like he’s prepared to fight about it. Too bad she lives at my place. Knew that had to come in handy at some point I think while trying to hide my grin.

  “I’ll keep an eye on her. She lives with me.” I feel a sense of satisfaction, even it’s wrong, as Adam’s gaze darts to mine with a quick inhalation and grimace. I sort of feel for the guy, but not enough to let him hang out with my unconscious girl.

  “She didn’t mention that. I didn’t realize you were together.” I can see he’s working up the nerve to say something else. “She didn’t say she was dating or living with anyone either, just for me to call you. You sure I don’t need to stick around?” Well I guess that turned the tables on me. And I’m bit annoyed she didn’t mention me at all. Maybe she doesn’t consider us an ‘us’ at all? If she doesn’t then I shouldn’t either and maybe I was being harsh with this guy. He did imply I might not be safe for her. While that’s plain bullshit he could be a friend I’ve just not heard her mention, like she didn’t tell him about me.

  “We’re not dating, but it isn’t for lack of trying on my part. Right now we’re temporary roommates due to the flood at the dorms and good friends. You really don’t have to worry, I’ll watch over her. Where to?” I know I’m being rude, but I really don’t care right now. Adam reluctantly tells me where he lives and I drop him off with his thanks. Before closing the door he promises to check on Remi tomorrow. I periodically glance over at Remi often on the short drive home, but don’t notice anything odd or troubling.

  I park and go around to pick her up out of the jeep taking her up the stairs. She stirs a little wrapping her arms around my neck as she sighs and mumbles about me smelling good making me smile. She’s still out of it and she’s having a hard time keeping her grip on me. I wonder how coherent she actually is and if she knows where she’s at. She’s not too heavy, but three flights carrying another person is definitely good for the cardio. I could have taken the elevator, but managing carrying her and the lift gate would be a pain. As I get her to her room I balance her with one arm and her bottom on my knee while I pull back her blankets and lay her down. I pull off her shoes and put her bag and heels I collected from Adam on the chair by the desk so she’ll see them when she wakes up. Getting a glass of water and some Tylenol I leave them on the nightstand in case she ends up with a headache. As I cover her up I brush my lips across her forehead and I hear her trying to say something, but can’t quite make it out. As I turn to leave I hear her say something else. “Eli.” I’m not sure if she knows I’m here or she still thinks she’s asking Adam to call me. Either way I’m glad she turned to me when she needed help even if she only wants to remain friends. Turning to look back at her sleeping before I close her door I notice a large book on the desk. It’s a Complete Alice illustrated book by Lewis Carroll. I’ve seen this book before it’s exactly like the one my roommate keeps on his dresser. I hope she hasn’t been in there, although that’s not something I would think she would do. I can ask her about it later, or just go check it myself. I go to one of my other roommates room and his book is still on his shelf proving she has the same one and hadn’t even been in there. Feeling slightly guilty that I thought she was snooping around I turn the light back out and head back to my room.

  I get ready for bed and right as I’m drifting off I hear a thump and a curse. I’m up and out of my room going down the hall still half asleep. Halfway down it I realize the noise came from Remi’s room. I tap on the door before opening it and then start to laugh. Looks like she got tangled in her blankets and fell off the bed.

  “Hey pretty girl, what are you doing on the floor?” I rub at my face to curb the laughter as well as to wake up some. When I glance down and look at her, her expression can only be described as wrathful. She shields her eyes from the hall light as she looks up at me.

  “Eli? I feel like shit still. What the hell did I drink? I think I’m still feeling it for sure.” I go scoop her up off the floor blankets and all and set down on the bed with her in my lap. She rests her head on my shoulder and slides her arms around my chest snuggling in. She grumbles, “ You always smell so good. Why can’t you be ugly or smell bad or something?” I’m confused and trying to follow her train of thought.

  “Yes, I’d definitely say you’re still messed up pretty girl. You’re lucky I’m a gentleman or I would be very tempted to take advantage of this situation.” I tease her as I brush her hair back from her face and kiss her forehead. We sit for a few minutes in silence before she asks.

  “Eli, can you help me get out of this dress? It’s not very comfortable, and I’d like to get something clean on.” I suck in a breath and stand us both up. Not how I imagined getting to undress her, but I can play friend for the night since that’s what she needs. She can’t stand very well so I have her lean against me as I find the zipper in the back. As I lower it I don’t think about the fact that I don’t feel anything underneath in the area that there should be something. As I lean her back to help her off with it, it falls straight down and I realize she’s in my arms in only some lacy underwear that cover the edges of her ass cheeks. I close my eyes and groan. This is so not happening right now. She speaks up seeming unconcerned that I’m trying to avoid looking at her inappropriately. “I need a shirt. Top drawer one of the cotton ones.” She doesn’t even seem to care that she’s almost completely naked in front of me. I frown and wonder if that’s normal for her or if she’s comfortable with me. This woman is making me nuts, never have I been this twisted up. I go to the dresser and find a tank top, sleep shorts and those fuzzy socks she loves. I grab a random pair and go to help her put them on.

  I get the top pulled over her head regretting that I have to cover her up. Her chest isn’t as large as some, but definitely more than average. High and firm, perfectly round where they hang with silver dollar sized dusky nipples. I want to drop my head down to them so badly I bite my lip and glance away. When I look back up her eyes are open and she’s staring at me with a small dazed smile on her face. I know I have to keep my hands, and other parts, to myself, but damn this sucks. As I kneel in front of her I realize too late that was a bad idea. It brings me at eye level with the juncture of her thighs. I can see right through the lace of her panties and I freeze with a sock in my hands. She’s completely bare under them. I feel my pulse pick up as a decent volume of my blood hits my dick hard and croak out through a tight throat, “Remi pick up your foot please, we need to finish getting you dressed. I’m going to do something inappropriate in about two seconds if I don’t get you covered.” She giggles a little and picks up a foot while holding onto the bedpost. She gets one then the other in the socks and I quickly follow with pulling the shorts up. My fingers graze her bottom and thighs as I go and I reluctantly let go after getting them in place, I pick her up and settle her back in bed. She lays down and closes her eyes as I cover her up. I’m getting ready to head back to my own bed, an act of sheer willpower at this point, when she throws an arm out toward me.

  “Stay for a little bit?” Her words are still slightly slurred as she pats the bed behind her. I groan but suck it up and climb under the blanket with her. This is testing the boundaries of my restraint. I pull her close, her back to my front. She sighs and snuggles in wiggling her behind into my crotch. I tighten my hold to get her to stop. I think she’s asleep when she speaks quietly, “Thank you for coming for me. Sorry I’m not more with it at the moment, I feel bad making you stay when things have been strained. I’ve been wanting to talk to you, but you keep avoiding me. Right now I have to sleep, I can’t stay awake any more. Please tell me we’ll talk soon.” I squeeze her ag
ain in answer and kiss her on the soft skin behind her ear before tucking her head under my chin and eventually dozing off with her.

  Six

  Remi

  I wake up with an insane headache. What the heck happened last night? As I stretch and start to wake up more it all comes rushing back. Looking around I see I’m in my bed and dressed in pajamas. I didn’t imagine it then. Eli really was here. It’s all mostly fuzzy. I see that the other pillow on my bed still has an imprint where he slept. I’m grateful he woke up early and took off before I could wake up and things got awkward. I see the pills and water on the table. I toss them both back and drain the glass. I get up and go into the bathroom and seeing my reflection in the mirror I cringe. Mascara is smeared around my eyes and I have a major case of bed head going on. I start the water in the shower and hang up the silver dress off the chair after checking it for stains. I’ll have to take that to the dry cleaners next time I go shopping. I strip, toss my clothes in the hamper, and step into the shower. The water feels great on my skin and after I wash up I just stand in the stream of it for a while. Finally it starts to cool and I drag myself out to dry off. I wrap my hair in a towel and go into my room to get dressed in some comfortable sweats and a tank top. As I’m pulling on some purple and pink fuzzy socks there’s a knock on the door. Assuming it has to be Eli as we’re the only ones here I yell for him to come in.

  “Hey how are you feeling?” he asks, not moving from the doorway.