You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)

by E. L. Todd

  “Ditto.”

  He opened his textbook and stared at it blankly. Then he shut it again. “I can’t wait until I’m done with school.”

  “How’d it go with Beatrice?” I asked.

  “Fine,” he said with a shrug. “Like I said, she and I are just friends.”

  “That you invite to meet your parents?” I asked incredulously.

  He lowered his gaze. “Just a friend,” he repeated.

  “Whatever.”

  “How’s it going with that Alex chick?”

  “How’s what going with her?” I asked with confusion. “There’s nothing going on with her.”

  “Then why do you hate her so much? She’s all you ever talk about.”

  “Not true,” I insisted.

  “Yeah, it is, man.”

  “Last time I saw her, I said a lot of mean things to her. I went to her place to apologize but she didn’t want to hear me out.”

  “Well, you have been a dick to her…”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  He gave me a serious look. “Yes, you have.”

  “Like you haven’t been a dickhead to Beatrice. You were just being nice to her to sleep with her.”

  “I was,” he snapped. “I’m not anymore. I actually care about her and like to spend time with her. Nothing else.”

  I leaned back in my chair. “It sounds like we’re both jerks.”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, I think so…”

  ***

  Alex and I ignored each other at work. We pretended the other one didn’t exist as we continued on our day. Whenever we were in the same conversation, one of us left. She was perky and friendly to everyone but me.

  As the night progressed, everyone left except she and I. We were closing, so unfortunately, we were the only ones in the building. Since we didn’t speak to one another, we tried to stay on opposite sides of the building.

  By the end of the night, I showered in the locker room then dried off. I vaguely heard another shower running and assumed it was hers. When the water turned off, she didn’t come to my aisle. She stayed on the other side of the locker room, not coming close to me.

  I waited by the front desk so we could lock up together and set the alarm. When I thought about how great my Christmas was, I imagined how lonely hers was. She spent the holiday with complete strangers because she had no one else. Maybe I had been an ass to her…

  “I’m ready.” She had her purse over her shoulder. She looked at her phone and ignored me.

  “Okay.” I set the alarm then we walked out together.

  She stood beside me while I locked the door. Once the keys were in my pocket, we headed across the parking lot.

  I watched her out of the corner of my eye, noting her features and shiny hair. She seemed indifferent to my existence. “Alex?”

  “Hmm?” She kept walking.

  I stopped then grabbed her arm. “Hold on a second.”

  She twisted out of my grasp with lightning speed. “Don’t touch me again.” Threat was in her voice. “You can get my attention with your words, not your hands.”

  I stepped back and lowered my hands. I wanted to say something like a smart-ass but I decided to let it go. “I’m sorry.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “What? I’m in a hurry.”

  “I…did you have a good Christmas?”

  “It was fine.” Her response was short like she wanted the conversation to end quickly. She didn’t ask how mine was.

  I ran my fingers through my hair, unsure what else to do. “Alex, I don’t want it to be like this.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “I tried to be friends with you several times. Every time I did you were an ass. That was your chance to make a change. You blew it.”

  She was never this cold before. I knew I really messed things up with her. “Would it make it better if I apologized and said I regretted treating you the way I have?”

  “No.” She shifted her weight. “Because we both know your apology comes from pity. Now that you know I’m some poor girl with no family, you feel bad for me. Theo, I don’t want your pity and I don’t need it. The only way I’ll accept your apology is if you really mean it.”

  “I do.” I held her gaze, trying to show her my sincerity.

  “What’s changed? Why do you feel remorseful all of a sudden?”

  “I…I just do.”

  She studied my face.

  “Look, I’ll quit and find another job if that makes your life easier. I’ll bring you coffee and donuts every morning if that will help…just tell me what to do.”

  “You know what I want?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “For you to take a long look at yourself and figure out what’s wrong with you…on a deep level. Because I’ve never met someone so cold in my life. And believe me, I’ve dealt with a lot of assholes.” She turned around and headed to her car.

  “Alex, wait.”

  She kept walking and got her car unlocked.

  I came after her then stopped in front of her door. “Wait, hold on.”

  “Go away.” She warned me with her eyes. “You don’t get to rectify this just because you’re ready. Because now I’m not. You’ll have to deal with that. I’m a very nice person, despite what you think. It’s unfortunate you don’t get to experience it.” She got inside her car then started the engine. Then she took off without looking at me.

  ***

  When I reflected on the past few months, I realized just how horrible I’d been to her. She and I got off on the wrong foot. She may have told everyone I was weak in our match, but maybe she genuinely believed I didn’t go easy on her.

  It was possible.

  The fact she didn’t have a family made me open my eyes. I did pity her and it did make me rethink my ways. But that didn’t make my apology insincere. All it did was give me some perspective.

  I went to the bar with Conrad on Friday night. The week at school had been torture and I had so much studying to do it made me want to hang myself. I preferred being outside, running around or working in the studio. Hitting the books didn’t interest me at all. My dad was an amazing writer and my mom was a dancer, and I felt overshadowed by their success.

  Conrad sipped his beer then leaned back in his chair, his mood thoughtful.

  “Anything new with Beatrice?”

  “We went to the movies the other day. We saw this Ukrainian documentary. It was pretty good.”

  I didn’t understand their relationship. They weren’t having sex but it seemed like they were an item. “So, do you guys kiss?”

  “No.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “I told you we’re just friends.”

  “That you spend nearly all your time with?”

  “Is she here now?” he snapped.

  “I wouldn’t be surprised if she was…”

  “We just have a lot in common. I like spending time with her.”

  It still didn’t add up to me. “And you never touch each other? Like, ever?” I found it hard to believe that a guy and a girl could be platonic friends. It seemed too unlikely.

  “Well…we hold hands sometimes.”

  My jaw dropped. “You hold hands? Like you’re in second grade?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I shouldn’t have told you.”

  “Friends don’t hold hands. When have you and I ever done that?”

  “It just happens sometimes…I can’t explain it.”

  “In what context?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “Sometimes when we’re sitting together, she’ll grab my hand or I’ll grab hers. When we went to the movies, we did it. It’s nice…”

  I knew whatever Conrad had with Beatrice was more than he made it seem. “When was the last time you got laid?”

  He rubbed his chin and pondered the question. “Uh…”

  I searched his face, waiting for an answer.

  “Uh…I can’t remember.” He rubbed his temple as the realization hit him.

  “So, you haven’
t had sex since you met Beatrice?”

  “No.” He seemed shocked by his own answer.

  I waited for him to put the pieces together.

  Conrad still seemed confused. “Why are you asking me this?”

  “Seriously, you don’t understand?”

  “Understand what?” he asked.

  “You only spend time with her, you aren’t sleeping around, you took her to your family’s house for Christmas…” Did I need to spell it out for him?

  “So?”

  “You aren’t just friends,” I snapped. “You guys are in a complicated, twisted, and monogamous relationship.”

  “No, we aren’t. She said we could only be friends.”

  “Who hold hands?” I asked incredulously.

  “It doesn’t mean anything…we’re just…different.”

  I couldn’t believe how blind Conrad was to his own feelings. “Fine.” I scanned the bar and found a pretty brunette with nice legs. “Ask her out.” I nodded to her place on the stool.

  Conrad glanced at her then turned back to me. “She’s not my type.”

  “She’s a pretty girl with a nice rack. What do you mean she’s not your type?”

  He drank his beer and didn’t look again.

  “Whatever. Pick a girl and leave with her.”

  “Why?” he asked. “I’m hanging out with you.”

  I laughed because he was being so ridiculous. “You’re so hung up on Beatrice and you don’t even realize it.”

  “I’m not,” he argued.

  “You aren’t getting any from her but you’re still around.”

  “Because she’s cool. That’s all.”

  We were just going in circles. It seemed like he was ignorant to his own feelings. Since he was such a Neanderthal, I understood why it was difficult for him to understand. He’d never been in a relationship and always attested he never wanted to be. Perhaps he just hadn’t realized what was happening with Beatrice. I proved my point several times but he never grasped it.

  “Did you apologize to that girl?” Conrad asked.

  “Yeah…” I sighed when I remembered the conversation. “She hates my guts.”

  “Don’t blame her,” he said with a chuckle.

  “I don’t think I’m going to get anywhere with her. She’ll always hate me.”

  “I know I do.” He sipped his beer.

  I ignored the insult and noticed the ripple in the crowd. All the guys were craning their necks, checking out some girl who just walked in. Guys were usually discreet about their interest, but none of them were now. Someone very special just walked through the door.

  “Did a Victoria’s Secret model just walk in or something?” Conrad asked.

  “Beats me,” I said with a shrug.

  “Maybe it’s Beatrice…”

  I rolled my eyes and drank my beer.

  The crowd parted and two girls made their way to a table. One was wearing a silver dress that was tight on her chest, stomach, and thighs. Her body was pure curves. Her brown hair was styled and big. Her legs stretched for days. I took in every inch of her, feeling my cock harden just from a look. When my eyes met her face, I almost dropped my beer.

  It was Alex.

  Conrad glanced at the two girls. “They’re the ones making the commotion? I’ve seen hotter.”

  “You mean Beatrice is hotter?”

  “Don’t call her that,” he barked.

  I ignored his words and stared at Alex, who sat across from her friend. A black bracelet was on her wrist and she crossed her legs underneath the table. Her thighs were toned and defined and her calves were muscular. Her shoulders were thin and rounded, and her chest protruded out in an appealing way. “That’s the girl from my work—in the silver dress.”

  “Are you going to talk to her?” Conrad asked.

  “No.” She seemed to be having fun with her friend. I didn’t want to ruin her night with my presence.

  Judging by the way they giggled and laughed, they were already a little buzzed. Perhaps they were barhopping.

  Conrad followed my gaze. “By the way, she’s hot. I don’t understand why you hate her so much.”

  “I don’t hate her,” I said simply. I wondered about her family and what happened to them. Did they pass away? Did she have a falling out with them? There were so many things about her I was dying to know.

  Conrad discussed the game that was on last night and I participated in the conversation even though my gaze kept moving back to Alex. Her skin was tan like she was outside often, and her blue eyes sparkled like diamonds. She held herself with grace and her posture was perfect. When she smiled, she lit up the room.

  “Are you even listening to me?” Conrad demanded.

  “Huh?” I shifted my gaze back to him.

  He rolled his eyes. “Just talk to her.”

  “And say what? Then she’ll think I’m only talking to her because she looks pretty tonight.”

  Conrad drank the rest of his beer. “You won’t know until you try, right?”

  I had a strong suspicion of how it would go.

  Drinks were sent to the table, and the girls had enough alcohol to supply a frat party. Guys around them kept sneaking glances, and one by one, they came to their table and engaged them in conversation. Each one struck out.

  I wondered if Alex had a boyfriend. It was something I never considered before. What if she did have a boyfriend waiting at home for her? Did she have a man she kissed? That she touched?

  Why did I care?

  “If you’re going to stare at her all night, you may as well just talk to her,” Conrad said.

  “It’s not so simple.”

  “Do you want me to talk to her?”

  “And say what?”

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Smooth things over.”

  “You definitely aren’t a smooth talker.”

  “It’s still better than not talking at all and staring at her from afar like a creeper.”

  Alex left the table then wobbled to the bathroom. Judging by the way she moved, she was already hammered. Now I was worried about her. Her friend was just as drunk. Who was taking them home? Every guy eyed them like two notches to put under their belts.

  “There’s your chance,” Conrad noted.

  Without thinking, I took the shot. I moved through the crowd until I caught her in front of the bathroom. “Hey.”

  She stopped and turned to me. It took her a moment to focus her sight on me. And then it took her a while to recognize me. “Theo?”

  “Yeah. How are you?” I put my hands in my pockets and stared into her eyes.

  She shifted her weight and almost slipped. “Is Theo short for Theodore?”

  “No, it’s just Theo.”

  “Because Theodore is the name of a president…” She wobbled.

  Wow, she was totally drunk. “Yes, it is.” I tried not to laugh.

  “So, why are you hanging out in the girl’s bathroom?”

  I eyed the door. “Actually, we aren’t inside yet.”

  “Oh.” She thought for a moment. “Do you want to go in? I won’t tell anybody.”

  I smirked. “Thanks for the offer but I’m good out here.”

  She seemed to remember she hated me. “Why are you talking to me? To yell at me? To make me feel like shit?”

  “No…” My eyes fell in sadness at her words.

  “Just leave me alone. I’m sick of crying over you.”

  Crying? What? “Sorry?”

  “I keep trying to be your friend and you’re so mean to me. Maybe I was rude to you but you were rude first. And you say such harsh things…I’m a good person. You have no idea what I’ve been through. You would feel lower than dirt if you knew what happened to me...”

  I wanted to kill myself. Since she was drunk, she was open with me. Her walls were gone and she was vulnerable. I understood how much I hurt her, how I pushed her too far. I haven’t felt this bad in a really long time. “I’m sorry.”

 
“No, you aren’t.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You just feel bad for me because I have no one…no one loves me…no one cares.”

  “I care about you,” I whispered.

  “No, you don’t…” She turned away to walk into the bathroom.

  I grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “I wouldn’t say that unless I meant it.”

  She lowered her gaze and refused to look at me. It was a side to her I’d never seen before. She was always so strong and confident, never backing down from a fight. She held her own in an argument, and she always put me in my place when we butted heads. But now there seemed to be no fight left in her. “You do?”

  “Yeah.” My hand still held her arm. “You’re really drunk. Can I take you home?”

  “Home?” she whispered.

  “Yeah. I’ll give you a ride.”

  She seemed to consider it. “I was just going to call a cab.”

  She could hardly walk so I feared she wouldn’t be able to get around on her own. She might fall and hurt herself. “Let me take you. I don’t mind.”

  She stared into my eyes, looking for sincerity. “You have pretty eyes…”

  “Thank you. You do too.”

  She looked away, like she forgot the question I just asked.

  “Can I take you home?” I repeated.

  “Um…okay. But I can’t leave my friend.”

  “I can give her a ride too,” I whispered. “I don’t mind.”

  “Okay…maybe you aren’t that evil after all.”

  Evil was a good way to describe me. “Yeah…”

  She went to the bathroom and did her business. Then she returned and wobbled again.

  I hooked my arm around her waist and kept her close to me, letting her use me as a crutch. She didn’t object to my touch. If she were sober, she’d probably smack me.

  When we reached her table, her friend was chatting with a guy.

  “Theodore is going to take us home,” Alex slurred.

  “It’s Theo,” I corrected.

  “I’m okay.” Her friend waved Alex away. “I’m sure Jeremy will give me a ride.” She batted her eyelashes at him.

  “I sure will.” He grinned from ear-to-ear, knowing he was going to get laid.

  “Are you sure?” Alex asked.

  “Yeah.” Her friend brushed her off. “I’ll call you if I change my mind.”

  “Okay.” Alex fumbled for her purse but dropped it.