“Hey.” She grabs hold of my shoulders and crushes me to her, giving me a hug. I don’t uncross my arms, just stand there awkwardly while she holds me close. “I’m not trying to hurt your feelings. You’ve been at this college for the last two years and you haven’t done anything wild or rebellious. But now I’m here to help you break out of your shell so you can have a little fun for once in your life. You deserve it, Chelsea. You’ve been pretending to live your life. Now you actually need to go out and do it. Find a hot guy and make out with him.”
Not with a creeper named Tad who calls me rude names. “This isn’t working out with Tad. I want to go home.”
Kari withdraws from me, her expression forlorn. “You can’t just leave me here alone.”
Guilt swamps me. When Kari and I moved in together, we made a vow never to leave the other alone at parties, on campus … anywhere. “I was kind of hoping you would go home with me.”
Can’t she see what she’s doing? She broke up with her boyfriend from high school when they moved here and he realized there was more to this world than just him and Kari. And now she’s running into the arms of another guy who’s probably only going to use her? I don’t get it.
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only logical person on this entire campus, I swear.
“Are you serious? It’s barely midnight! God.” She glances around the tiled bathroom, as if she’d rather look anywhere else but at me. “Come on, Chelsea. I really like Brad and I really think he likes me. I’m not going to call this night over so early when there’s still so much that can—happen. I don’t want to leave.”
So she leaves me no choice. “Fine. I am leaving. I’ll let you explain what happened to Tad.” I storm out of the bathroom, not even bothering to look back when I hear Kari yelling after me. Pushing my way through the crowded bar area, I break free, moving down the short hall that spills out into the front lobby of the restaurant. The dining area is to my right and it’s mostly empty, since it’s a Monday night.
Doesn’t matter what night it is in a college town, though. The bar is always in full swing.
I push open the front door, walking out into the cold fall night. I didn’t bring a coat of any kind and the air seeps through the lace of my borrowed top with quick speed, chilling me to the bone. A shiver passes over me and I glance around, wondering how the heck I am going to get home.
Normally, Kari and I would walk even though we live kind of far. Stupid, I know, but hey, we’re safer together than alone, right? Considering I am alone, no way am I walking tonight. Calling a cab would be pricey and I’d probably have to wait a while, but I don’t really have a choice.
Pulling out my cell, I start scrolling online, looking for a taxi service, when I hear someone call my name. I glance over my shoulder to see it’s Tad.
Great.
“Hey.” He approaches me, his expression full of—worry? I must be seeing things. “Are you okay?”
I offer him a weak smile and a weaker excuse. “I’m fine, really. Just … tired.”
“Um, sorry for what I said earlier.” He shuffles his feet, dropping his head so he can stare at the ground. “It was a total jerk thing to do.”
“Yeah. It’s okay.” I want to smack myself for saying it’s okay when it so isn’t.
“So you’re leaving?”
I nod and glance down at my phone again. I really need to call a taxi so I can get away from Tad. He may be acting nice now, but I don’t trust him.
I don’t really trust anyone.
“I can take you home,” he offers.
My head snaps up and I study him. He looks sincere, but there’s something about his eyes … they’re too dark, too hard. A little mean-looking. It would save me megabucks if I rode home with him so I didn’t have to pay for a taxi, but I don’t want to take any chances. Something about Tad makes me uneasy. This guy has ulterior motives written all over him.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to have to pass.” I try for the apologetic smile to ease my refusal, but all he does is frown at me.
“You won’t even take a ride from me. First you treat me like shit and will hardly talk to me and now you won’t even get in my car? I mean, what the hell? Do you think you’re too good for me or what?” Tad spits out at me.
I’m in shock. Too good for him? What is he talking about? “I’m not trying to offend you …”
“Too late,” he interrupts, grabbing hold of my arm with so much force I yelp. “Though you’ll make it up to me if you let me take you home.”
There’s no way I want this idiot to know where I live. “Let me go,” I say, trying to jerk out of his grip, but he’s holding on too tight. Any tighter and I’m afraid he’ll bruise my skin.
“Come on, Chelsea. Loosen up, would you? This virginal act has got to go.” Tad’s whining now, which is almost as bad as angry Tad. “I’m just looking for a little fun.”
So not the kind of fun I was talking about with Kari earlier. “Tad, please …”
“Let her go.”
The familiar deep voice comes from behind us and I turn on a gasp to find Owen Maguire standing there, glaring at Tad like he wants to rip his head off. Relief floods me, heady and strong, as Tad loosens his grip, and I swear I sway a little when he lets me go.
“I don’t want any trouble,” Tad says, backing away from me with his hands up in front of him, his eyes never leaving Owen.
“Then keep moving and you won’t have any,” Owen practically growls as he stalks toward us so he’s standing right next to me, his expression menacing as he stares Tad down.
Wow. No guy has ever come to my rescue quite like that before. Owen looks fierce, too, his hands clutched into fists at his side, his brows drawn down, eyes cold and mouth grim. Tad turns and breaks into a run, where to I’m not sure. I’m just glad he’s gone.
Breathing deep, I turn to look at Owen, startled when I find him already looking right at me. “Thank you,” I say, irritated when my voice comes out some breathy little whisper like I’m a dumbstruck girl.
Which I am. Not that I would ever admit it.
“What were you doing with that guy?” he asks, sounding irritated and looking mad. And hot.
Like, all sorts of hot. Those intense green eyes latch onto me like they’re never going to let me go and he turns more fully toward me, his broad shoulders blocking my view. Gosh, he’s tall! I tip my head back, trying to ignore the wave of yearning that washes over me at his nearness. He seems to make my brain short-circuit every time I get close to him.