Damn. Nothing I said today came out right. I was stunned to see her and then I was jealous as Corey and Jason tried to come to her aid. The girls here on campus are pretty, but Zah … she brings the light with her.
“You live next door to her, bro? Please tell me you’ve?—”
“Finish those words and I’ll put my fist through your face. It isn’t like that. That’s like one of my sisters,” I grind out.
“Sure didn’t seem like it. I would hope you’d treat your sisters better than that,” Corey murmurs. “I’m concerned.
“I know that chick with her. Maybe they’re in the same dorm. I’m going to go check on her. I’ve had enough concessions. I’d feel more comfortable making sure she’s okay.”
“I’d come with you, but I booked a workout. I need to be there in ten minutes,” Jason says.
“I’ll come with you,” I say.
“What? Come on, babe. She’ll be fine. Corey can call you if anything happens,” Carly whines.
I look at her and roll my eyes. Opening my mouth, I go to tell her I’m not going to the movies, and I think we should break things off. However, my phone rings, cutting me off.
Seeing it’s my sister, Erica, I pick up and walk off without another word.
“What have you done, Bentley?” Erica growls before I can get a word out.
CHAPTER 4
Here for Myself
Zahirah
My head was throbbingby the time we made it back to the dorm room. I didn’t know if it was from being hit with the football or from the tears I tried to hold back. I almost didn’t answer Erica’s call because of it.
However, she’s the only one I can talk to about this. Arlene was kind enough to go get us something to eat while I took the call. I was grateful for that.
I don’t want my roommate to know how stupid I’ve been. Now, after crying into my phone—telling my best friend what happened between me and her brother—I get how huge this mistake is. I don’t know what made me think this was going to be some great love story.
“Hey, I’m here for you if you need to talk,” Arlene says as she devours her fries.
“Thanks,” I murmur and run a hand under my nose.
I’m still curled up on my bed, sniffling and feeling too pitiful to eat. I just don’t understand. The Bentley I know would have treated me with kindness and made sure I was okay.
This Bentley felt so cold and distant. Why was he so rude? He was even curt with his friends.
Okay, he has a girlfriend. I can’t really be upset about that. Bentley Coswell is gorgeous. All that thick chocolate-brown wavy hair, those hazel eyes, and that sexy grin.
At six-four, he has always towered over me. Every time I would have a growth spurt, I used to pray to be taller like him. Only for him to shoot up several inches. When I capped at five-six, I gave up hope of at least getting to six feet.
I’m not too hopeful for that last four inches. That girl had to be at least five-nine with her long legs. If she’s Bentley’s type, I really am delusional and should have gone to the school my parents wanted me to go to.
I had hoped I had a shot. Bentley dated Vanessa Stanley his senior year. They broke up right after prom.
She was pretty and brown like me. Almost my height and everything. People at school often mistook us for sisters.
“Your food is getting cold. You should at least try to eat something,” Arlene says with a plea in her voice.
“I don’t have an appetite.”
Her shoulders sag and she turns back to her burger. I sit and continue to remain lost in my thoughts. I mean, how did it come to this?
I should’ve known he would be attached to someone. I guess I was so deep in my delusion I never took any of that into account. I would be fine with that. I would have still had my friend at least.
