“I appreciate that,” I murmur against his shirt marveling at how soft the fabric is against his hard chest. He smells good too.What is wrong with me?
“Julien’s in the kitchen. Want to tell me what happened?”
I heave a huge sigh. “No.”
“Whenever you’re ready, I’m here for you. So is Julien.” He tilts his face down and presses a kiss to the crown of my head. “And so is Jayson. He loves you, Elizabeth. He’s loved you most of his life. This is really hard for him.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Didn’t you love me too?”
He tenses. “Yes.”
“So why is it harder for him than it is for you, or for Julien?”
Ryder doesn’t answer me, and in not answering, he tells me everything.
I release my hold on him. “I need to take a shower and get ready for my first class. Jayson was right. I do smell.” I scrunch my nose up.
“I don’t mind.”
“Well, I do. Can you guys lock up on your way out?”
“We can do that. Text me your schedule and I’ll meet up with you for coffee or lunch or something.”
“I’d like that.”
He presses one last kiss to my forehead and turns to walk away. Looking back at me he affirms, “It’s going to be okay, Elizabeth,” and closes my bedroom door.
My phone I left charging on my bedside table dings and I pick it up.
ScaryGuy: I’m sorry.
So am I. For so many reasons.
Of course I’m going to be late for my first class, I chastise myself as I rush across the campus grounds to get to the building where I’m supposed to be for Contemporary American Literature. I’m walking at a fast pace, because let’s face it, I couldn’t run now if my life depended on it. Julien’s ten-mile death run did me in this morning. My legs are two limp noodles. I climb up the stairs to Mason Hall and sigh in relief when I get to the main auditorium doors with five minutes to spare, thankful I’m not late after all. The auditorium can fit at least three hundred students, and already half of it is full. I notice a row of seats near the middle that are empty and head toward them. I choose the seat nearest the aisle and plonk down.
“Is this seat taken?” a dark-haired girl asks me.
“Not at all. Be my guest,” I reply, taking out my laptop.
The girl settles in right beside me, even though the entire row is empty. I hate it when people do that.
“Hi, my name’s Meredith,” she proclaims happily to me in greeting.
“Elizabeth,” I answer.
I decide to check my phone before placing it on silent. There are texts from Elijah and Ryder, and another from Daniel. I click on Ryder’s and read it. He’s going to meet me after this class and suggests we grab a coffee. I send him back a yes and that I’m at Mason Hall so he knows where to come.
“Nice to meet you, Elizabeth. Maybe we can do a study group or something together. I heard this class is pretty hard.”
“Mmmhmm,” I mumble, not really paying attention.
My morning started out great but then turned to shit, so I’m not in the mood to be sociable, even if it does make me seem like a bitch. I open a text file ready for the professor to arrive and for class to begin.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to,” Meredith says.
