Blake’s voice is loud and unforgiving, not relenting for even a second. Anyone in the quad can hear him loud and clear as his words echo between the buildings, exposing just how much of a creep Hudson is. But it doesn’t comfort me. In fact, it only makes my fear grow, gnawing at my veins like an animal trapped in a cage. Being called out like this, humiliated so publicly…what if Hudson decides to take it out on me?
Blake’s hand reaches around me and grips Hudson’s wrist hard enough for the knuckles to turn white. His grip loosens with a shriek and I break free, stumbling backward. I should run, hide or call for help. Do anything other than be the victim. But I can only stand motionless, frozen by fear and panic, forced to watch my fake boyfriend risk himself to stand up for me.
To protect me.
“Dude, what is wrong with you?” Hudson yelps as his wrist is slowly twisted, and I can only watch as Blake leans in closer, those blue eyes spitting fire.
“If you ever get any ideas about botheringmygirlfriend again, Iwillbe back to finish the job.”
Then he drops Hudson’s wrist and stalks over to me, his eyes trained on the discoloration on my wrist—I bruise like a peach. I can just make out Hudson fleeing the scene before Blake blocks the view, shielding me from prying eyes.
“Are you hurt?”
I’m not sure what I expected; a hug, a touch. But Blake keeps a firm foot away, his hands tensing at his side. I’m not sure if that makes things better.
“No, I’m—you intervened in time.”
He points to my wrist. “Can I?”
I lift it and can barely keep from flinching as he gently holds my hand, inspecting the wrist like he’s a doctor. “Doesn’t look broken, but you can expect some serious bruising—we should probably ice it right away. I don’t think we need to go to the emergency room, but you and Alissa should keep an eye on it, make sure it doesn’t get worse.”
“You know a lot about injuries,” I say quietly.
“Yeah, I get hurt a lot on the ice, so it’s good to know when something’s just a bruise or something more serious. I was also a rowdy kid, climbing things I shouldn’t climb, exploring places I should have stayed far away from.” He places my hand against my chest, right over my heart. “Keep it there, it’ll help the swelling. Come on, I’ll walk you home.”
We walk in silence along the cobble-stoned paths, past the Arts building and through the quiet streets just beyond. Winter is fast approaching; the trees have lost their bright orange leaves, which lay rotting on the ground, and the wind cuts through the layers under my coat. It’s those things I focus on as we make our way to the run-down dormitories. The silence between us isn’t heavy, or uncomfortable, like most silences are. Though I can feel the question on Blake’s mind right up until he asks it.
“Has he done this before? Bothering you like this?”
His voice is quiet, almost unsure. Like he’s afraid I will fall apart if he speaks any louder. To be fair, I probably look like it.
“This is the first time he’s laid hands on me since it began,” I say. “But there were letters, and weeks where he’d follow me every day and I couldn’t leave my dorm. Gifts he’d leave outside my door. I’ve tried to make it stop, but according to the school board there's never enough reason to step in. The police gave him a restraining order, but he ignores it, and it doesn’t get enforced.”
“That’s…horrifying.” Blake’s brows knit in thought. “Send me your schedule. I’ll walk with you to and from class so that son of a bitch can’t come anywhere near you again.”
I shake my head. “You’re very sweet, but you have a life, too. Other things to do and prioritize.”
“There is nothing that matters more than this,” Blake says, his tone so decisive it leaves me no room to question it. “You’re my girlfriend now, Alexis. It’s my job to make you feel safe.”
I shoot him a look. “We both know that title means nothing.”
“It means something to me.” He stops walking to look at me, his expression dead serious. It’s a side of Blake I haven’t seen before, and it gives me a pause. “I mean it, Alexis. As long as we’re together, I will do everything I can to keep you safe and happy. If that means I have to keep watch outside your door or walk you places, so be it.” The corner of his mouth curls a little. “Though, I’m sure I could protect you even better if I keep watch from your bed.”
The wink he follows it up with lets me know it’s a lighthearted joke, meant only to make me smile. And for a moment it does.
“You must really want to be captain, if you’re willing to do all this.”
Conflict passes through his gaze. “I do. But this isn’t about that. I like you, and we’re going to spend months joined at the hip pretending to be a couple. I want us to be—I don’t know, good. Like you at least don’t resent spending time with me.”
A small laugh ripples from my chest. “Blake Taylor, are you saying you want to be my friend?”
“If I get to be so lucky,” he says. “Now let’s hurry up and get to your dorm before you can use my balls to ice your wrist.”
Chapter 6
Blake
Alexis’s dormis her safe space.
