“I underestimated you, Covee,” he said after a minute. It sounded like an apology.
“Most people do,” I told him.
“You’re more like him than I thought,” David said.
I raised an eyebrow. It took me a moment to realize he meant Weston. “How so?”
“Strategic,” David said. “You two do it differently. The motive is the same, though. Want to know what else is the same?”
“What’s that?”
“Your blind need to be saviors.”
I shifted and glanced back at the frat house. This would have been the perfect time for Weston to show up. I needed an escape route.
“Want some advice?” David offered.
“Sure,” I said, half-heartedly.
“Stop worrying about everyone else and save yourself.”
I nodded. “Is that what you do?”
“Why not? It’s a helluva lot easier than what you and Weston do. Worrying about everyone else is going to kill you.”
“And what does worrying about no one do?” I challenged.
He smiled. “Set you free.”
Chapter 31
Callme when you get a chance
Ari’s text popped on my screen the second Weston pulled up at my dorm. I swiped the notification without replying. She’d finally finished the digging. Considering how long it took her, I expected a lot of information. A pit in my stomach grew at the thought of more reasons to let go of Weston. We’d sat in silence after leaving Kevin, David, and Dakota at the party. I didn’t ask about Lawrence when Weston told me we were leaving. As he drove, he kept his jaw tight and the radio loud.
After parking in a space, he finally said, “Hey.”
His hand lingered on the gearshift and his knuckles were white as he continued, “I know you’re probably mad or disappointed in me.”
I went back and forth in my head for a few minutes before I confessed, “I asked my friend Ari to go searching for information about you online. I didn’t want to be blindsided by anything. You’re a nice guy, but sometimes you remind me…”
I swallowed. The words refused to come out, no matter how much I tried. I feared if I said them, they’d become a reality. Weston waited without uttering a single word. He didn’t move an inch as I breathed in the courage to tell him my truth.
“My parents,” I finished lamely. “People who I’d prefer to forget.”
He nodded. “Looks like I’m not the only one running from their past tonight.”
I glanced at Weston and really tried to take him in. Not the good-looking quarterback with a wicked smile and beautiful mind. I tried to look past every wall, but all I got was another one. My heart sank at the realization we were a ticking time bomb.
I knew from the beginning, but tonight, it was so upfront. His demons were growing. He refused to let them go. I thought I’d outran mine - but they lingered. Ever present, waiting for me in the shadows. My demons practically begged for me to face them.
“Stop catastrophizing,” Weston said quickly, as though he could read my mind.
“Haven’t heard that one before,” I said sarcastically.
“Me shutting you out on this coach mess is your deal-breaker?” he questioned in a careful tone.
“No, it’s me wanting you to be someone you can’t be,” I explained. “I don’t mean that as a dig or as something to convince you to change.”
