“He will.”
Troy and Marcus answer at the same time, causing me and Harper to break out in a fit of giggles. It breaks the tension of the night.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I wink at her and jog down the front porch steps, Troy hot on my heels.
Troy is quiet next to me as we head in the direction of my place. The pointy tips of my heels clack on thesidewalk. It gives me something to focus on other than the warm presence of the man next to me.
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“Still. I appreciate what you did.”
Troy stuffs his hands in his shorts pockets. “He had no right to do that to you. No person does.”
Huh. That surprises me.
Growing up, all I heard was how bad Derek Hollins was because of how he treated my dad while playing. I never thought to question it. Like the sky is blue, the Hollins family was bad news.
Until now.
Troy came to my rescue without thought. Not many people would do that. At a college party, most people are too drunk or busy hooking up to realize what’s going on around them.
I’m glad I didn’t have to use my skills tonight.
“This is why I don’t like coming to parties.”
“Because of dicks like him?”
I nod. “I don’t mind a party every now and then with Harper, but they’re not my thing. Harper wanted to see Marcus, so I agreed to come. We don’t let each other go to parties by ourselves.”
Campus is buzzing with activity as we cut through the quad. It didn’t get late enough for us to be the only ones out. People are still hanging out in the warm evening.
“You’re a good friend.”
“Am I though?”
The thought of saying no to Troy the other day comes to mind. It makes me feel like a terrible person now. He stepped up for me tonight, and I couldn’t do the same.
My building comes into view. I’m ready to take a shower and sleep this night off.
“Thank you, Troy. I really appreciate it.”
He follows me up onto the steps as I fish out my keys from my purse and open the door.
“You’ll be okay from here?” Troy moves down a step. At this level, his eyes meet mine head-on.
The brown depths would be so easy to get swept away in.
If you were into that kind of thing.
Which I’m not. At all.
“Yeah.”
“Good night, Angie.” He dips his head and then jogs down the last of the stairs.
“Troy, wait.”
