“Hard to say. It doesn’t help our case that Joey doesn’tremember seeing Lana, therefore can’t confirm she’s the one who drugged him.”
“So what now?”
“Now we wait.” I shrug. “We filed the complaint anonymously. And while I’m sure Lana will know it was us, she can’t exactly prove it either.”
“I’m starting to think this was a bad idea,” he admits, rubbing the back of his neck in a way that shows off his thick bicep.
I stare longer than necessary before finally forcing my gaze forward.
“Perhaps. But we had to try. She has to know she can’t get away with this. Even if there’s nothing the police can do... At least she knows we’re willing to get them involved. Might give her pause the next time she thinks about trying something like this.”
“Maybe.” He blows out a heavy breath.
“You’re worried.” I point out the obvious.
“If you had been through half of what I’ve been through with Lana, you would be too.”
“Well, there’s nothing we can do now. The police will investigate, along with the university, and we will just continue on like we are completely clueless about any of it and hope for the best.”
“And if we end up with the worst?”
“Then are we really any worse off than we were yesterday?” I shrug, trying like hell to be optimistic about this situation when in reality, I’m kind of freaking out. Not that I would ever tell him that.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?” he asks with an abrupt change of conversation.
“Not sure yet. Avoid my dorm at all costs. That’s about all I got.”
“I’m starving. Do you want to go grab something to eat?” He rocks back on his heels, the only indication that he’s not completely at ease.
“Um, I’m not sure...” I shake my head.
It would be so easy to take the olive branch he’s extending. The real question is, do I want to?
“Relax, Mais, it’s not like I’m asking you to marry me. It’s just lunch.”
“Just lunch...” I narrow my gaze at him, trying to figure out his play.
“As friends,” he clarifies.
“Friends.” I snort out a laugh like it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.
“What?” His brow furrows like he’s confused by my reaction, even though his eyes tell a very different story.
“We are not friends.”
“We could be.” He lifts a single shoulder in a half-shrug.
I stare back at him for a long moment, taking in the mess of dark hair that falls across his forehead, the scruff of facial hair, the intensity of his almost teal eyes, and I realize something I’ve always known. I don’twantto be his friend. I want to be more... I dismiss the thought instantly, not even sure where the hell it came from. Just because I don’t want to be his friend doesn’t mean I want to be his enemy either.
Something changed between us last night. I don’t know how to describe it, but the anger and animosity I felt toward him every time he was near... as I stare back at him now, there’s no trace of those emotions. I don’t want to throat punch him or shove him out in front of a moving car. In fact, I don’t want to inflict any sort of pain on him at all, which is saying something bigger than I want to entertain at the moment.
“Come on. What do you have to lose?” He smiles, the sight of it damn near stealing the breath from my lungs.
He may be the ass of all asses, but damn it if he also isn’t the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Even after everything, when he looks at me the way he’s looking at me now, I feel that undeniable pull that I felt the day we met.
“My self-respect,” I fire back to cover up the direction my thoughts have gone.
He doesn’t so much as flinch at my words, his smile only widening, showing off that damn dimple that usually isn’t visible beneath his beard. Only when he smiles like this does it peek through. So I’ve realized.
