Before Ryan Was Mine (The Remembrance Trilogy - Prequel) (18 page)

I racked my brain but I couldn’t place him. I faked it, though, because I didn’t want to make him feel bad. “Oh, sure. This is my roommate, Ellie.”

He laughed. “It’s okay if you don’t remember me. I’ve had a couple classes with Ryan, and Aaron rushed with me freshman year.”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.”

There were several picnic tables in the backyard, and Nate motioned to one of them. “Wanna have a seat?” He was looking at Ellie and I smiled, relieved. Maybe if Nate occupied her time, she’d have less time to pester me about my less than gasping reaction to David Kessler.

“Love to!” she said happily and we walked to one of the tables on the opposite side of the yard. The beer line extended the entire length of the backyard, and we had to navigate around it.

I spent the next two hours listening to Ellie and Nate talk. He was cute and seemed totally smitten with her. I watched the interaction between people, glancing around the party. I went all night without getting another beer despite Nate’s offers to get one for me when he went to refill his and Ellie’s glasses. I could tell she was getting a little tipsy.

Pretty late in the evening, Dave Kessler made his way down the back steps and through the throng of students to plant himself next to me. He straddled the bench, and scooted really close to me. I could smell his cologne and beer on him.

“I lost you inside!”

“Yes, Ellie wanted to come out here.”

“So you know Nate?” He nodded across the table at his fraternity brother.

“He’s in a couple classes with a friend of mine. We met one time.”

I was leaning an elbow on the table, and Dave reached out and ran his fingers along the wrist I had dangling over the edge of the picnic table. When he reached my hand he took it in his, pulling it forward until our hands rested on his leg, his eyes never leaving my face. He smiled and I wondered if he was drunk.

“You are very pretty.” His smile widened, but I felt embarrassed under his intense stare. My cheeks felt hot. His thumb started to rub the inside of my palm, and his eyes fell to the small amount of cleavage that was visible at the top of my sweater. “Verrrry pretty,” he said when his eyes met mine again. I looked away and across the table at Ellie, nervously. He seemed intense and though I wouldn’t mind getting to know him, I wondered if he was already making plans for a hot and heavy make-out session. Or more. Ryan’s warning rambled around in my head.

“Thank you.”

“So, help me remember. How does Aaron Matthews know you?”

“He’s my best friend’s brother.”

“Oh, right. Is Ryan gay?” Dave smirked at me.

I huffed in amusement, my expression clearly showing how absurd that was. “Hardly.”

“Hmmm. Are you sure? I could never be just your friend,” Dave teased.

“Positive. Haven’t you seen him around? He knows you.”

Dave’s eyebrows rose speculatively. “Is he warning you off me, then?”

I nodded, a small smile toying at my mouth. “Something like that.”

“I hope you’re not listening,” he said suggestively. “Aaron was supposed to get me your number months ago.”

“To be fair, he did mention you.” I didn’t want him to haze Aaron because of me, so I made sure Dave knew Aaron had made an effort. “He said you wanted to go out.”

“Yes, I would. Are you up for it?”

Here was my opportunity to stop mooning over Ryan. It took some effort, but I pasted a smile across my face. “Yes. I’d like that.”

Dave’s smile brightened. “Yeah?”

I nodded, mustering as much enthusiasm as I could manage. “Uh huh.”

“Good.” The hand that was holding my hand moved to my back to rub up and down, his eyes became hooded. I tried to relax, but I stiffened just a touch.

“Ellie looks like she’s had too much to drink. I should probably get her home.” I pulled the phone out of my back pocket. I wasn’t sure if I was checking the time or looking for a message from Ryan. It was after 1:30 AM. The party would be breaking up soon, and Ellie, sitting next to Nate across the table from me, was giggling at something he’d said. They were huddled together and he had his arm around her.

Dave’s gaze was intense on my face, and I could sense he was thinking about his options. “She should probably eat something. Why don’t we all go to breakfast?”

I nodded. “Okay. Hey, Ellie!” I called to get her attention. “Do you guys want to get something to eat?”

“Sure!” Nate said at the same time Ellie answered.

“Yes!”

“Great. I just have to see if one of the others will make sure the house clears at two. If we get busted, we lose our charter.”

He got up but stopped to squeeze my shoulder before he turned to go. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.” Maybe Dave had a better head on his shoulders than Ryan gave him credit for.

Ellie was leaning into Nate and he bent to plant a kiss on her mouth. It was clumsy and sloppy, considering they were both somewhat inebriated. My phone finally vibrated in my pocket.

Where are you?

I’m still at the party. Going to breakfast.

Can we join?

My heart sank as I wondered who was with him. Would I be faced with some girl draped all over him if I agreed? My chest constricted as I tried to suck in a breath. Well, maybe that was just what I needed. I needed immunity to Ryan’s pull, and small doses of seeing him with women was probably what it would take. Besides, Dave would be with me.

After a second, I typed in my response.

Sure.

Less than fifteen seconds later, Ryan had answered.

Where and when? Stacks isn’t open.

Ryan and I liked this place called Stacks for breakfast, but they weren’t open at this time of night, and in fact, not beyond the afternoon on any day.

I know. IHOP? We’ll be leaving soon.

Redwood City?

It’s the closest one.

Okay. See you in thirty minutes.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket. People were still hanging out, but the party was winding down. Dave came back, his keys in his hand.

“Are you ready? I can drive,” Dave said.

“I need to get Ellie’s keys. She’s not in any condition to drive. So we can meet you there?”

“Why don’t we all go together?”

If I were any other woman, I’d probably be clamoring to spend as much time with this man as possible, but the truth was I didn’t know him that well, and with Ellie this out of it, it would just be better to drive her car to the restaurant and go home from there.

“Why don’t you and Nate follow us in your car?” I suggested. “We can go to the IHOP nearest our place.” Dave’s lips pressed together briefly. It was clear he was annoyed, but Ellie was in no condition to drive. I stood up, walked around the table and took a hold of her arm. “Come on, Ellie. It’s time to go.”

I helped her up, and Nate caught her when she tripped trying to step over the bench of the picnic table. She started laughing outrageously. I hadn’t seen her this intoxicated since freshman year and we’d gone to our very first college party.

“Okay,” Dave agreed, finally. “If you promise we’ll go out next weekend.”

Within minutes, Ellie was piled into the front seat and Dave and Nate were following behind us on the way to breakfast.

“Why didn’t you just let me go with Nate?” Ellie’s voice was slurred, and her head lolled against the passenger door window.

“You’re a little drunk, Ellie.”

“Oh, God. I feel sick.”

“You need to eat.”

“Ugh,” she moaned, putting a hand to her head. “I’m gonna throw up.”

“Really?”

“No.” She moaned. “I don’t know.”

I was almost to the restaurant and soon I was pulling into the parking lot. Ryan’s CRV was already there, and he and a guy I didn’t recognize were leaning on it, waiting for us. No women anywhere in sight.

I pulled into a spot three away from Ryan and he started walking toward the car just as Dave parked in a spot behind Ellie’s car.

Ellie’s door flew open, and she stumbled out before I could get around to help her myself. Ryan was there instantly, and his arm went around her shoulders.

“Hey, El. Are you okay?” he asked.

“No. I need the bathroom.”

Ryan glanced at me then at Dave and Nate. “Hey,” he greeted them. “Come on, Ellie. I’ll take you in. Jules, you should come with her.”

“Yeah. Dave, can you and Nate grab us a table?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said.

Ryan’s eyes shot briefly to my face. “This is Shawn,” he introduced briefly, as we all started walking into the restaurant. The parking lot was starting to fill up with the bar crowd. We all went inside, and Ryan steadied Ellie. “Can you walk?”

“I think so.”

I took her arm and started to pull Ellie in the direction of the bathroom on the other side of the restaurant. “Come on,” I told her. “Be right back.” I looked apologetically as we began to walk away. I just hoped Ellie didn’t lose her cookies before we got there.

*****

This was damn awkward. At least, it felt awkward, though the other guys seemed oblivious.

My fear that David Kessler would be at the party was confirmed. I pressed my lips together in irritation. He’d sure as hell wasted no time. I made small talk with them and more formally introduced Shawn. Nate knew him from another one of the science courses we shared, but Dave was a business student, so they hadn’t met. The hostess showed us to a table and I threw my coat over the chair on my right. Dave took the one on the other side of it. When we sat down, she placed menus in front of all of us and left two in front of the two empty chairs.

“I’ll send the waitress over when the ladies get back from the restroom. Enjoy your meals,” she said then left.

I could feel Dave’s eyes boring into me, so my eyes snapped to his and held. He was throwing down a challenge, and I met it, unflinchingly. He was obviously threatened and I inwardly rejoiced. He huffed, which told me he knew exactly what I was thinking.

“How long have you known Julia, Ryan?” It was a barely veiled throw-down that I was more than willing to pick up.

“Long enough.” I knew it was a pissy response, but I didn’t give a damn. It wasn’t any of his business that I’d met her the beginning of second semester last year, and really, why did it matter? My eyes were still trained on his face and my expression was stoic.

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing. She’s great.”

“I agree,” I said steadily.

“Ellie’s awesome, too,” Nate interjected, sensing the tension between Dave and me. I opened the menu and tried to concentrate on the images and words.

“She looked a little green around the gills tonight,” I answered.

“I guess I gave her too much beer, but we were having a good time,” Nate answered.

My eyes flashed up to David’s again. “Julia seems fine.”

“Where did you guys go tonight?”

“We went to the Brewery and played pool,” Shawn interjected.

“Yes since we couldn’t come to your party. That’s quite a racket you’ve got going there.” The corner of my mouth twitched.

“What do you mean?” Dave wanted to know. By now we were all looking over the menus and the waitress came back to get our drink order. I ordered coffee for Ellie, Julia and myself and she left us, saying she’d return with the beverages and take our food order.

I leaned back in my chair, still intent on answering his questions. “Don’t patronize me. You know.” I was stoic in my response. “Not letting other dudes attend your party gives you a captive audience with the girls.”

Dave smirked and shrugged. He was a slick bastard. Where Nate was all loose and sloppy, David Kessler was put together and edgy, despite his casual state of dress. “It works. I’ve been trying to talk to Julia for two semesters.”

Shawn was a quiet and introspective type and pretty oblivious to what was going on. He was dealing with a bad break-up and kept pretty much to himself. On the other hand, Nate could see all my muscles were coiled, and it made him uncomfortable. He was bristling in his seat.

“I’m aware,” I answered flatly. I had no right to tell him to keep away from Julia, but I wanted him to know I’d be watching what went down. “She’s a class act.”

“Yes.” His eyes narrowed.

“Look, I’ve heard about you and I’ve seen you in action. Treat her right and we’ve got no problems.”

“What’s between you two? Crash and burn, huh?”

“No. I’ve got no beef with you, Kessler, but Julia is a good person. She’s not just a piece of ass. Got it?”

“Ryan, lighten up. Women are pieces of ass. I can’t believe you haven’t tried to hit it.”

I saw Julia and Ellie emerge from the bathroom so I had to say what I had to say, then shut the hell up. “I’ll only say this once; treat her with respect or you’ll have me to deal with.”

“Oooh,” he mocked, putting both hands in front of him and wiggling his fingers, in a big “fuck off.”

My blood began to boil, but a sly smile slid across my mouth.
The little prick!
Part of me wished he’d push me just a little bit further, though my logical mind told me to back off. Not that I gave a fuck what he thought, but this was a public place and worse, Julia was here. I didn’t need to make an ass of myself in front of her.