Complicated by You (5 page)

Cynthia and Jay scowled at each other. I stood in the middle draped in discomfort.

“This is interesting.” Marcus gestured to the poem on the right side of the Olympics photograph. “What’s this?”

“It’s from
Alice in Wonderland
.”

“That’s your favorite book?” Marcus asked.

“No. Well, it’s in my top five, but it’s by my favorite author. This poem is called ‘The Mouse’s Tale’ by poet, author, and, most important of all, mathematician Lewis Carroll.” It sat in a huge red frame with a black background and white letters. “I love it because it’s a concrete poem, which is poetry presented in the shape of its subject.”

Jay folded his big arms across his chest and rolled those green eyes at me.

Oh get out of my room, and take your pissed off girlfriend with you.

“Concrete poem,” Marcus said the words to himself. I grinned. This moment between Marcus and me would’ve been pretty awesome, if not for the angry couple that stood on either side of me, puffing and huffing out tension that thickened the air and made it difficult to breathe.

I stepped forward and gestured to the poem, hoping the grumpy couple would carry their argument on to their side or even better outside in the hallway. “You see how this poem is shaped in a mouse’s tail?”

 “I like the shape, but it’s a weird poem.” Marcus lay back down on the bed.

“Well he’s a weird author.”

Which was probably why I love him.

“How do you both know each other?" Jay asked behind me.

I figured Jay had presented the question to me, but he’d been scowling at Marcus. "We met tonight."

"Tonight?" A shocked look spread over Jay’s face. He studied Marcus's lack of a shirt and dropped his gaze on the brand.

“We’re both math majors.” I licked my lips thinking of all the things I'd planned to do with that brand. For some reason, the fact that he'd endured pain to decorate his body turned me on. I yearned to trace it with my tongue and maybe rub the tip of my nipple against the flattened center.

Jay caught my naughty smile and sighed. "Can I talk to you outside?"

I touched my chest. "Me?"

“Yes.” He headed out of the room.

“Why do you need to talk to me?” I stayed where I was.

“Just come out for a few seconds.”

But I’m hungry for man candy!

“It better not take too long.” I stomped out.

Cynthia trailed behind. “Jay, don’t leave until we’ve talked also.”

Feeling uneasy, I rounded the corner and stepped out into the hallway. Only the center light was on. The lamps in the lobby several feet away were turned off. Cynthia stood behind me. Jay crossed his arms, directed all of his attention my way, and got in front of me. “We’re done talking, Cynthia. Now I need to talk to, Evie.”

“You didn’t let me explain,” she countered.

“I’m tired. I just want to go back to my room and go to sleep.”

“You can sleep here.”

“I’m done sleeping here.”

“Why?” she shrieked.

Clearing my throat, I raised my hand. “So do I really need to be here? I have a guest.”

His gaze pierced mine. Rage pooled in those pupils causing his eyes to look deadly and dangerous. It was like a thunderstorm was brewing, twisting, turning, and slowly gaining enough energy to shift into something even worse and cause greater destruction.

I edged back. “What the fuck, Jay? Don’t look at me like I did something. I did nothing to you.”

“You just met that guy and you bring him back to your room?”

“We’re math majors.” I covered my mouth and chuckled. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I keep saying that. It’s just so hard to find hot math majors these days. I think that’s what made me go delirious. I mean most guys that like math wouldn’t be in the gym like him, and he is definitely in the gym. Did you see his arms?”

Jay did not see the humor in the situation. “Why do you have grass in your hair?”

“You know that hill down by Linan Hall? We raced down it and I fell … ” I paused as more anger creased his face. “What?”

He sniffed. “You’re drunk?”

“And?” I glanced over my shoulder and tossed a questioning look at Cynthia. “Is he fucking serious? What’s his problem?”

“He’s been in a bad mood all night.” She tossed her hair over her shoulder.

“Could you leave us alone, Cynthia?” he asked.

“And then we’ll talk,” she demanded.

“Sure.”

She dragged herself away and went back into our room.

“That guy gave you the black rose too?” He tapped the flower on the side of my head.

“No. Pipe sent me a bouquet for National Friendship Day.”

“There’s no such thing. Pipe is just trying to one up me.”

I stuck my tongue at him. Jay pulled his phone out, dialed, and held it to his ear. “Yeah, man. I’m sorry, but I got a problem … yeah … I’m at Cynthia’s room … no. Not Cyn. It’s Evie. Some big fraternity guy.”

“Wait. What?” I held my hands out to the sides. “Who the hell are you talking to?”

“Okay. Okay. Good. I won’t. I promise … I won’t touch him.” Jay hung up and tucked his phone back in his pocket.

“What do you mean you have a problem? Why did you say that into your phone? Who did you call?”

He rubbed his face with both of his hands. “You think I’m going to just let you sleep with some stranger? Math major or not, you don’t know if he has diseases or if he’s some rapist.”

“I have condoms and damn sure know how to take care of myself. I can’t believe you’re even acting like this right now.” I placed my hands on my hips.

He leaned his head to the side. “Since when have you been having one-night stands?”

“Since I started college, dickhead. I don’t have to tell you everything I do.”

“You’ve done this before?” He closed the space between us and pressed against my chest as if he was a second away from crushing me.

I inched back. “Give me some space.”

“Why? At least you know me. In fact, why don’t you just do us both since you’re in such a giving mood tonight?”

An image of him and Marcus naked and in my bed flashed in my head. I bit my lip and joked, “That’s not really much of a threat right now.”

He quirked his eyebrows, probably not expecting that reaction. “You’re drunk and horny?”

“Can you be more obvious?” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Okay so I don’t know who you called, but don’t bring any drama to my room. I’m done talking to you, because I’m going back into my room to have hot sweaty sex.”

I turned around. He captured my elbow. “No, Evie.”

“Seriously, this is starting to not be funny.” I tried to yank my arm away.

He wouldn’t let go and grabbed both of my arms. “I’m not joking with you.”

“Let me go!”

“No,” he said through clenched teeth.

The door on the other side of the dark lobby opened, bringing in light from the staircase. Ten obese males barreled through. I recognized most of them as Jay’s football buddies. They took up a lot of the space in the hallway and didn’t have any shirts on. Many wore no pants, just boxers as their guts protruded over their waistbands.

I tossed a murderous glare at Jay. “You called the defensive line to my room?”

“Where’s he at?” Chuck towered over everyone. His flabby breasts and gut jiggled. He wiped his neck with a blue towel. The hair on his chest appeared more like hamburger meat than chest hair. If I never saw him half-naked again, I’d be in a better mental state for it.

“The guy’s lying on her bed.” Jay seized me before I could protest and trapped me into his arms.

“Get off of me.” I punched his chest. “If you all go in there, I’m beating your asses!”

The guys laughed and marched to my room.

“Jay, I’m serious. Stop!” I struggled to get out of his arms, doing my best to knee him in his crotch, or jab him in the stomach. None of it worked. He’d had years of practice with keeping me against him. We’d wrestled many summers. Pipe refereed. I’d only won once, which Pipe said didn’t count due to the fact that one of my breasts popped out of my shirt and shocked the crap out of Jay.

“Let me go!” I yelled.

He towed me backward into the dark lobby. “You’ll wake up in the morning and be happy that I didn’t let you sleep with him.”

“No. I. Won’t.” I kicked at him.

He blocked it and lifted me up. “Stop, Evie.”

“Fuck you!” I aimed my hand at his face.

He dodged it and carried us to the first flowery blue couch near the hallway’s entrance. My room door slammed shut.

“Oh God. They’re going to start something with Marcus! Please stop this, Jay. I could’ve just asked him to go home, if it was really that serious. He doesn’t deserve to be treated this way. He’s been a perfect gentleman.”

“Perfect gentleman? He’s not wearing a shirt.

“That doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy. Maybe he was hot. Now will you let me go?”

“Yeah, right. How much did you drink tonight?” Ignoring my question, he put me on his lap. Darkness shadowed half of his face. I leaned forward and attempted to get a view of my doorway, straining to hear anything. Nothing came.

“Are they going to hurt him?” I punched his chest.

He flinched and caged my fist in his big hand. “He’ll be fine. He’s not going to fight ten linebackers. They’ll ask him to leave and if he’s smart, he’ll get up and go.”

“This is wrong. This isn’t how I do things.” I buried my face in my hands. “Why would you do that?”

“Because you’re drunk and making a mistake.”

“I’m not drunk.”

“You said you were earlier.”

“I take it back.”

“You reek of liquor.”

“You stink like an over-concerned asshole.”

“I’m doing this for you, Evie.”

“Whatever.” My door opened. All of the guys headed out with a very confused Marcus. He didn’t even give me another look when they all passed me in the lobby. I was glad the lights were off and I could hide my shame in shadows.

It’s going to be so embarrassing when I see Marcus again. I’ll have to get in touch with him and explain that my best friend is overprotective.

“Thanks, guys.” Jay nodded. The door slammed shut.

 “You just called the defensive line to come and escort a guy out of my room? How did they even get here so fast?”

“Meriden Hall has the most beautiful women on campus. Half of the football team snuck in here tonight. Additionally, the whole team agreed that if I have a problem they’ll take care of it.” Jay displayed his hands to me. “I can’t mess these up, right?”

“I wish I had the strength to break your fingers, right now.”

“You’re mean when you’re drunk.”

I moved my leg to get off his lap. He pulled me back. “You know you can’t stay mad at me forever, so let’s just make up now. I need someplace to sleep tonight.”

My mouth dropped open. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You throw a guy out of my bed and then beg to sleep in it. Go sleep with Princess Barbie.”

He chuckled. “Princess Barbie? That’s what you call Cyn behind her back? Why?”

“Melanie calls her that. It’s just caught on for me.”

“Why does Melanie call her that?”

“Because she looks like a Barbie. Let me go.”

“Can I sleep with you please?” he asked.

“I hate you. What you did crossed the line.”

“No one was hurt. You want to have sex with him, then do it when you’re sober and have known him longer. If you want, I’ll go to him tomorrow and explain what happened.” The muscle in his jaw twitched. “Although I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m not that happy about you picking a guy like that to be with.”

“It was only going to be sex.”

“Then I’m not talking to him.”

“I’m not a virgin.”

That muscle in his jaw twitched again. “You’re damn sure not if you’ve been giving away your body to frat guys with gold teeth.”

“It was only one gold tooth. Fuck you.”

“Fuck you too.” He pressed his forehead against mine. Our eyes were inches apart. “I’m sorry, but you’re special to me. If someone gets to be with you, they had better be special. If I see any guy looking like a douchebag, then he’s gone.”

“You don’t get to make that decision.”

“Your mom says otherwise.”

Knowing mom, she probably calls Jay for updates on my behavior.

I moved my face from his and rolled my eyes.

“Can I sleep in your bed, Evie?”

“I’m too dangerous to sleep with right now.”

“Meaning?”

“I’m pissed, horny, and intoxicated.” I slumped against him, realizing that I wouldn’t be able to leave his lap until he released me. He gazed down at me for several quiet seconds. I flipped him my middle finger. “Don’t look at me. I’m not talking to you anymore. We’re done, Jay.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll tell your mom.”

“Tell her. You may be her precious Jay, but I’m her daughter, she’ll see my side.”

“Nope. Mrs. Elaine will not be happy to discover that her precious churchgoing daughter participated in underage drinking and then brought some shirtless guy to her bed at,” he checked his watch, “five in the morning.”

“You’re making it sound worse than it really is.” I laid my head on his shoulder.

“How many one-night stands have you had?”

“Several.”

His chest stiffened. “Who were they?”

I stretched my back a little, sank my head deeper into that muscular shoulder, and closed my eyes. “I can’t remember their names. It’s just a sea of faces. Once I did the whole starting basketball team. The next night, I attempted a gang bang with the soccer team, but I passed out after twenty guys.”

“You better be lying.”

“I am, cock blocker.”

His chest bounced up and down as he laughed. “I guess I am a cock blocker, huh?”

“Yes, and you’re acting like I’m the slut of the year. Women can have one-night stands just like men.”

“Of course they can, but you can’t. I told Mrs. Elaine I would look after you and I’m assuming drunk, horny decisions with no logic or common sense was on the list of things to make sure you don’t do.”

“Whatever.”

“I didn’t even know you had skirts this tiny.” He glided his hand down my bare thighs. Warmth sparked at my center. Suddenly, I wasn’t tired anymore.