Don't Let Go (8 page)

“Yeah.” He stares off toward the dance floor again. I’m starting to think Brady Carsen could have more secrets than me.

“Where do The Invisibles play next?” I try to divert the topic.

“Are you going to come?” He turns his head my way and smiles as though there wasn’t an awkward silence a moment ago.

“I don’t know. Their music is okay but the lead singer is so incredibly…what’s the word?” I jokingly look up at the ceiling and scrunch the side of my mouth up.

“Hot?” Brady asks.

“No, that’s not it,” I say, still pretending to think.

“Talented?” He smirks over at me.

“Nope.” I smile.

“Amazing?” He laughs.

“He’s kind of…kind of a stalker,” I joke, trying to conceal my giggle.

“From what I hear, he sees what he wants and goes after it,” he confirms.

“What do you think he wants?” I question.

“I heard that he is completely infatuated with this incredibly beautiful girl. Hold on…I know her name…just give me a minute.” He taps his finger to his lips as though he’s thinking hard.

“What a lucky girl”.

“I know, right? I mean Brady Carsen is like the best catch.” He uses his best girl voice. “I think her name is Sadie. Yeah, that’s it, Sadie Miller. Do you know her?” He leans over the table toward me.

“Yeah, I do. What on earth would he see in her? They are so different, surely his friends would disapprove?” I continue to joke, but Brady’s face drops.

“Are you kidding me? Sadie walks into a room and every guy turns. From what he told me, she is not only gorgeous but smart and funny. The complete package with an amazing body to boot. As far as his friends, he could give a shit what they think and he wishes she would, too.” His brown eyes seem to have gotten a little darker as they pierce into me from across the table.

I don’t know what to say. Thankfully, “Lady in Red” by Chris de Burgh fills the room and Brady takes my hand.

“The last song of the evening and how fitting it is…my lady in red.” He nudges his hand on my back and leads me to the dance floor. He wraps his arms around me, resting his hands on the small of my back. I don’t know where to place my hands, so I ultimately rest them around his neck. We sway back and forth to one of my all-time favorite songs.

Brady holds me close to his chest and my eyes automatically close, letting the beat of the music move my body. He softly sings the words in my ear as he leads me around the floor. His cheek presses against mine as though we are the only two people in the room. My heart beats out of control with his warm hands around me and his soft breath on my neck. I swear I feel his lips graze slightly against my neck and I ache for them to meet mine. I want him…I want him to be mine.

As the song comes to an end, Brady doesn’t sing that last line, telling me he loves me. Instead he hugs me tightly, lifting my feet from the ground. “Thank you for the most incredible date I have ever been on.” He kisses my cheek again before he releases me.

We leave the bar and surprisingly, the waitress looks at me as well as Brady and tells us to have a good night. The car is silent on the way home, but Brady holds my hand, rubbing his thumb across my finger. When he glances over at me, we exchange smiles. The ride back to my dorm feels too short. I don’t want to say goodnight to him, but I will never ask him to stay. The thought of him leaving me tomorrow after I sleep with him is unbearable.

Brady parks the car in front of the dorm and his eyes move my way. For a brief moment, I think he is going to ask me to go home with him, but he opens the door and steps out. I watch him as he walks around the car before he opens my door. My body protests leaving the safe Camaro cocoon with him, but I get out and accept the hand he offers. He entwines our fingers and we slowly walk toward the doors. Emptiness fills my stomach with every step.

When we get to the door, Brady asks for my keys. I hand them to him and he opens the dorm doors, motioning for me to enter before him. He turns me into the mail locker alcove to conceal us from passers-by. He leans me against the cold metal mailboxes and stretches his arm above my head.
This is it; he is finally going to kiss me
.
I should have popped a mint in my mouth
.
His other hand moves up toward my face and his thumb lightly brushes over my lips. I stare into the caramel eyes, filled with desire and want. He tips his head down to me and before I have a chance to lick in preparation, his lips are on mine. He cups the side of my face and captures my bottom lip with his soft and gentle ones. I allow his tongue access after he slides his tongue between mine, asking to enter. We taste one another as our tongues mingle together. He tightens his hand against my cheek and draws his body closer to me.

Brady slowly stops the kiss but continues to give me short tender kisses before he ultimately pulls away, leaving me numb.

“This date keeps getting better,” he says softly and grins down at me.

I smile back. I can’t think of a good come-back because I just want to beg him to do it all over again. I lean forward from the mailboxes and Brady puts his arm around my waist, leading me down the hall.

The halls are empty since it is Monday night and almost everyone has class tomorrow. I don’t hear Jessa on the other side of the door, so I assume she is asleep. The pull to have him come in and climb into my bed with me is fierce. But I can’t take the chance he won’t be there tomorrow. That he will use me like the others.

“Thank you, Sadie. I had a great time.” He leans me up against the door again, encasing me with his arms.

“Me too,” I agree, “thank you.” I hold the doorknob behind my back with my hand and stare up at those eyes that could make me do some very bad things.

He gives me a chaste kiss on the lips. “I will definitely be dreaming about you tonight.” His eyes roam my body, as though trying to burn the image in his head.

“Goodnight, Brady.” I open the door before I beg him to come in.

“Goodnight, Sadie. Sweet dreams,” he responds.

I shut the door and lean against it, releasing the breath I have been holding. I’m in so much trouble. Brady Carsen just carved out another piece of my heart.

Chapter 8

The next morning, my stomach flutters every time I think about the dance with Brady. That’s nothing compared to when I think about the kiss. My whole body actually covers in goose bumps: in the shower, on my way to class, and eating lunch. He has consumed my thoughts every minute to the point that I have to finally stop listening to his music on my iPod.

After my second class, I head back to the dorm and stop by the mailboxes. As I stand there, I can almost feel Brady’s lips on mine. I shuffle through the junk mail and land on a pink rectangle envelope. My fingers go weak and it almost drops to the ground. I can’t believe with everything going on, I forgot.

I toss the junk mail in the nearby trashcan and make my way to the chairs in the common area. Resting my bag on the chair next to me, I carefully open the card. Star confetti drops in my lap as I pull the card out of the envelope. The card has a picture of a cake and the title says “To a Special Daughter on her Birthday”. My mom signed the card with love from her and my dad, instructing me to call soon but I know they don’t really mean it. I have to admit the card puts a small smile on my face since last year they either forgot or didn’t care to celebrate.

Tucking the card in my messenger bag, I head down the hall to my room. When I open the door, I wish I would have gone to the library. Rob is sitting in my chair, relaxing with his ankle on the opposite knee and Jessa sits in hers with her legs crossed. They seem to be watching something on television. I don’t want to be rude so I continue to enter.

“Hey, Sadie,” Jessa says, looking at me over her shoulder.

“Hi, Jessa,” I respond back. “Hi, Rob.” I wave over at him.

“Hey,” he states callously. That pretty much sums up my conversation with him.

I don’t want to be here with them, so I decide I will change to go work-out. Placing my messenger bag on the floor by my bed, I swap it with my gym bag.

“Where you going, Sadie?” Jessa calls over when I get to the door.

“Over to the rec center,” I tell her.

“See you, Gucci,” Rob calls out, not taking his eyes off the television.

I open the door and roll my eyes. Jessa mouths sorry at me before I shut the door. I don’t understand why she is with him and it hurts a little that she never says anything to him when he makes those comments.

I get to the rec center with only five minutes before the kickboxing class is going to start. Scrambling in the locker room, I switch my shoes and shove my bag into a locker. I jog out to the room the class is being held in and am happy to see it isn’t as crowded as the night classes I usually attend. I sneak to the back row and recognize some of the girls from other classes, but am startled to see Brady’s friend, Kara, two rows in front of me. She is wearing a tight tank top and short black shorts. A tattoo peeks out on her right shoulder blade but I can’t tell what it says, just that it’s written in italic print.

Sweat drips from my body and my shirt clings to me by the time the class finishes. I grab my towel and water bottle to head back to the women’s locker room when I spot Brady leaning against the wall. Athletic shorts hang from his hips and a gray t-shirt with a ring of sweat around the collar covers his chest.

Being preoccupied with how stunning he looks, I didn’t notice Kara standing in front of him. She touches his forearm while he smiles down to her. I automatically see red.
Friend, my ass
. I knew he was lying that night at Aces, but after last night, I wouldn’t have thought he was playing me. I guess I was wrong.

I turn the opposite way. I need to work off some of this anger by running on the treadmill, but it’s completely packed by the time I get to the room. Every treadmill and elliptical is taken. Change of plans. I’ll do some weights but that room is full of guys that could bench press me and Jessa together. So I make my way down the hall, hoping to sneak into the girl’s locker room without notice from Brady and Kara.

Thankfully, when I walk by the same spot, they are gone. I get my bag and switch my shoes out, rushing to get out and back to the dorm.

“I thought I saw you.” Kara comes around the corner.

“Oh, hey,” I say and give her a small wave of my hand.

“You were at Aces the other night, right?” she asks.

“Yes, I was. Sadie Miller,” I introduce myself.

“Kara Billings,” she shares and limply shakes my hand.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I smile.

“Just so you know, he’s mine.” Her lips go straight and her eyes bore into me.

“I’m sorry, what?” I ask, dumbfounded.

“You heard me. Stay away from Brady Carsen. He’s mine,” she repeats herself.

“Are you two dating? Are you in some sort of relationship?” I question her, praying she says no.

“No, but we will be. We would have already if it wasn’t for you,” she admits, her eyes narrowing, and she places her hands on her hips.

“I’m sorry, Kara, but Brady is a grown man and he will make the decision as to whom he dates.” I walk by her.

She grabs my wrist and holds it tight. “Listen. Don’t think you can come here and take something I have been working on for two years. He was ready to be mine this summer, but then you prance into town and he pushes me aside,” she spews, her grip getting tighter with every word.

I yank my wrist free, holding it with my other hand. “Obviously, if it has taken two years, Brady isn’t interested,” I curtly respond and try to get out the door. She rushes by me and I can finally see that tattoo. On her left shoulder blade it reads The Invisibles in a calligraphy script with black hearts for dots on top of the I’s. Oh, this girl has it bad, which makes me want to know exactly what her and Brady’s relationship is.

I shake my head and walk out of the rec center, thankful I don’t run into Kara a second time. Walking up the hill to my dorm, I notice the same homeless man asleep on the bench, wearing the same brown corduroys and plaid shirt. Someone has already left a bag of food next to him, so I reach into my wallet and tuck twenty dollars in his front shirt pocket. I wonder what he will do when winter comes. His clothes are not nearly warm enough to last through the cold and snow.

Continuing down my path, I pray that Rob has left my dorm room. I don’t need or want his snide comments. Suddenly, goose bumps cover my body when I see Brady standing on the sidewalk directly in my path to the dorm. He looks inquiringly at me, but smiles when I get closer.

“Fancy meeting you here,” I grin. I notice he still has those athletic shorts on, but sadly a sweatshirt covers up his chiseled chest.

“Don’t do that, Sadie,” he demands with a firm tone I have never heard from him before.

“Do what?” I tilt my head, confused.

“You shouldn’t be leaving money for the bums. You shouldn’t go up to them like that.” He motions with his head to the homeless man on the bench.

“Oh Brady, he’s harmless. I’m thinking about getting him a jacket for the winter.” I start walking past him, ignoring his comments.

“Sadie, listen to me. They call that one Vodka Vince because he usually has a bottle of Vodka with him.”

“Why do you think he would harm me, or anyone else for that matter? Just because they don’t have a home and might have a drinking problem doesn’t mean they are violent,” I spit out. I turn around to him, surprised he can be so judgmental toward people less fortunate than himself.

“Please, just keep your distance. Alcohol can make people do things out of character.” He gently touches my arm and heat rises through my veins.

“Alright,” I shrug. I wonder if he is talking about himself.

“Thank you. It’s nice of you to leave money, though.” He smiles and I question his numerous mood swings.

“What are you doing out my way, anyway?” I try to change the subject.

“Well, I was on my way back from your dorm. Jessa told me you were working out. Sorry I missed that sight,” he says, his eyes roaming over my legs and shorts, finally landing back on my face.