King of Campus (52 page)

I’m going to think of that whole incident as a public service to all the women who attend Western University.

You’re welcome.

Not to be thrown off course, he persists.  “So just tell me what he did to deserve it.”  He looks genuinely interested.  But still…

I narrow my eyes because this little back and forth is exactly what I didn’t want to get sucked into.

Hmm… ignoring him didn’t work.

Bitchiness hasn’t deterred him either.

Maybe if I just give him the answers he’s after, he’ll get bored and wander off in search of easier prey.

Huffing out an aggravated breath, I finally mumble, “He grabbed my ass.”

Those golden eyes darken as his mouth sinks into a deep frown.  “I’m sorry he did that to you.  I think Alex is pretty wasted.”

The edges of my lips instantly pull down into a scowl.  “Being drunk isn’t a legitimate excuse for sexually harassing me.  What he did was wrong.”  I stab a finger in Alex’s direction.  “That dude got what he deserved.  Actually, he’s lucky I didn’t knock his teeth out.”

Eyes flaring, he quickly holds up both hands.  “I never claimed it was an acceptable justification for touching you.”  He looks seriously put out that I think he’s making excuses for his meathead friend.  But I don’t care.  I want him gone.  His very presence unnerves me.  And I don’t like it.

So even though I know he means well, I carry on with my plan to drive him away.  “Actually,” I cut in, “that’s
exactly
what you said.”

Those thick brows of his jerk together as he shakes his head.  “But it’s not what I meant.  I just wanted you to know that he drank a few too many and isn’t using good judgment.  Alex is a pretty harmless guy.  But yeah, I guess he thought you were pretty and was looking for a way to approach you.”

This conversation has gone from bad to worse.  My mouth literally falls open.  “So you’re actually telling me,” I say with a shitload of disbelief, “that this is my fault because he thinks I’m
pretty
?”

Is this guy for real?

His eyes widen at the insinuation.  “No,” he finally snaps with just a bit of heat, “that’s not what I meant at all.”  Looking frustrated, he quickly runs a hand through his messy brown hair.

I’m momentarily distracted by those rich chocolate colored strands of his.  Yep, totally dangerous.

“But that’s what you just said.”  Thankfully this conversation is going exactly where I need it to- right down the tubes.  Like I said before- gorgeous guy, total asshole behavior.  Guess I’m not as far off the mark as I’d originally suspected.  But this is exactly what I want.  For him to expose himself as a douche and for me to move on without so much as a second thought. 

So why does him doing exactly what I want leave me with a feeling of disappointment sitting in the pit of my belly?  I force that thought away before I’m able to examine it too closely.

Looking exasperated, which yeah, is a totally adorable look on him as well, he finally snaps, “Damn it, I know that’s what I said.  All I wanted to do was apologize for Alex pissing you off.”  He actually glares at me… with those amazing golden eyes of his.  “I’m apologizing on behalf of my friend.  That’s it.  Okay?”

Not knowing what else to do, I shrug my shoulders.  “Fine.  Apology accepted.”  It’s definitely time to leave.  If this guy has any self-preservation skills what so ever, he’ll let me go about my business without trying to detain me again.  “Bye.”  Turning, I give him a half wave, before continuing to search through the thick press of bodies for my roommate.

Make that my former roommate…

“Hold up!”

Christ Almighty!

All I want to do is shake this guy loose.  Can he seriously not take a hint?  I’m not interested!  I don’t want to be interested.  I don’t need the distraction.  And he’s definitely a distraction.

“I need to find Brooklyn so I can get the hell out of here,” I mutter to myself.

“What?”  His breath feathers along the back of my neck making goosebumps ripple across my arms.  I grit my teeth trying to suppress my body’s natural reaction to him.

With heat flaring in my narrowed eyes, I careen towards him for a third time.  “Are you following me?”  My gaze locks on his.  As annoyed as I am right now, I still find him completely dreamy.  Which only exacerbates all those feelings of frustration and annoyance that are roiling through me right now.

“Um… yes?”

He sounds none too sure.  His eyes continue to hold mine and even though I don’t want him melting the thick sheath of ice protecting me, he kind of is.

Inhaling a deep breath before blowing it slowly out, I try to calm the raging mess inside me once and for all.  “Look, you seem like a nice guy.”  Well, as nice of a guy as I’m going find at an ass grabbing kegger.  “But this isn’t going to happen.”

His thick brows instantly slide together and it’s kind of… argh, adorable.  Aw hell, it’s completely adorable.  Damn him for being completely gorgeous and adorable.  That is such a lethal combination.  I’m sure he has all the girls at Western swooning at his feet.

But I’m not one of those girls.

“What’s not going to happen?”  His utter confusion only adds to his adorableness.

Seriously… I cannot catch a break here.

Slowly I point my finger between the pair of us.  I have to stifle a groan because he’s so damn close.  And yes, I probably should have known he would smell completely amazing.  Like the ocean on a perfectly sunny day with just a hint of a breeze.  I want to inhale a great big breath of him but I don’t.  I don’t dare because he’s much too dangerous for the likes of me.

“This.”

“I just want to know your name,” he replies quietly as if he actually means the words.  And I can’t deny that a very teeny tiny part within me wants to tell him.

Holding firm against all that cuteness packaged neatly in front of me, I force myself to give him a long patronizing look.  “
Right
.”  I stretch the word out for a good five seconds before adding an exaggerated eye roll.  “Sure you do.”  Then I go in for the kill.  “Look, I’m not going to fuck you.  Not tonight or tomorrow night or ever.”  Instead, I point to all the scantily clad girls that surround us.  Of which there are many.  “There are a lot easier marks around here than me.  Go find one of them to play with.”

That being said, I spin back around but don’t get very far.  Surprised by the sudden grip on my upper arm, he swings me back around.  His brows are scrunched together and low over his eyes as he glares.  Sounding irritated, he bites out, “I’m not interested in getting laid for Christ’s sake and it’s a pretty shitty assumption on your part for thinking it.”

With widened eyes, I freeze beneath his touch as my heart jackhammers painfully.  A sudden release of adrenaline careens through my veins.  Sweat pops out across my brow as my chest instantly tightens.

Even though his grip isn’t biting, it has every cell within my body seizing up with panic.

I don’t like being touched.  Or grabbed.  Or manhandled.

In all honesty, I’d been nice to Alex.  I’d let him off easy.  But this…
this
isn’t okay.  I don’t even realize that I’m baring my teeth until I’m already doing it.  When my words finally tumble out, they’re nothing more than an angry hiss from between tightly clenched lips.  I can’t stop the fine tremble that slides its way through my now taut body.

“Take your damn hand off me!”

Eyes flaring wide, he immediately drops my arm as if I’ve burned him with the heat of my words.  Silently we stare at each other for a long painful heartbeat… or maybe it’s more like twenty.  The rowdy laughter and pulsing music surrounding us fades into the background as our eyes hold.  My ragged breath hitches as I suck in a great big gulp of oxygen before forcing it slowly out.

Even though he’s dropped my arm, I’m still gripped by a tidal wave of anxiety as it crashes over me, threatening to drag me under.  The slight trembling turns into bone shaking tremors.  My chest feels like it is being squeezed by a vise.

I can’t breathe.

I have to… I have to get out of here.

In another moment I’ll be choking on my panic.  I can feel the familiar tendrils coiling inside me.  The last thing I need is to lose my shit in front of all these drunken strangers.

Without another word, I spin on my heels before frantically shoving my way through the thick press of bodies until I find myself at the front door.  Staggering outside into the brisk night air, I inhale deep gulps of fresh oxygen as I stumble my way down the sidewalk like some drunken idiot.  I need to put as much distance between me and that god awful party as I can.  Even though I try desperately to settle the frantic thoughts rolling through my head, it’s impossible.

It’s way too late to rein in all my out-of-control emotions.

Bending over, I promptly vomit my dinner onto someone’s overgrown front yard.  The only bright side I can find in this mess is that my pile of puke probably won’t be the only one gracing the lawn come morning.

About the Author

Jennifer currently lives in Michigan with her husband, kids, a dog named Rocky and a cat named Lily.  After pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in History, a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, she spent five years working as a high school guidance counselor which she loved.  Please contact Jennifer at [email protected].  Connect with Jennifer on facebook https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.sucevic (word of warning- just getting this page up and running!) or check her out on Wattpad- https://www.wattpad.com/user/jsucevic.