Ten Year Crush (20 page)

I avoid her stare. “I know and I don’t want to hide stuff from him, but we had such a great night and day. I don’t want this messing it up. I promise I’ll tell him if it continues.”

I rinse the sink out and run some hot water to wipe everything else down.

“Okay, you have a point, but if it continues, you tell him. Deal?” She opens her arms and I walk into them.

“Deal.” I squeeze her back. I don’t know what I would do without my best friend.

“I’m really happy for you, but try to keep the hot sex down, or I may need to find a boy toy of my own.” She winks.

“Jealous?” I laugh.

“Hell yeah, I am. So how big is he really?”

“Oh my god! Would you shut up? I’m not telling you that! And that’s
my
man you’re talking about!”
My man!
I never thought in a million years that I would get to say that.

Excitement blooms in my stomach and I start rushing to clean, ready to get home and spend time with Cam.

Chapter Twenty-Five

*Gabby*

Back to the real world Monday morning, I’m rushing into class. I didn’t think I would ever get away from Cam this morning. We spent five minutes kissing good-bye in my bedroom, only to do it again at the door, and then my car. My body still tingles where Cam touched me. The taste of him and peppermint still lingers on my lips.

We spent the rest of our day yesterday curled up on the couch watching movies. I never thought Cam would be someone that likes to cuddle. His arms were always around me and he was constantly playing with my hair or rubbing my arms, legs, or sides, stealing kisses every chance he got.

I shake myself out of my Cam-induced fog and move my ass to class before I’m late.

I reach my class with two minutes to spare before reality settles in and dread fills me. I need to face Brandon and confront him about the endless calls and texts. I didn’t tell Cam or Tiff. There were two more texts, a call, and a voice mail before I finally shut off my phone, afraid that Cam would hear it. Not wasting my time reading or listening, I just deleted them. I don’t care what he has to say.

I take a deep breath and step through the door. The room is already packed and Brandon is in our usual spot. I see an empty seat in the back and as I go to walk past him, he jumps up.

He looks horrible. Two black eyes, tape across his nose, and his jaw is swollen and bruised. I’d hate see what his ribs look like. I shudder, knowing it has to hurt, but bringing that shit in Josh and Cam’s house, then to say the stuff he did
—
he deserved it, plus some.

“Gabby. I
—
”

I cut him off, shaking my head and narrowing my eyes at him in warning. I don’t want the whole class to hear our conversation and he knows I hate being the center of attention.

Thank god, he nods. “After class.”

I nod and continue to the back of the room.

During the entire class my stomach burns with dread and I keep fidgeting in my seat. I hate confrontations and avoid them at all cost. I’m hoping we can clear the air and both move on.

As the class passes, I get very few notes. My ears pick up what’s being discussed, but my mind isn’t registering it. I’m too consumed in the conversation that’s coming and can’t avoid. I slowly pack up my things, heart fluttering in my stomach and making me want to puke. There’s no way to get out of this. We have to have this talk and the more I put it off, the sicker I feel.

“I’m sor
—
” he starts.

“Not here.” I jump out of my seat, looking up at the man I spent a month and half with. The man I thought was a good guy, and turns out, I didn’t know him at all. “We can talk, but not here. Outside, by my car.”

“Okay.” He reaches for my hand and I jerk it away.

My shoes feel like concrete blocks every step of the way. He hurt me by lying and cheating, but in all honesty, I did the same. I lied and said that Cam meant nothing to me when he did. I kissed Cam in that bar. He may have started it, but I didn’t stop him. I don’t want to hurt Brandon’s feelings, but I feel nothing for him. Even if Cam wasn’t in the picture, anything between the two of us was destroyed when we both lied. And I would never be friends with someone that’s involved with drugs, let alone date them.

We reach my car and I unlock the passenger side door, placing my bag on the seat. I close it and lean back against it putting my hands in the pocket of my hoodie.

“Did you get my text?” He tucks his hands in his front pockets and rocks on his heels.

“I read the first one and deleted the rest.” I shrug, there’s no reason to lie about it.

“Why? Are you just going to throw everything away? I’m so sorry I hurt you, Gabby. My dad is always on me about my grades and with midterms, I was stressing. Some of my friends started doing them and they said it helped, gave them more energy. So, I caved and started doing them too. I won’t touch another pain pill ever again. Just give me a chance.” He pulls his hands out of his pockets and takes a step towards me.

I throw up my hands to stop him. “It’s not just the pills. The things you said to me and the fact that you cheated on me.” I shake my head. “That’s not the point. You need to get help, get off the pills. The damage has already been done. We both lied and cheated.”

“WHAT?” His eyes grow huge and his jaw is clenched.

“I lied to you when I said that Cam meant nothing to me. I’ve loved him for years, he just never knew. My birthday, when he pulled me away from you on the dance floor…” I rub my face with my hands. “Never mind, I’m not going into all of that with you. But, he hurt me and I wanted to move on. And you were there. I’m so sorry. You deserved better than that.”

“What about cheating? Did you fuck him too?” He asks through gritted teeth.

“No! It was one night, while you and I were out, the night you kept going to the bathroom.” Wait. Realization hits me; I bet that’s what he was doing, running off to snort pills in the bathroom. It doesn’t even matter. “Cam was there. He came up to me on the dance floor, we started dancing together, and he kissed me.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, I kissed him back, but that was it.”

“We can move past that. I forgive you.”

Is this guy for real? He forgives me? “No, we can’t. You’re still doing drugs and you cheated. I’m in love with someone else. Cam and I are together now.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” He roars and balls his fists up. Before I know it, he’s on me. Both of his fists are on my car, on either side of my head. I’m caged in and he’s fuming, inches from my face. “You’re dating someone else two days after we broke up?”

I push on his chest, trying to get him away from me, not moving him an inch. “I’ve known him for ten years and I’m in love with him. I’m sorry I lied to you, but I think it’s best if we move on.” I keep my hands up on his chest. I need to get space between us. I need him off me. My body trembles.

“Have you fucked him already?” His voice is dangerously low. I can feel his breath on my face.

“Please move. You’re scaring me, Brandon.” My heart is racing and I start to panic, he’s stronger than I am and I’m no match for him.

“No! Answer me, did you fuck him?” His words are clipped, strained.

Now he’s pissing me off. I swing my knee as hard as I can and hit him right in the nuts. He drops to the ground and I move away from him. “That’s none of your business. You lost that right when you stuck your dick in another girl and started snorting pills.”

I turn on my heels, ready to bolt to the driver side, when a wall of muscle stops me.

“What the fuck is going on?”

Oh, shit.

Chapter Twenty-Six

*Cam*

“What are you doing here?” Gabby sags into my chest and I wrap her in my arms.

I’m being ripped in two. She needs my comfort, but half of me wants to go after the asshole that just had my girl pinned up against her car. My rage is a beast that is dying to be unleashed and I’m trying to reel it in. I need to focus on what’s most important. Gabby.

“I came to surprise you and take you out for lunch before you had to work. Are you okay, baby?” I rub my hands up and down her back, not taking my eyes off the piece of shit currently curled in a ball on the ground.

“I’m good now that you’re here.” She hooks her arms around my waist and buries her face in my chest.

Dip-shit starts to laugh and pushes himself off the ground.

“What I said the other night was true. You really are a slut.”

The beast wins. I pick Gabby up and spin her, placing her behind me. She doesn’t need to be in the middle of this. I grit my teeth and my body shakes as I glare at fuck-face. “I warned you.”

With all the strength my anger unleashes, I push prissy boy on his ass. Moving in for the kill, Gabby steps in between us and fists my shirt in her hands.

“No. Please don’t do this. He isn’t worth it.”

“I’m not going to sit back and watch some sorry piece of shit put you down.”

“We got a problem here?” A campus security guard comes walking up. He’s in his late forties or early fifties with a round belly and gray hair scattered through his dark hair and beard.

“Yeah. I came to pick up my girl and he has her pinned against her car. He was harassing her.”

“You can have her.” He gets up, dusting himself off. “I’m outta here. No ass is worth this much trouble.”

“Watch your mouth, son. Now, all of you get out of here and I don’t want any more trouble from you three.”

“Won’t be a problem, as long as he keeps his hands off her.” I nod in asshat’s direction.

“I’ll be watching him.” He says to me, and then turns to Brandon. “You leave her alone. Do you understand?”

“Whatever.” Asshole turns and walks away.

“Come on.” I grab Gabby’s hand and start leading her toward my truck. “We’ll come back and get your car later.”

“Hold on, I need to grab my purse.” She gets her stuff and a few minutes later, we’re in my truck.

“Why were you talking to him anyway?” I start my engine and pull out of the parking lot.

“I have class with him. After I ignored his texts and calls, he wanted to talk. I told him I would talk to him after, instead of in front of everyone in class.”

“Wait. What calls and texts?”

“That right there is why I didn’t tell you.” She points over her shoulder toward the parking lot we just left. “You would have gone after him and gotten in trouble for assault.”

“So, you’re keep things from me?” I’m pissed that she hid this from me. Her psycho ex is calling and she doesn’t tell me?

“We had such a good night and day. I didn’t want to ruin it by pissing you off. I’m sorry. I don’t want you fighting and getting arrested or some stupid shit.”

“I understand that, but I need to know this shit Gabby. He’s snorting pills. Who knows what else he would do.” If anything ever happened to her…I shudder at the thought and squeeze the steering wheel until my knuckles are white.

“I’ll tell you from now on. I just want all of this behind us; I want to move on. And we’ve only been together a couple of days and all of this shit is coming up. I want to go back to our happy bubble we were in Saturday and Sunday.”

My chest constricts. I want that too. I hate seeing her so upset. “We’ll be fine, but you
do
need to tell me this stuff. If he does anything else, we’ll press charges on him. I want to make sure you’re safe. I can’t do that if you don’t tell me. Okay?”

“Okay.” She nods.

“And you need to let the professor know what’s going on and stay away from him in class. I know it’s too late to drop out now, but let him know so he can keep an eye out too.”

“I can do that.”

I pull up to her house. The need to claim her overrides taking her to lunch. Even though I know she’s okay and right beside me, the need to be buried deep inside her is stronger than ever before.

“I thought we were going for lunch?”

“New plan. I need you right now. I can’t get that picture out of my head. I walk up and see him
—
” Not able to finish that sentence, I shut off the truck and look her in the eyes, showing her the blazing need to possess her. “I need to be close to you right now. Just you and me. No one else.”

She’s out of the truck and up the steps before I can climb out and lock it.

I laugh. Someone’s impatient.

*Gabby*

Thank god, Tiff isn’t here. I want Cam to erase everything Brandon. I finally get the door unlocked and dart into the house. I only make it a few steps into the house and Cam’s strong arms hook around my waist, pulling me back to him. I squeal out and giggle.

“Where you going, Thumper?” He bites my neck.

He must have kicked the door closed, because I hear the click of the lock.

His hands brush my sides, moving up my stomach, and cupping my breasts.

“Bedroom” I moan out.

“Not.” He nips my neck and tingles shoot down my spine. “Going.” His tongue dances around my collarbone and sends a flood of warmth below. “To.” He sucks on my neck and I think I’m going to die if I don’t have him now. “Make it.”