Part 71 (1/2)
”I will.” I edge away but Shaun places his hand against the wall, caging me in. I straighten. ”Get the h.e.l.l away from me.”
”You think you're special, don't you?” he whispers, his breath against my cheek. A reminder of the night he attempted to persuade me into s.e.x is triggered by his subtle scent and the p.r.i.c.kling fear intensifies at his tone.
We're alone.
”Do you think you're too good for me? Well you're not.”
”I don't want to talk to you.”
He places the other arm against the wall and looks down at me, body centimetres from touching. ”If you f.u.c.k rock stars, you must be easy. Time you let me have a go too.”
”Don't you dare talk to me like that,” I say in a low voice. I need to get away. Now.
”It would be in your interests. Believe me.”
”You're disgusting!” I push him in the chest but he catches my arm. ”This is hara.s.sment! I'll report you!”
Shaun laughs. ”Good luck with that.”
”Come near me again and I will!”
He lets go and brushes my coat where the material has creased. ”When you need me to help clear things up, let me know. We can come to an arrangement.”
”Clear what up?”
His mouth curls into a knowing smile. ”Misunderstandings. Good night, Fleur.”
I refuse to be drawn into his game and don't respond. My head is screaming a hundred questions, but my sixth sense sends me to the door before he takes hold of my arm again or worse.
As I hurry across campus through dusk, I drag my phone out and call Will.
”Hey!” he answers. ”Two secs.”
The background noise quiets as he moves. ”How's your day?”
”Will.” No other words come as I hold back tears.
”Fleur?”
I gulp down air. ”When are you back? I want to see you.”
”What's happened?”
”I just want to see you. I miss you.”
”I'm in Edinburgh tomorrow. I won't be back until Monday.”
”Okay,” I say in a whisper.
He pauses. ”Fleur. Tell me what happened.”
I can't. I don't want anybody to know what happened with Shaun today or any time. Will already suspects and I don't want him involved. I'm embarra.s.sed and ashamed that I've been so stupid. My mistake. I can deal with the a.r.s.ehole on my own.
I fight the thickness in my throat. ”I just had a bad day, that's all. How's your day?”
My light tone may or may not have fooled Will. I don't know, and I sit on a bench to listen to his voice. Will's stories of his recent band interview and photo shoot amuse me, the stories of Jax and Ruby refusing to do as they're told by their publicist. I'm gradually pulled away from the c.r.a.p of my day.
”Thank you,” I say when he pauses.
”For what?”
”Helping me switch off. Caring.”
”You know how much I care, Fleur. I hope you've told me the truth.”
”Honestly, it's only stress about a.s.signments.”
”Right. You know what's funny? I can tell from your voice how you're feeling.”
”Why's that funny?”
”'Cause that's never happened before with a chick. Weird, huh?”
”Well, you are weird, Will.”
”Shut up.”
”Excuse me!”
A soft laugh is my answer. ”I miss you. I want to know what's bothering you and help.”
”By help I hope you mean a hug and not tracking down the perpetrator.”
”Of course. As soon as I'm back in London, I'm there.”
We face our usual end of call awkwardness. What's the etiquette here? Are we dating? More? Every time the endless moments pa.s.s, where we both attempt to figure out what to say, my heart rate speeds. Today I don't want him to end the call, not yet.
”I'll look forward to Monday,” I reply.
”You're funny. You sound like you're organising a business meeting. So formal.”
”Don't tease me.”
”I'll see you on Monday and we can deal with our unfinished business.”