Part 18 (2/2)

”You have no idea. Trenton took me to a party at his friend's house last night.”

”Oh yeah. How'd that go?” I ask, killing the engine of the car before leaning back against the seat.

”I haven't been to bed yet. I just got home,” she replies on a ridiculous giggle.

”Oh my G.o.d, are you still drunk?” I laugh, shaking my head even though she can't see me.

”Maybe a little,” she admits. ”So there's no way I'm gonna make it to cla.s.ses. I was wondering if you could send me your notes from Ethics cla.s.s today,” she says, referring to the one and only cla.s.s we have together this semester.

It's my second cla.s.s of the morning and starts at eleven.

”Yeah, I can do that,” I agree. ”Now get some sleep. I'll call you later.”

”You're the best.” She yawns into the phone. ”Love you. Love you.”

”Love you, too,” I say, ending the call.

The morning drags on so slowly that by the time the afternoon rolls around it feels like it should be evening. I think part of it has to do with the dread I feel over talking to Bryan. The other is my excitement to see Gavin after it's all said and done.

Needless to say, the last thing I expect to see when I finally exit my last cla.s.s of the day just after three o'clock is Gavin. At first, I think I'm imagining things when I see him stand from a bench just outside the building. But then when he walks toward me and flashes me that incredible smile, I know he must be real.

”What are you doing here?” I ask the moment we reach each other.

”You left me this morning.” He snags my book bag off my arm and throws it on his shoulder.

The action makes me feel like I'm in high school again and my hot popular boyfriend is carrying my books through the hall. Not that anything like that ever happened to me, but I've seen it in movies a hundred times.

”Sorry. I've missed so much cla.s.s here recently, and I had a pretty big test this morning.” I smile, walking with him when he takes off in the direction of the dorms.

My building is less than a ten-minute walk from this current location and clearly, Gavin knows the way. Having grown up not far from here, I'd say he's been here more than a couple times.

”Did you sleep at all?” He keeps the conversation casual as we stroll across the grounds.

”I got a couple of hours.” I shrug. ”So you drove all this way because you woke up and I was gone?” I question, finding that reason hard to believe.

”Pretty much.” His mouth pulls up into a one-sided grin.

He flashes his eyes down to my face for a brief moment before turning his attention forward again. ”I didn't have any plans for the day,” he adds.

After a couple minutes of casual back and forth chit chat, I finally decide that I might as well get the hard part over with. Him showing up kinda throws a wrench in my plans to talk to Bryan, but I'm still determined to take care of this today and I want him to know this information.

”Listen, we should probably talk about Bryan.” I let out a slow exhale and keep my eyes facing ahead of me.

”O-k-a-y,” he drags out, waiting for me to continue.

”I owe you an apology.” I stop next to a large tree that sits in the open green s.p.a.ce in front of my dorm building, finally meeting his gaze.

”What for?” he asks when I take a long pause.

”I never should have entered into anything with you while I had a boyfriend. It wasn't fair to Bryan and it certainly wasn't fair to you. I just want you to know that I plan to speak with him today.”

”I'm sorry ,too.” His statement surprises me. ”I'm sorry for the way I spoke to you. It wasn't right. I've just never been in a situation like this before. I've never cared enough about a girl to care who or what she's doing when she's not with me. All I knew is I wanted you, I didn't care who I hurt along the way, including you. I don't know the rules here.”

”Me either,” I answer truthfully.

”All I know is the thought of someone else touching you makes me raving f.u.c.king mad.” He lets out a gruff laugh. ”I can't take it. I can't deal with the way that makes me feel. I won't share you, now or ever.”

”And you won't have to,” I rea.s.sure him, reaching up to cup his face. ”I love you, Gavin Porter. So much,” I say, pulling his face down toward me.

His lips brush against mine for only a fraction of a second before I hear a throat clear behind me. My entire body freezes and my stomach clenches tightly with dread. I know it's Bryan before I even turn around and look at him.

”So now I know why you've been so distant here recently.” His voice is laced with anger. His normal laid back demeanor is nowhere in sight.

I've never seen angry Bryan. I didn't know he was capable of looking at me the way he's looking at me right now.

”Bryan, I can explain,” I start, taking a step toward him.

”Explain what, Harlee? How you've been f.u.c.king him behind my back?” He bites, gesturing to Gavin who is standing completely still behind me.

”How long?” he continues, his nostrils flaring as he stares daggers at me. ”How long have you been f.u.c.king him, Harlee?”

”Bryan... I,” I start, but he doesn't let me get anything out.

”Don't f.u.c.king say it. I can't believe a word that comes out of your mouth. You know I thought I was the luckiest f.u.c.king guy in the world when we started dating. I even told my parents how I thought I had finally found the one. What a f.u.c.king joke.” He lets out a high-pitched laugh that sounds almost devilish.

”And you know the real kicker?” he spits. ”Who knows how much longer you would have strung me along; you clearly had no intention of telling me the truth. How long ago was it that we went to dinner? That I told you I loved you? That you let me sit in that restaurant and pour my heart out to you, all the while you were f.u.c.king him on the side? f.u.c.k, that was just days ago! Who the f.u.c.k does that to another person?”

”I'm so sorry.” I try to apologize, fighting back the tears that are welling in my eyes.

I'm sad that I hurt Bryan. I'm upset about the things he's saying, no matter how true they are. But most of all I'm embarra.s.sed that Gavin is here to witness every last second of it.

”Don't. Don't you dare f.u.c.king apologize to me. I won't let you rid yourself of this guilt. I want it to fester. I want you to have face who you are and what you're capable of doing to someone who loved you. I can only imagine what you're in for.” He says this last part to Gavin. ”Good luck with that.” He nods at him and then spins on his heel, disappearing almost as quickly as he had appeared.

My mind swirls as I stare across the grounds, watching him grow further and further away until I can no longer see him at all. His words play over and over in my head, the way he looked at Gavin in almost appreciation making me feel sick to my stomach. It's like he already knew about Gavin well before he saw us kissing just moments ago. Something about what he said just doesn't add up.

Turning to face Gavin, I wipe at the tears flowing down my face.

”You?” I force out in disbelief. ”You told him?”

His expression remains completely unreadable. He doesn't deny or admit my accusation, he just simply stands there staring at me.

”Say something,” I scream, my voice carrying across the open s.p.a.ce, drawing the attention of a couple students exiting the dorm building.

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