The concern in his eyes went to irritation real quick as he let go of me so fast I lost my balance.
“Dude, what the hell?”
“Me? Why are you dancing in the hallway?” he asked, his tone sharp. His gray eyes seemed more like charcoal in the dim lighting, and I swore I could still feel where his fingers had touched my bare skin. A heat lingered there.
“Or you could make more noise and stop slinking around everywhere.” I rubbed the spot where he touched, curious as to why it felt like he zapped me.
“I don’t… I don’t slink.” He adjusted his glasses on his nose and stared at his feet, the tips of his ears reddening.
“I beg to differ,” I fired right back, gesturing to his entire body. “For someone your size, bro, you should make more noise.”
He frowned but not before his gaze dropped to my stomach for one second, sending a little thrill through me. He took a step back and shook his head, like I disappointed him by just existing. I couldn’t deal with another insult, so I spoke first before he could. “What are you even doing here? You don’t play hockey.”
He swallowed hard and looked over my shoulder. “You don’t either.”
“Thank you, I’m aware.”
“I came to see Michael, just…” he paused, doing the weird head shake again where he almost seemed in pain. “I gotta go talk to him.” He walked by, awkwardly pressing himself against the wall like being too close to me was unbearable.
It would’ve been comical seeing someone his size trying to avoid me, but the tension in my chest grew at how blatant his dislike for me was. I put on my music, changed to a more upbeat song, and focused on dance.
The thing all these people didn’t realize was that from growing up with Legally Blonde as my hero, I would succeed out of spite. Sure, my incredibly hot wall-buddy wanted nothing to do with me, but that was fine. I could focus on me this year. I’d prove them all wrong—Freddie, Aubrey, my counselor. I was worth believing in damnit, and I’d make them regret doubting me.
CHAPTER
FOUR
Freddie
I might’ve crossed a line.
No, I did. I definitely did. It’d been two days since I’d spoken to Cami, and I shouldn’t have let her get under my skin, but goddamn, that girl was so hot it made me stupid.
It was my issue, not hers. I knew that, but fuck. With classes starting soon and Maddie’s unanswered text still on my phone, my emotions were all over the place.
I miss you. Come back to Chicago.
She dumped me for being too boring, dated a string of guys who were the complete opposite of me, and now she missed me?
I chewed my bottom lip as I stared at the list of companies I could apply to receive an internship for second semester. That was my plan for the day, and I needed to stick to it. The firm in Chicago was run by Uncle Martin, a great guy who’d been texting me each week with a fun fact about their firm.
I loved my dad, but he talked about the internship like I’d already chosen to move back to Chicago and work with Uncle Martin when I wasn’t sure that was what I wanted. But letting them both down? The thought made my stomach clench with worry. My head throbbed as I scanned the list again, my phone lighting up with a reminder of her text.
Unable to focus on my internship, I let my mind wander to my ex.
Why did she miss me? What did it mean?
More importantly, why did I care? She broke my heart when I knew she was a risk in the first place. I scratched my chest a few times, my shirt sticking to my skin from the damn heat as the continuous sounds of sex distracted me from my career search.
Dull thuds of a bed hitting the wall, overdramatic moans, and choruses of yes, yes, yes came from the right of me. Cami was to the left, but at first, I’d thought it was her.
My reaction wasn’t ideal, picturing her dark hair all over the bed, pleasure written all over her face and that strong, tight body trembling. I had to adjust myself after that image went through my mind because damn, even her collarbones were sexy. After seeing her in a small towel, my lust for her had only grown.
Even when she gave me her signature look. The one she used to get her way all the time. The one she’d sent my way the night a year ago that I’d fallen for. However, I’d learned quickly that she wasn’t interested in a guy like me—not when she left with the alpha-jock.
Still, the sex noises carried on from next door right in the middle of Friday afternoon.
People laughed in the hall as the screams got louder, and a dull thud came from Cami’s room. Then something scratched. Like metal on tile. If I was a better human, I’d head over and apologize about the incident at the hockey arena or something, but I couldn’t find the courage. Hearing the sex sounds and thinking about her body didn’t put me in the right mindset to go and chat casually with her.
I rarely let my libido get the best of me. I was a relationship kinda guy while she was summer flings and hot weekend nights. So, to entertain the idea of sleeping with her was ridiculous in a number of ways.
I rubbed the back of my neck, seconds away from yelling to get the damn couple to stop when a squeaky wheel rolled right outside my room.
Then, without warning, Smashmouth’s All Star started blaring, so loud the walls shook. The scratching sound returned, and there Cami was, walking down the hallway in cut off shorts and a crop top, dragging a huge portable speaker behind her. The lyrics drowned out the sex sounds, and everyone’s doors opened up, all of us wearing equally confused expressions. I joined the crowd, watching as Cami set the speaker right outside the sex room, and some people laughed softly. A guy on the other side of the sex room high-fived her, and two girls from across the way did as well.
She leaned against the wall, avoiding my gaze entirely as she crossed her arms and propped one leg up while she waited.
Before I could ask what she was doing, the door flew open, and Chase yelled, “What the fuck?”
She paused the music, taking her time bending over to shut it off. Her crop top showed the curve of her spine, and my fingers twitched at my sides as I wondered what she’d do if I trailed a featherlight touch over her.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is my music annoying? Is Smashmouth a real mood killer for you and Emelia?”
“Why are you being a bitch right now?”
“It’s a part of my DNA, so I’m technically one all the time. Since y’all clearly don’t give a shit about the rest of us hearing you fuck, I don’t give a shit if you think I’m a bitch. See how that works?”
Chase groaned and slammed the door, making everyone in the hallway applaud.
“Girl, thank you lord. I couldn’t take another second,” a girl said, going up to Cami and hugging her.
“I feel weird about complaining about free porn, but come on, there’s no air, and sometimes I don’t want to hear that shit,” a guy said, his appreciative gaze moving up and down Cami’s body. It was easy to do with her long legs and short shorts. She chuckled and pushed her long wavy hair over her shoulder.
“Well, I don’t have to be anywhere for an hour, so I’ll be on fuck-patrol.”
The doofus laughed way too hard at her joke, but what did I know? I must’ve snorted or scoffed because the guy glanced my way. He jutted his chin out in greeting before moving his attention to Cami.
She didn’t miss a beat. She tilted her head slightly to look at me, her tongue wetting her bottom lip. Then, she dismissed me without saying a word.
“You’re on the dance team, right?” the guy said, leaning one arm up onto the doorframe and clearly flexing. Her face lit up, and she spoke faster.
“Yes, I am.”
“Sick, yeah, I think I’ve seen your face around. You’re gorgeous. Cami, right?”
“That’s me.” She rocked onto her heels as something loud came from Chase’s room. The door twisted, and both he and Emelia walked out, heads held high. Their hands were joined, and a blush covered the girl’s entire face.
Cami arched a brow, making a real
show about hitting play again, but the couple left without saying a word. She sighed, adjusted her hair, and gripped the speaker. “Thank god. I love a sex show now and again, but not in this armpit of a room.”
The guy laughed and moved closer to her, but she was already en route down the hall. This was my shot. The chance to casually apologize for snapping at her outside her dad’s office. I could avoid her, but I didn’t want to be rude. I wasn’t a mean guy. Never had been, and it didn’t sit right with me. Insecure, sure, but I could own my actions.
“I need to talk to you,” I said to her, not looking at her exposed belly ring and focusing on her rich, brown eyes instead.
“Ah, sorry, I’m too busy being a ditz, and I don’t have time for you right now.” She forced a fake smile that made my blood turn cold because damn, there was no longer the interest or teasing glint to her eyes. It was pure dislike, and I didn’t like it. She loved everyone. That was her thing.
I swallowed the horrible taste in my mouth. “It’ll only take a second, please.”
“Thanks for your quick thinking,” the guy said. Her gaze shifted to him and away from me. “I’m Nathan if you need anything.”
“Nice to meet you, Nathan.” She smiled at him before letting go of the speaker and waltzing toward me because Cami didn’t walk. She didn’t strut either. She waltzed like the shitty tile was her dance floor and we were all her audience. She was grace and core, while I was meat and strength.
“Talk,” she said, standing right outside my door. People still lingered in the hall, and I carefully touched her elbow, guiding her further into my room. I had three fans going which only caused her hair to blow all over, sending her sweet scent right into my face. Made me want dessert.
It’d be so much easier if she didn’t smell so good. I ran a hand over my face and focused on the first thing. Cami was bold, but that rubbed people and insecure men the wrong way. “If Chase bothers you, let me know.”
“It’s fine. I can handle an inflated ego prick. Pretty used to them, actually.”
“Look.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “I’m sorry about how I snapped at you outside of your dad’s office. I shouldn’t have.” There, I apologized. The weight lifted off my chest. Things could go back to normal now, with me ignoring my attraction to her.
She met my gaze and tapped her foot on the ground. Her toes were bright orange, like our school colors, and she had a fancy toe ring that was the same color as her belly ring. Fuck, if that wasn’t hot. “No, I need more. This isn’t good enough.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been a little bit of dick. There’s no… you haven’t done anything to deserve my anger.” My face heated because it was the truth. I let my own hang ups about that night alter my behavior toward her, and it wasn’t right. My face burned with the harsh reality that I was in the wrong here.
She narrowed her eyes, pursed those red lips, and shrugged. “Fine. I accept.”
“Typically, fine doesn’t mean fine.” I might’ve had limited experience with women since Maddie and I broke up, but we both knew that specific f-word was the opposite of the truth.
“It means just that. Okay? You said sorry for being a dick, I accepted it. We’re square,” she said, her tone edged with ice that had never been there before. My chest tightened, and I wasn’t exactly sure why I didn’t want her to go. We weren’t friends. We didn’t like each other. And yet...the shimmer of something that always lingered in her eyes was gone. Like she had an inside joke or a mischievous thought she wanted to share.
She stepped to the right to leave, and I tried to say wait and hold on at the same time, the awkward sound of wold leaving my mouth. She arched her brows in response, making my stomach flop with embarrassment.
I cleared my throat. “Wait, please,” I said, my voice sounding off and foreign to my own ears. I didn’t do this. Confrontation. Things that made me nervous. I steered clear of the limelight and left room for people like my brother, Michael, or even girls like Cami. I wasn’t sure what else I wanted to say to her, just that I wanted that shimmer back. Her gaze moved from my left eye to my right, her lips twisting up in amusement as the silence went on. It felt heavy, tense. Loaded, but I wasn’t sure why. Nothing came out, and my entire body flushed. I slammed my lips together, the gesture ending her patience with me.
She rolled her eyes as she strutted out of my room, her hips swaying from side to side and drawing my attention to her ass. The shorts were made for someone like her--hugging every curve and showcasing how ample her ass was. Flashes of seeing her in just a towel came to my mind, and I slammed my eyes shut, like it would push it out of my head.
I could not be lusting after her. Not now, not ever. I needed a distraction from my neighbor, and thank god it was Friday night. Camden always knew somewhere to go.
Part of my and Camden’s relationship was pushing the other outside of their comfort zone. That meant I brought him to trivia nights and he dragged me to house parties. It was weird to be twenty-four at a house party. I felt too old when the music shook the entire foundation and red cups were everywhere.
The smell of beer, perfume, and weed hung in the air while everyone let loose. It was the weekend before classes, and people were raging. Girls danced on a kitchen table to my right, and couples grinded on a makeshift dancefloor to my left.
I sat on a leather couch with Camden and his buddy Preston. They looked right at home with their beach shirts unbuttoned. The theme meant I had to dig through my brother’s closet for a blue and white beach shirt that was a little too tight. It felt weird to not button it up, but Camden insisted.
Despite telling him I felt too old to do this, he’d dragged me here. This was mainly junior and seniors and even some grad students getting drunk before the school year started.
There were positives though. Free drinks, air conditioning, and distance from the dorm.
“So, you text Murdery Mads back yet?” Camden asked, not even bothering to fill Preston in. His roommate knew everything.
“No.”
“I’m surprised, I figured you’d pine over what to say and end up typing you miss her too.”
“I miss what we had, not her.” That was the truth of it, even though she’d been on my mind with Cami living next door. The similarities between them were alarming—personality wise. When it came to looks, Maddie had been beautiful in her own way, but Cami stole the show. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Tell her to go bother the guy with the face tattoo or the asshole who cheated on her.”
“Cheated on her?” I asked, hating that it interested me.
“Yeah.” Camden laughed, but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. “What’s-his-face played her hard, but that’s what she wanted. Those kinds of guys.”
“Yeah,” I said, already wondering if the cheating was why she texted me. She got burned so she wanted the safe guy to lick her wounds? The reliable one? The one who planned his weeks and would never get on a motorcycle? Fuck. I took a large sip of the beer and welcomed the burn. I came here to not think about my wonderfully sad love life, yet here we were talking about it.
I wanted the tables to turn on my brother, to analyze his love life, but he loved talking about himself too much. He was a bisexual egomaniac but had a heart of gold buried deep down. I scanned the room for a familiar face to go chat with to escape my brother, but my gaze stopped on a familiar figure. Fuck.
Why the hell was Cami here?
Right. The party. She was always at a party.
My neighbor wore a top that couldn’t even be described as a bikini. It was more pieces of fabric placed over her nipples. My entire body tightened with need, and as I trailed my attention from her tits to the tiny bottoms she wore, I took a deep breath to settle down. No matter what type of look she gave me in the shower or in the hallway, she’d leave with someone else.
I gritted my teeth together, my knee bouncing up and down as I pictured how close we were that night. How we’d leaned against the wall and her lips w
ere just an inch from mine. Her laugh, her perfume. The way my body hummed around her and how lucky I’d felt. Me. The dork who had his heart shattered pulled the interest of Cami. The party had been kinda like this one, rowdy with a buzzed charge in the air. I swallowed down the memory and pulled at a fray on my jeans for a second.
After a deep breath, I glanced at her again, but she’d moved on. She didn’t look at me for more than a second and put her arm around a tiny little thing with red hair. Cami was a petite woman, but this other chick was smaller and totally sloshed. Her head hung at an angle, and her top twisted to the side, exposing her tits. Cami frowned, adjusted the girl’s top, and started walking toward the door. It was a struggle, and each tendon in Cami’s body tightened with her movements. Her back muscles were impressive as they bulged. She carried the entire weight of the redhead.
Without thinking about it, I bolted up. “Hey, let me help.”
“It’s fine, Freddie, I can handle it.” Her shoulders bunched, but she let her guard down. She winced.
I didn’t want to cross a line or do something disrespectful, so I put my arm around the girl, only touching her shoulder. She was blacked out. “I’ll support her weight. Where are we going?”
Cami sighed as we got out the front door. Music blared all around us as the party went on, and the summer humidity greeted us the second we stepped outside. Damnit. The heat. Made me do stupid things, like letting my gaze linger on her up close. Her lips were so full and soft, and she had freckles on her shoulder I’d never seen before.
But why would I notice? Jesus.
“Seriously, go back in. I’ll get her home.”
“I’m not letting you both walk alone at midnight while you’re wearing this,” I said, angry that she would even consider this a good idea. “Don’t be dumb.”
She showed her teeth in a growl. “Fuck right off.”
“I’m trying to help. Why are you being so difficult?” I asked, annoyed I was in this situation but unwilling to walk away. We stood on one of the busiest streets on campus with a girl passed out between us.
From the Top (Central State) Page 4
