Redemption (Cambria University #2)

by Sadie T. Williams

  I shake my head. “You’re crass, you know that right?”

  “I do.” She nods with a smile.

  “I want to tell you, but I need you to swear on your own life that you will not tell a soul. I don’t want anyone else to know.”

  She nods. “Promise on my own life,” she says and holds her hand over her heart. Always dramatic.

  “So, you remember how we met?”

  “Yeah, you tutored him and it turned into mind-blowing oral. I’m well aware and picturing it in my head,” she smirks.

  “Ew, please stop,” I chuckle and then finally let say it out loud. “He slept with someone else.”

  “Before, during or after your thing?” she asks, perfectly calm.

  “Lots of people before, but someone right after. Just like Bates. Big tits, lots of hair. I walked in on them.” Her eyes grow to the size of dinner plates as I describe the scene with Sydney straddling Donovan on the mattress.

  “Well, you can’t really hold the girls before you against him, right? They were before he knew you. And he threw a naked chick off his dick to chase after you. That should tell you something.”

  I guess I didn’t think about it that way.

  “Yeah, that isn’t worst part, Kal,” I say and lower my head.

  “Oh, God,” she covers her mouth. “He gave you a STD?”

  I laugh. “No, but thanks for assuming I’m dirty.” I inhale a deep breath and let the words tumble out, “I was a bet.”

  “Excuse me?! I’m going to cut his nuts off and use them as chum. That motherfucker!” she shouts and flails her free hand in the air. “Oh, no fucking way he did that to you.”

  “The whole time we were together was a lie. He was using me to win a bet he made with a baseball player.”

  “What were the terms?” she asks and I hear the venom laced in her voice.

  “Funny how we think alike. I asked the same thing. He was supposed to sleep with me by Halloween and if he won the other guy would be his, um personal assistant, for a year.”

  “You mean his bitch? You can say the word, Maze,” she chuckles.

  “I’m trying to get back to the person I was before I left for Cambria. I hit the skids for a bit after all this broke.”

  “You’re the best person I know.” She smiles at me and squeezes my forearm. “What did Donovan lose, since you obviously didn’t fuck him?”

  “That’s the thing. I would have slept with him and we had plenty of opportunity, but he never followed through. If Donovan didn’t win, then he was supposed to pay off Finn’s student loans.”

  “That’s gotta be a lot of fucking money,” Kali contemplates.

  “Yeah, a hundred and sixty thousand, to answer your thoughts. But here’s the other weird thing. He paid Finn off before the bet was over. He quit.”

  Kali’s face is blank, and she rubs her blanket over her nose. She rubs her nose when she’s deep in thought. She’s done that since she was a young. She thinks for several minutes.

  “That doesn’t make sense…” She thinks some more, and her demeanor has completely changed. “Other than if he wanted to lose because he loves you.”

  “What?” I snap my head to look at her. “That’s impossible. You don’t do what he did if you love someone.”

  “True, but that bet started before you started tutoring him, right? Like, maybe he grew to really love you while you were spending time together. You’re pretty fucking awesome, Maze.”

  “You don’t know him. He openly admits he doesn’t have a heart… or feelings…or a soul. Plus, even if that’s why he lost the bet, he slept with another girl two minutes after he left me.”

  “It’s the only thing that makes sense. He intentionally lost, he wouldn’t sleep with you, and he sent you all those flowers. Plus before that, the shit with his jersey and the sleepovers… Things you told me he’s never done with a girl before. He probably slept with that slut to get over you. Prove his dick still worked. Especially since you told me he took pride in not having feelings. Imagine what happened inside his head when his heart finally started talking to him? Did he try to apologize?”

  “He came to the coffeehouse before I left for break. He dropped to his knees and begged me to give him another chance, but he never actually apologized. I don’t think he can, because then he’d have to admit it to himself. I don’t want to say his life is easy, because there are things that were hard for him to overcome, but he had money and was never held accountable for his actions. I don’t think he knows how to be sorry.”

  “I don’t know.” Kali pauses in thought again. “I still say he loves you.”

  *Ding* I look to my phone and see it’s Chet. That’s weird.

  “Donovan?” Kali asks with hope.

  “Nope, Chet. I’ll call him later.”

  “All right, girl, I’m going to go home and get ready for tonight.” We stand and she gives me a big hug. “If he reaches out – hear him out, yeah?”

  “I thought you wanted to use his nuts as chum?”

  “That was before I decided he loves you. I’ll see you in a bit. Love you, loser.”

  I nod. “Love you too.”

  She leaves and I check my phone.

  “Maisy, need to set a meeting. I need to see you before you leave. Please make an effort to stop by.”

  That sounds urgent and a little ominous. He knows I’m home for winter break. Maybe he’s pissed I haven’t stopped by like I said I would.

  “Sure, where and when?”

  “Tomorrow. 9:30 a.m. My office.”

  “Okay.”

  That has my spidey sense tickled. Maybe he just wants to see me since I’m home. I know he and Jo have missed me. But that text didn’t have a friendly vibe to it. Then again, Chet isn’t warm and fuzzy in real life or via text. I’m probably reading too much into it. I’ll just see what he wants tomorrow.

  ✽✽✽

  New Year’s Eve in L.A. can be a crazy party-filled night with champagne, sex, drugs, and dancing. Or, it can be a chill, laid-back party at Pete’s with a toast at midnight then drinking around a fire until the sun comes up. That’s the option we select every year.

  I should get back to Mabel’s to shower and get ready to go to Pete’s. I just don’t want to. I went out for a few more runs and now I’m lying in the cold sand, watching the clouds roll by. Kali’s words are ringing in my ears and the image of Donovan’s face in the alley is dancing in my mind. I’m trying desperately to turn off my brain, but I can’t.

  Being home hasn’t stopped me from thinking about him. Wondering what he’s doing. Hoping he’s thinking about me just as much as I’m thinking about him. His eyes that night I left him in the alley… There was truth to what he was saying. He just wasn’t saying what I needed him to. He misses me – great. He can’t come without me – great. He wants a second chance – great. But he never apologized. He never said he was sorry for what he did to me. He never tried to explain the bet or why he did what he did. I need that.

  He always said that his life never had consequences – well, I’m not going to bend for him like everyone else. He already broke me once, and I’m not a stupid girl who will let that happen twice. I wish I didn’t have to go back, but I have to return to Cambria. My scholarship is too valuable.

  *Ding* It’s a text from Millie. She’s back home in Virginia for break and we’ve been texting almost every day. She’s worried about my emotional state.

  “Hey! How’s Cali?” Translation: “Have you heard from Blake?”

  “So great! The surf is spectacular. Someday I’ll get you out here. How’s Medford?”

  “The most boring fucking city in the world. Nothing changes. I should have come home with you. You could find me a hot California boy to ravage.”

  “Ravage? Nice.”

  “Are you in your favorite spot down from the Surf Hut?” She knows way too much about my life now. Millie is a great friend and a great roommate. I lucked out with her.

  “Of course! Best p
lace to be.”

  “Hear from Blake yet?” There it is.

  “No, Millie. I don’t expect to. Remember what happened before I left? The fucking and the fighting.”

  “Yeah, he BEGGED you to take him back. Donovan Blake begged. Did you hear what he did?”

  My heart and my mind start racing. Every single day I battle within myself. Images of Blake with Sydney, then images of Blake with me in his bed swirl together, and my body shifts from being turned on by the memories of his hands and lips on my body, to being repulsed by the sight of this dick inside another girl. The war is raging.

  “No, what happened?” I want to know because part of me wants to make sure he’s okay, even though the other part wants him to be hurting like I am. I’m a disaster.

  “He got in like a dozen fights. Broke some kid’s nose, then the kid’s brother tried to kick his ass. He took a beating, but beat that guy’s ass too. Then he got suspended from the team.”

  “OMG! For the bowl game? That was so important to him.”

  “No, just for a week. He was reinstated before the game. He played and they won. All good there, but he’s losing it. He’s been texting me. He’s a mess.”

  “He should be for what he did.” He’s been texting Millie? They hated each other. When did hell freeze over?

  “That’s true. I don’t disagree. But maybe he deserves another chance?”

  “You think? You hated him.”

  “He’s a dick for sure. He calls me Roommate instead of my real name, but sometimes I feel like he may say it to be funny, not mean. Like that’s now my pet name. Plus, he’s super-hot and super rich. You may be what he needs to change. I’ve told you before, he was so much better with you.”

  “That’s a line in movies. People don’t change that drastically in real life.”

  “Just give him the chance. Let him try to redeem himself.”

  “If he tries again… I will listen this time. But I’m going to guess he won’t try after I left him in an alley.”

  “Glad to hear it. Happy New Year!!”

  “Happy New Year, Millie.”

  My phone dings again and this time it’s Kali.

  “Still meeting us at Pete’s at 9?” She just left me, but feels the need to check in again. I must be a basket case the way Kali and Millie are acting.

  “That’s the plan. I need to run home and change first.”

  “You’re still at the beach?”

  “Yeah, but I’ll leave soon. Promise.”

  “Okay, good. Miss your face. See you in a bit.”

  It is almost 6 p.m., but I have plenty of time to bus back to Mabel’s house, change clothes, and get to Pete’s around nine. I’m in no hurry to leave the beach since I only have a week left of this.

  I grab my bag and pull out a new novel I’m reading. It’s a story about two kids from different socioeconomic backgrounds who grew up in the south. She’s a southern belle from a proper family. He’s the son of a cattle rancher whose ranch has fallen on hard times. A story of forbidden love. I love it!

  *Ding* It’s Bates. I’m never going to get any of this book read.

  “Coming to Pete’s?”

  “Yeah. Heading home soon to change.”

  “Can we go out together first?”

  “Sure, did you text Kal and everyone?”

  “No, not all of us. Just us. Me and you. I’d like to take you out. Real date. Talk about stuff. About what happened before you left.”

  Oh boy. I didn’t tell him about Donovan or anything that happened during my first semester in college. I don’t want to reopen this whole thing with Bates. He told me loved me and after what happened with Donovan, I know I don’t love Bates as anything more than a friend. I guess I should try to see if we can fix this weirdness between us for the sake of our friendship though.

  “Yeah, that works. Can you pick me up or should I ride the bus back and meet you here?”

  “I’ll pick you up. 7:30 from Mabel’s. We’re going to Terza, so dress nice.”

  “Okay.”

  Terza is an Italian restaurant and rooftop bar in Vista del Cielo. Shit. It’s super swanky and expensive. I need to head out soon so I have time to get ready in something a little nicer than the jeans I was planning to wear to Pete’s.

  I shoot Millie a text with the latest update.

  “Hot Cali ex taking me to swanky dinner. Gonna try to save a friendship. With my luck I’ll burn down the restaurant. I’ll text you later to tell you how it went.”

  “Wait, no. Can’t go. Stay there.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t. Leave.” Millie is being super cryptic. Normally she’d be swooning. I showed her pictures of Bates and she physically drooled.

  “Why? Are you coming here to surprise me or something? LOL because that would be ah-may-zing! I’ll totally cancel on Bates if you show up. Wait, did I ruin your surprise? I’ll pretend to be surprised. Where are you?”

  “Nope, I’m in Medford. I wish I was there. Just promise me you’ll stay there until 6:30.”

  “Okay, fine, but for the record you’re being weird, and if you show up here after lying to me, I will pretend to be mad at you.”

  “You’re ridiculous, but I love you. Text me at 6:30.” That’s 9:30 her time, so she must really have something set up for me.

  “Will do. I’ll just sit here and read until you show up.”

  I sit back down on my towel and check my phone. Ten more minutes. I can hang out for ten more minutes. I actually really hope she’s coming to surprise me.

  I start reading again, with the ocean crashing in the background and the seagulls screeching. I’m not even annoyed with those sky scavengers like I used to be.

  “Hey,” a deep voice rumbles behind me and my whole body clenches. “Thought I might find you here.”

  That is not Bates’ tenor tone. That voice is a deep bass. That is Donovan Blake’s voice. I turn around and he’s really here. Standing next to a surfboard in tight jeans, city boots, and a crew neck t-shirt that’s stretched against his tight muscles. He looks divine, minus the messed-up face. Have my thoughts about Donovan transpired into full-on hallucinations?

  Chapter 29: Donovan

  I’ve never heard an adult male use the language Coach Hayes used in his office the Monday after the fight with the Big Man and his brother. It was colorful and not unwarranted. He had swept several of my fights under the rug prior to that by giving away game-day suites and season tickets to the douchebags I assaulted so they didn’t press charges. Probably not legal, but it worked. However, Big Man and the little pussy known as his brother, were Cale and Carl Carrington. The science wing is named after their grandparents, Carrick and Caroline. Makes me wonder if everyone in their family has a “C” name.

  Cale is a star wrestler. I thought he looked too big not to be an athlete of some kind. Turns out, he’s a national champion heavyweight who was heavily recruited by Cambria two years ago, but chose Iowa instead. He transferred in this year because he didn’t like it there, and the news of him getting his ass handed to him by a drunk a football player didn’t go over well with the wrestling coach.

  Coach tried to reduce my suspension, but the athletic director and chancellor were over my antics. At least he negotiated the suspension to be lifted before the bowl game. I should be kissing his ass for doing that, but in true Donovan Blake fashion, I told Coach I wasn’t traveling back to Massachusetts with the team. Instead, I was leaving the day after the game and he couldn’t really do anything to stop me because my football career was over at that point. I’m such an asshole. I did at least thank him for letting me play in the Citrus Bowl, not that he had a choice. He needed to win, and I’ve been the anchor of our defense for four years.

  ✽✽✽

  The Citrus Bowl victory was sweet, but as time expired I sprinted from the field to the locker room. All I could think about was boarding a plane to L.A. and finding Maisy. This was not like the experience I had at the bowl game last year
. Last year I was consumed by football, by winning. I didn’t understand how Brooks was so concerned over a female when we were playing for a national title. I get it now. I fully understand why he lost his shit.

  I landed at LAX on New Year’s Eve after what felt like a thirty-hour flight, during which I turned down two offers to join the mile-high club. With the state that my face is in from my last fight I can’t believe anyone would want to fuck me. But I haven’t had sex since Maisy walked in on me and Sydney the Screamer, and I wasn’t about to start now. All I can think of every minute of every day is Maisy and how badly I need to be with her.

  I rented a black tricked-out Jeep Wrangler because, well, I’m in California and I want to drive around without a roof. December in California is so much nicer than December in Massachusetts.

  I spent the better part of two hours driving around Vista del Cielo searching for Maisy before I finally broke down and texted Roommate. She had given me her number when I was trying to get ahold of Maisy after everything blew up and she’s been keeping me posted on what Maisy is up to. I appreciate her for that.

  When Maisy never came back to English Lit, I tried to stalk her a little. I’d sit outside Holy Sip! and watch her work. I’d sit in Gypsy Juice and watch her read in the Quad. I’ve watched and watched, but was too scared to approach her until that awful night in the alley at Holy Sip!. Let’s not relive that disaster, please.

  “Hey, Roommate, what’s up?”

  “Hey, Dick, congrats on the game.” I need to work on the nickname she picked out for me, but it does make me laugh.

  “Thanks. So, I’m in Cali.”

  “Uh, what?”

  “I need her back. I can’t explain it, but I need her. I’ve been driving around Vista for two hours. Do you know where Mabel lives?”

  “I got one better. She’s surfing, right down from Pete’s. Opposite of the pier.”

  How the fuck did I forget that is where she surfs? I’ve been driving up and down, checking beaches as I go. I fucking forgot about the Surf Hut.