The Boy Next Door

by Jennifer Sucevic

  There has to be a way for me to smooth this over. “Look, I—”

  As soon as the light changes, Alyssa scrambles across the street. It only takes a few long-legged strides to catch up with her. It feels like that’s all I’ve done.

  Given chase.

  “How about we meet for lunch,” I suggest, knowing our time together is limited now that we’ve reached campus.

  Her gaze stays focused on something in the distance only she can see. “Sorry, I’m busy.”

  “That’s funny,” I narrow my eyes, “but I didn’t give you a specific time or date.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” she says in a clipped tone before scowling. “Where you’re concerned, I’m busy for the foreseeable future.”

  Damn, but she’s proving to be a tough nut to crack.

  “Lys—” When she skewers me with a glare that could send a lesser man up in flames, I hastily correct myself. “Alyssa. I meant to say Alyssa.”

  Impatience wafts off her in heavy waves as she grinds to a halt and swings toward me. She peers around before dropping her voice. “Whatever you’re trying to accomplish here, I’m not interested. I’m really not.” There’s a pause as she steps close enough for me to feel the heat of her body. It takes everything inside me not to reach out and grab hold of her just to prove her wrong. She still wants me. I see it buried beneath the fury in her eyes.

  For the first time since Alyssa returned to Wesley, I wonder if it’s possible to break through the impenetrable walls she’s erected. Doubt trickles in before I stomp it out.

  “Here’s the thing—you had me. I was all yours.” Pain flickers across her face before it’s once again masked behind a frosty exterior. “But you threw me away because you wanted to fuck your way through this campus.”

  No. That’s not true.

  “You need to move on and allow me to do the same. Just because you have regrets doesn’t mean that I do. Or maybe this is all a game.” She pops a shoulder. “Either way, I don’t care.”

  Does she really think I’m capable of that kind of heartlessness?

  That I could mastermind some kind of manipulative game to draw her in again before kicking her loose? Even though I can’t necessarily blame her for being suspicious, her low opinion makes me gut sick.

  When I remain silent, at a loss as to how to reach her, a pleading look enters her eyes, and for the first time, I truly wonder if there’s any hope for us. Alyssa doesn’t understand why I pushed her away. She believes the bullshit I spoon-fed her. What I need to do is tell her the truth. It had absolutely nothing to do with other girls and everything to do with the intensity of my feelings for her.

  I open my mouth, ready to lay it all on the line. I don’t give a damn if we’re on the edge of campus, and there are a ton of people rushing past us on their way to class. I don’t care about the curious stares we’re collecting from onlookers. Our gazes stay fused together as everything around me falls away.

  “Colton!”

  The high-pitched voice has the moment disintegrating as I’m jolted back to reality. Alyssa blinks to awareness before taking a hasty step in retreat and flicking an uninterested glance at the girl waving frantically and calling my name.

  “Seems like your fan club found you. Take a good look. That’s what you dumped me for.” With that, she walks away.

  And there’s not a damned thing I can do to detain her as I’m swarmed by a handful of girls.

  Fuck.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Alyssa

  Hands down, this has been the week from hell.

  All right, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration.

  My courses are going well. Most of them are dance which makes the day pass by quickly. And I was able to secure my old job at a small studio in town, teaching a few classes to four and five-year-olds. They’re squirrelly and have way too much energy, but they’re adorable as hell and make me laugh. And I need the cash. Unlike Mia, my parents don’t have a fat portfolio filled with stocks and bonds.

  So...if everything is going just fine, why am I not able to shake the feelings of irritability and discontent? It’s almost as if something is brewing inside me, and I have no clue what it is. And that makes me nervous.

  Jack has called a handful of times since my return, but our relationship no longer feels the same. It’s almost as if I was able to blot out everything when I was away, and now that I’ve returned to Wesley, that’s no longer possible. It only adds to my growing confusion.

  What I will say is that it’s nice to be back with Mia. I really did miss my girl. And dancing again for Monsieur Dupre has been amazing. I didn’t realize how much I’ve learned and grown while studying in London. But he’s taken notice. And that means everything to me.

  My brain continues to spin as I yank open the building door and walk through the lobby. Instead of waiting for the elevator, I take the stairwell. As soon as I arrive at the third-floor landing and push through the metal door, the sound of music assaults me. My jaw unconsciously locks as I tighten my hands. The trimmed nails bite into my flesh, leaving little crescent-shaped imprints on each palm. Even though I’m at the far end of the hallway, I can already guess where the booming bass is originating from.

  Colton and Beck’s apartment.

  In less than two seconds flat, the annoyance festering beneath the surface becomes full-blown anger.

  The music grows in decibel with every step I take. By the time I shove the key in the lock, I’m ready to explode. With a slam of the door, I stalk into the living room. Mia is at the small dining room table with her laptop and earbuds. My guess is that they have to be noise-canceling, otherwise there is no way she could work through this racket. I shoot an irritated glance toward the thin wall we share with our neighbors. For a handful of seconds, I consider contacting the building manager to complain before reluctantly deciding against it.

  That being said, if this continues much longer, I’ll be more than happy to make that phone call. If that makes me a Karen, so be it.

  Mia glances up from her computer screen and waves. The smile curving her lips disappears as she takes in my expression. She pulls out the earbuds and sets them on the table next to her laptop. “Hey! How was class?”

  “It was fine.” I send another glare toward our noisy neighbors before waving my hand in their direction. “How long has this been going on for?”

  “Hmmm. Maybe an hour or so?” Mia shrugs. “It’s not a big deal. It kind of goes with the territory when you’re living in an apartment building with a bunch of college kids. The weekends get noisy.”

  My lips sink further into a scowl. “Someone should really talk to them about this.” When her brows rise, I add, “It’s so rude! I can barely hear myself think over that racket.”

  “I’m sure it won’t last much longer. They’re probably having a few drinks before hitting the parties.”

  “I don’t give a damn what they’re doing. They should have more consideration for the people who live next to them.”

  “Well,” she says lightly, “I can see someone is in a mood.”

  I drag a hand down my face. Honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I spent two years in the dorms. The weekends were exactly like this, and it never bothered me in the least. Hell, most of the time, I was the one leading the charge. Even though I suspect the reason for my pissy mood, I’m not ready to acknowledge it to myself or Mia. Instead, I do my best to shake off the bad vibes before they can ruin my night.

  “Sorry.” I drop my bag onto a chair. “It’s been a long week. I’m just tired and still adjusting to the time difference.” That’s a reasonable explanation for my behavior, right?

  Mia pops to her feet before closing the distance between us and dragging me into her arms. Because my bestie knows me so well, she cuts right through the bullshit and gets to the heart of the matter. “I know it hasn’t been easy living next to Colton, but I’m glad you’re back. There’s no way I would have wanted to go through senior year wi
thout you by my side.”

  Her earnestness makes the tension rushing through me evaporate. “Me, too.” As tempting as it had been to stay in London, there’s no way I would have actually gone through with it. Mia and I only have this year to spend together before we go our separate ways. Her to law school and me to...well, something with dance. I’m not nearly good enough to make a living as a professional, but I would love to open my own studio someday and teach.

  “So, any plans for the night?” she asks before pulling away. “Isobel and Kara are going to Bang Bang. They didn’t get nearly enough last weekend. Izzy said something about a hot bartender she wants to flirt with.”

  As soon as Mia mentions the club, an image of Colton pops into my brain. The way his lips had devoured mine before coasting over my body and settling on my—

  Nope. There is no way I’m going there.

  I quickly shove the memory away and shake my head. “I’m not in the mood to club.”

  “Really?” Her brows slide together. “Since when? You love shaking your ass on the dance floor.”

  She’s right about that. Under normal circumstances, I enjoy getting out there and busting a move. It’s the best feeling. Totally freeing. All my problems float away, and it’s just me and the music.

  I shrug, refusing to reveal the real reason. Bang Bang has officially been tainted. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go there again and not think about what happened in the parking lot. As much as I’m trying not to dwell on Colton, it’s difficult when his music is reverberating off our walls.

  “All right. I’m sure we can figure something else out. Let’s see.” She taps her finger against her chin. “I heard Lambda Chi Alpha is having a huge bash. We can always stop by and check it out.”

  “Yeah,” I mutter, glancing away before sucking my lower lip into my mouth and chewing it thoughtfully, “maybe.”

  Usually, I’m the one attempting to cajole Mia into going out and cutting loose, not the other way around.

  Disconcerted by the role reversal, Mia lays a hand across my forehead. “Are you feeling all right? You’re not acting like yourself.”

  I snort out a laugh and try to shake off the strange emotions that have taken root inside me. It’s become an all-too-common occurrence of late. As much as I don’t want to admit it, this has everything to do with Colton. I hate that he wields so much control over my life when I want nothing to do with him. If only there were a way to purge the guy from my system once and for all. That’s exactly what the time spent in London was supposed to accomplish.

  Clearly, that turned out to be a major failure.

  “I’m fine.” I draw in a steady breath, trying to calm everything inside me before gradually releasing it back into the world. “You know what, maybe we should go to—”

  My voice ends on a squeak when there’s a loud crash against the interior wall that connects with the guy’s apartment, and then the music is cranked up, which I didn’t think was possible.

  Mia raises her voice in order to be heard above the ruckus from next door. “Maybe we should go out and grab something to eat.”

  I grit my teeth and try to hold onto the last shred of my temper, but it’s useless. “I’m not going to be forced out of my own apartment! I’ve had enough. I’m going over there to put a stop to this!”

  “Oh, God.” Even though she mutters the words under her breath, I hear them loud and clear. “This isn’t going to end well.”

  “Not for them it won’t,” I agree wholeheartedly.

  Before she can stop me, I stalk out of the apartment. Twenty steps bring me to their door. I raise my fist and pound on the wood. Now that I’m right outside their place, the music is almost deafening.

  This is ridiculous!

  Ten seconds tick by without a response. Why am I surprised? They probably can’t hear it. I grit my teeth and rap my knuckles harder.

  Fuck!

  I hiss out a breath before shaking my hand.

  Oh, I am so going to let them have it!

  After another twenty seconds, the door swings open, and I find Beck standing on the other side. There’s a cheerful smile lighting up his face. “Hey, neighbor! Wanna come in? We’re pregaming it. Lotta parties happening tonight.” He points at me. “You should really come out with us.”

  My eyes narrow before I bare my teeth. A low growl rumbles up from my chest.

  There’s a pause.

  “Hold on and give me a sec.” He raises a finger before turning away and bellowing into the crowded apartment, “Colton, it’s for you!”

  Instead of waiting, I push past Beck and stomp inside the tiny entryway. Jeez. There must be at least thirty people jammed in here. I recognize a number of guys from the football team. For each one, there are two girls hanging off them.

  Unless you’re Colton Montgomery—then you have at least four groupies pawing at you.

  A punch of unwanted jealousy surges through me before I can stomp it out. The thought is so disturbing that I quickly shove it from my brain. As soon as our gazes collide, he rises from the couch he’s parked on. Without a word to the chicks attempting to maul him, he cuts easily through the crush of people. His towering presence has them scattering out of the way. It only takes a moment for him to reach me.

  Before he can say anything, I snap, “We need to talk.”

  Carefully he searches my face. “Okay.”

  When he doesn’t move, I growl, “In private.” Any moment, I’m going to totally lose it.

  “All right.” He locks his fingers around mine and tows me through the cluster of people laughing and drinking in the small apartment.

  Even though I steel myself for it, the moment he makes contact, a little zip of electricity sizzles through my veins. If there’s a way to turn off this unwanted attraction, I have yet to find it.

  It’s only after he shutters us away in the privacy of his bedroom and clicks the lock into place that I wonder if marching over to give him a piece of my mind was the best course of action. He leans against the door, barring my escape, before crossing his arms against the wide expanse of his chest.

  It’s official...this was definitely a terrible idea. I should have taken Mia up on her offer to grab something for dinner and gotten the hell out of here instead of taking matters into my own hands.

  “What’s up?” he asks, interrupting the frantic whirl of my thoughts.

  My mouth goes bone dry as I try not to notice how good he looks in the fitted navy-colored T-shirt that hugs his biceps. It occurs to me that this is precisely how I got in trouble last weekend.

  I clear my throat and glance away. “The music is really loud.” Unconsciously, my gaze flickers to him. It’s like I can’t not look in his direction.

  “Yeah, sorry about that. Things got a little out of control. I’ll turn it down. It’s not a problem.”

  His easy apology takes the wind out of my sails. I shift my weight, unsure where we go from here.

  One brow hikes up across his forehead. “Is there anything else?”

  “No.” I shake my head as my teeth sink into my lower lip.

  The room turns quiet as he pushes away from the door, eating up the distance between us. Every step sends my heart jackhammering against my ribcage until I’m positive he can hear it above the pumping beat of the music emanating from the other room. Every nerve ending inside me goes on high alert.

  My eyes widen. As much as I’ve tried to convince myself that I’m over Colton, that’s not the case. I hate the attraction that hums like a live wire between us. The callous manner in which he dumped my ass should have killed every fragile emotion inside me. It’s disconcerting to realize that it hasn’t. My feelings are as strong as ever. Even if they’re tinged at the edges with fury, somehow that only makes them more potent.

  What’s worse is that every intention is clearly written across his face. And still, I’m powerless to stop it from coming to fruition.

  My hands tighten. “Don’t,” I whisper, knowing
that it won’t stop this from happening. The moment he grabbed my hand and towed me into this room, the battle was already lost. I just didn’t realize it until this very moment.

  He gently cups my cheeks before tipping my head and searching my eyes. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

  He’s right. I’m already berating myself for my stupidity, but there’s nothing to be done about it now. I walked right into the lion’s den, thinking I would come away unscathed.

  I’ll be lucky to make it out alive.

  Barely do I get a chance to suck in a breath before his mouth crashes onto mine. One sweep against my lips, and I’m opening until he can plunge inside. Our tongues tangle, and it’s enough to wipe away the knowledge that this is a disastrous idea. My palms go to his chest. Instead of shoving him away, my fingers curl into his shirt, attempting to drag him closer. A growl rumbles up from his chest.

  Our lips fasten, and teeth scrape against one another. All of the protests inside my head go silent as a barrage of sensations flood through me. As much as I try to convince myself that Colton is no different from any of the other guys I’ve been with, I realize deep down inside this is a lie. Colton is unlike anyone else. There is something elemental between us. Electric. Cataclysmic. Every time we come together, this knowledge is slammed home almost painfully, making it impossible to ignore.

  I’m not sure how to go about altering this truth. It might not even be possible. All I know is that when I’m locked in his arms and his mouth is claiming mine, I feel more alive than ever before.

  And that, in a nutshell, is the problem.

  How do you go about eradicating an emotion so powerful?

  I don’t have an answer.

  His hands fall from my face, gliding over my chest and belly before arriving at the button of my jeans where they hesitate. “I want you, Alyssa. Saturday night wasn’t nearly enough.”

  A groan bubbles up in my throat because he’s right. Even as I lay stretched against his car, the warm night air hitting my damp flesh, I had already arrived at the same conclusion. If that encounter did anything, it was only to stoke all those dormant emotions to life.