Chapter 63: Trey: We Shouldn’t Do This

TREY

"Okay, Noah, please get them to their dorms safely." Sadie points toward the cab, then back at the ginger guy on her team. "And text me when you drop them off."

She’s spent the last ten minutes organizing rides, checking who’s going with whom and making sure her friends end up in the right cars. Looking at the girls slumped against each other, you’d think they’d drunk the bar dry but most of them had two cans of Sam Adams, max.

I’d almost retired my opinion that Quiz Bowl was a nerd den. Tonight’s making that difficult.

Sadie’s still on her feet, of course. She refused every beer I offered her and spent the night working on one piña colada. I watch her count heads again and wonder how the hell I’m supposed to get her out of her shell. At this rate, I’d have better luck plucking out my armpit hairs one by one.

I do like her the way she is. I just wish she’d be more open-minded once in a while.

[She was pretty open-minded when she kissed us.] Trex cuts in. He’s used most of his energy keeping me from getting drunk, but he still has enough left to be a smartass. [Put her on our lap again. See what else she’s open to.]

I shake my head as Michael passes.

"Cap, see you Monday," he calls on his way to his car.

A nod is all he gets. The girl beside him raises her hand like it was meant for her too, and I turn away. Her question about Ezra is still fresh, especially the look on Sadie’s face when she asked it. Maxwell, Paige, Dixie, Ezra, and her could have their own section at the zoo.

"Byeee!" Sadie waves to her friends, then starts walking toward me.

From a distance, my jacket nearly swallows her. It’s big on her, her curls are scattered across her face, and I can still feel them caught around my fingers from when we kissed. Watching her come closer isn’t helping me think about anything else.

I shouldn’t be this hard. Making out used to be practically a hobby in high school, though I haven’t been that guy in a while. Somehow, one kiss from Sadie has my nerves all fucked up, and she has no clue. She looked shocked enough when I told her I’d wanted to kiss her.

"They’re gone," she says, stopping in front of me and pointing toward the departing cab.

Our eyes meet, and I lose my answer for a second. Then, I nod toward the car. "Get in."

After opening her door, I walk around to the driver’s side. She’s still fumbling with her seat belt when I sit down, pulling at the strap until it finally clicks into place.

"You’re sure you can drive?" she asks. "You drank a lot."

"I’m not even tipsy. I’ll get us back safely."

She hesitates before nodding and turning toward the window. I start the car, thinking she’ll talk once we’re on the road, but five minutes pass and we’re nearly at the apartment without another word from her. She watches the streets pass, leaving me to guess what’s going on in her head.

Did I make her uncomfortable? Does she feel like I crossed a line? Most girls would’ve brought it up, even if they only want to know what happens next.

Getting past that iron barricade around her heart would be a lot easier if she’d tell me which part of it I’m up against.

"Sadie." Since she isn’t starting the conversation, I will.

"Hmm?" She stays turned toward the window.

"Are you upset with me?"

Now she faces me, looking surprised. "No. I’m not."

"I’m getting that vibe." I take the turn toward home. Only a few cars pass us, and once they’re gone, the silence comes back.

"I’m just thinking." She pushes her curls away from her face.

"About what?"

She draws a breath, then lets it out without speaking. Her mouth opens again, but she looks away before any words come. I wait, watching the road while she tries to find a place to start.

"First of all," she says at last, "what’s the history between you and Maxwell? He seemed to hate you and even though he’s a jerk, I feel like I know him from somewhere."

I sigh and grip the wheel a little tighter. The honest answer is that Maxwell’s been carrying on a feud by himself, and I’ve never bothered to join in. But Sadie would ask what started it. She gets quiet when she’s thinking, but the girl has the temperament of a cat once she decides something needs an answer.

"He’s Dixie’s ex," I admit. "He thinks I talked her into breaking up with him, so he’s been pissed at me ever since." I ease the car toward our building. "That’s all it is. You don’t need to worry about him."

"So did you kiss me because of that?"

Her expression changes as soon as she asks. The silence earlier makes sense, but fuck, I thought she’d understood me at the bar. I wouldn’t have told her I wanted that kiss if it had only been about getting rid of Maxwell.

"No." I pull into the underground parking lot. "Did he give me the chance? Yeah. But I wanted to kiss you before he showed up."

Sadie’s cheeks are pink when I look over. Her eyes have gone wide, and her fingers are pressed hard against her thigh.

I park, unbuckle my seat belt, and turn toward her. "What else do you want to know?"

She opens her mouth without answering. The idea that I wanted to kiss her has given her even more to think about, and I don’t get it. She’s smart, beautiful, hot, and works harder than anyone I know. How is she this surprised that somebody’s attracted to her?

"I... I..." Whatever she meant to say loses to the car door. She pushes it open and bolts.

I stay in my seat for a second, watching her race toward the elevator as a laugh rises in my throat. She knows we live in the same apartment, right?

[I like a good chase,] Trex says, almost vibrating.

He would. I get out, lock the car, and go after her. Sadie looks over her shoulder and almost squeals when she sees me. She starts jabbing at the elevator button like each press might shave a second off the wait. The doors open just before I reach her, but she can’t get them closed fast enough to keep me out.

She backs away as I step inside, watching me with the wide-eyed alarm of a startled cat.

I crack my neck and raise a brow. "Really?"

She keeps retreating until her back meets the elevator’s back wall. I close the distance and pull her against me by the waist. She gasps, even though I’ve done this enough times that she should know what’s coming. Her fingers press to my chest but don’t push.

"Why are you running from me?" I ask. "I’m not that terrifying, am I?"

She swallows without answering.

"We’re roommates. What’s the plan, lock yourself in your room so you never have to see me?"

"We shouldn’t be doing this," she finally murmurs. "Ezra’s your brother. What will people say about us?"

"What are we doing?" I take her hand, closing my palm around her restless fingers. "Tell me."

"The...the kiss." She blinks like she can’t believe I’m making her say it. "Everything. People are already talking."

"I don’t give a shit what they’re saying." Her hand shifts in mine, but I keep hold of it. "Is Ezra worth giving this up for? Do you like him enough to act like you don’t want me?"

She licks her lips before answering, and my attention drops straight to her mouth. "No." I almost smile. Then her fingers tighten around mine. "But I don’t know what you want from me, Trey."

"I’m—"

The elevator dings open on our floor. Her gaze snaps toward the hallway, and by the time she faces me again, she looks panicked. I turn to see what she’s seen, but her hands reach my neck first. She pulls me down and crushes her lips to mine.