Can't Stop the Feeling (Whispering Bay Romance 6)

Had to go. Talk to you later.

What did he have to do that was so important? And how much later was later?

She hated calling him, because after last night it seemed like such a needy thing to do, but maybe he was sick, and regardless of why he wasn’t in class today, he would definitely need the notes she’d taken, so she called, but it went straight to voice mail. She texted him and asked if everything was okay, but he didn’t respond.

Maybe his cell phone died. But if that were the case, wouldn’t he know? Wouldn’t he have made some attempt to get in touch with her? Because if the situation had been reversed, she would have made every effort to get in touch with him.

By late afternoon the silly-happy feeling she’d woken up with had long since fizzled. It was obvious now that he was avoiding her.

Had she said something to scare him off? Oh God. That must be it. Maybe in the middle of sex she’d blurted out something stupid, like telling him that she loved him. She didn’t remember doing that, but then, she’d been crazy wild at the time and it would be just like her.

He must think her the most unsophisticated ninny of all time.

Or worse, he’d been secretly disgusted by her lack of experience.

Tonight’s study session would be awful. She imagined he’d begin by telling her how much he liked her, or how he hoped they’d always stay friends, blah, blah, blah. She’d have to put on her best game face. She’d smile and tell him that she liked him, too, and how great it had been being study partners and maybe after this semester they’d see each other around. It would be horrible, but she could fake it.

When he didn’t show up for their usual Monday night study session at The Bean, she became seriously worried, so she swallowed her pride and called him a second time, but once again, it went straight to vo

ice mail. When he missed calculus on Wednesday, she stayed after class to talk to their professor.

“Excuse me, Dr. Parrish? I haven’t been able to reach my study partner, and he’s missed a couple of classes now. Ben Harrison? Maybe he’s gotten in contact with you?”

Dr. Parrish, a balding middle-aged man with kind gray eyes, nodded. “Ah, yes, Mr. Harrison. He called me a couple of days ago. Said he needed to take care of a few things.” He frowned like he’d just thought of something. “That leaves you without a study partner for the final next week. Let me see if I can arrange for you to join another group.”

“Oh no, I’m okay. I mean, I just wanted to make sure he wasn’t sick or anything.”

“Very nice of you, Miss Pantini.” Then he smiled at her. “If I were you I wouldn’t worry too much. If I’m not mistaken your average in this class is right at the top. I don’t anticipate you’ll have any trouble with the final.”

“Thank you,” she said woodenly. On the one hand, she was relieved that Ben was all right, but if he’d called Dr. Parrish, he could have taken the time to return her text.

“At least you know he’s okay,” Kate said that evening.

“Yeah.” Jenna tried not to sound as miserable as she felt.

By Friday, she was a hot mess. The only thing that took her mind off Ben even for a little bit was studying, so she hit the books harder than she’d ever done before, studying until her head ached and the back of her eyeballs felt like they were on fire.

Kate urged her to get out of the dorm. “You should go out with me tonight. I’m going clubbing with a couple of my sorority sisters.”

“No, I really should—”

“What, study? You’re practically shriveling up, you’ve been studying so hard! You need a break.”

“I don’t have a fake ID and I’m pretty sure wherever you’re planning to go I would need one.”

“No big deal.” Kate picked up her cell phone and began texting. After a few exchanges, she grinned at Jenna. “Problem solved. One of my sorority sisters has one you can use.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“What if I get caught?”

“You’re not going to get caught. No one even looks at them anyway. So what’s it going to be? Go out with us and have fun or stay here studying something you probably already know inside and out?”

Kate had a point. If she read one more page of American history or tried to solve one more equation, her head would explode. “Where are we going? I mean, I would hate to run into Ben.” The bar he worked at was just a few blocks from campus and a frequent student hangout.

“I promise we’ll go somewhere we won’t run into Ben Harrison.” Kate said his name as if he were the plague himself. She’d been so awesome this week. Trying to cheer Jenna up by bringing her ice cream and leaving her little encouraging notes around their dorm room.