e the first time.
Collin leaned back, seemingly satisfied as he started to caress my back.
I tried not to flinch, and I saw that Gavin noticed and wanted to step in. I tried to convey with my eyes not to. He seemed to get the picture, although he was tense.
“She is a smart one,” Collin stated. “Have you eaten anything yet, babe?” he asked with feign concern. “I know you didn’t eat breakfast, and it is lunch time. Maybe we should go to the quad and all finish discussing this book. I hate English, but maybe I can be of some help.”
“Sounds good,” I tried to sound enthusiastic.
“Do you like him?” Collin asked the moment we got in the car.
“What?” I asked with genuine surprise. “No,” I said hastily. “I mean he’s a nice guy and all, but you’re my boyfriend…right?” I asked guilelessly as I made myself take his hand.
He seemed to relax somewhat. “I know starting a new school can be…scary and exciting. All these new guys around you now. Maybe you have second thoughts on our arrangement.”
I looked out the window, seeing an opportunity to put some distance between us. “You know, honey,” I tried to mollify his insecurities, “It is scary, but it’s not just this new school. I don’t know what happened last night. If the bump on my head might have affected my memories, but I vaguely remember us. I mean, I remember our mutual attraction in high school, but not our recent relationship. Maybe you should take me to the hospital,” I suggested.
“No need for that,” he said quickly, too quickly. “Let’s just hope your memory returns, and I can show you why we are so good together again.”
I didn’t know what to say without screaming out that he was a liar. Maybe I could use this time to figure out how I could help Will. After all, I already knew Mr. Young was a wolf among us, maybe Collin would introduce me to more of them. I wanted to be back with my guys, but the more we knew about our enemies, the better. How did the old saying go? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
I reached out for his hand, digging deep for my acting abilities once more. “If you say so, honey,” I murmured reticently. I couldn’t act too suspiciously, I was already in too deep.
We took the short drive back to the school’s quad. I didn’t wait for Collin to open the car door from me. I was eager to get away from him and go to the cafeteria. Gavin was already waiting in line at a popular sub shop.
“They have amazing subs here,” Collin informed me.
“Okay,” I agreed. A sub didn’t sound too bad.
*********
“So, you mean to tell me that Mr. Bennet was willing to essentially sell one of his daughters so she could support her sisters when he died? What about love?” Gavin asked the moment we sat down in the quad.
I was so glad he seemed to understand the importance of dropping our previous conversation.
I set my tray down and opened the dressing to my salad. I shrugged. “It was a different time back them. Women didn’t have as much opportunities as they do now.”
“Don’t tell me you condone that?” Gavin rolled his eyes.
I snorted. “I never said I condoned it, but times were different.”
“What has you stumped?” Collin said as he chewed on a fry. “That’s why you wanted Blake’s help, right?” He tried to sound nonchalant, but I knew he still didn’t trust Gavin.
Gavin didn’t skip a beat before he said. “No man, not stumped necessarily, but the professor wants us to write an essay condoning that archaic belief, and Blake was acting like my sounding board.”
I was about to berate Collin for his show of jealousy. Even if he was a real boyfriend, I wouldn’t condone jealous behavior.
My guys had showed some signs of jealousy when my band mates would say or do inappropriate things, but they would never question a new guy that came into my life as a friend.
Just then, I could see someone petite come sidling up to Collin, placing an arm around his shoulders as they whispered something in his ear.
I looked over and nearly choked on the piece of chicken I was eating as I saw that it was Rose. Rose was a pretty little thing, shorter and more petite than even I was (which was generally a difficult feat), with pale blond hair in a pixie cut style, and large blue eyes. She had a nose ring, and I knew I didn’t have to see her full-on to know she probably had some tight crop top on to show off her belly button ring. Before I knew what she really was like, I thought she was bubbly, outgoing, and cute. Now that I knew she had—no was—hurting Drake, I despised her with a passion.
I looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Drake. If I remembered correctly they had the same exact class schedule, which had been hard on Drake when they had first broken up. I frowned when I didn’t see him.
Gavin was looking at us quizzically, and I sent him an imperceptible shake of my head, hoping he understood that I would tell him everything later.
“Who’s your friend?” I asked with feigned wide-eyed innocence.