The Vow (North Woods University 4)

The air slips past my parted lips, and disappointment and anger overtake the fear I was feeling a few moments ago.

“Where are you?” I don’t even ask who she is partying with, if he says they’re no good, then I trust his judgment. All that matters now is removing her from the situation, which I intend to do.

“I’ll text you the address,” Remington says. “It’s not far from your place.”

“Get her away from whoever she is with and take her outside. I’ll be there soon.”

Hanging up the phone, I shove from the bed, and pull on a pair of sweatpants, before grabbing my keys and heading for the door.

Checking the address Rem sent me, I find it’s only four miles away. Thank fuck. She’s practically partying in my neighborhood.

Five minutes later, I pull up to a frat house that I’ve never been to. Cars are parked along the road, and even with my windows up, I can still manage to hear the loud music blasting. People are scattered out in the front yard, stumbling about.

Ignoring them, I scan the area and spot Rem, at the same time that he must spot me. My gaze homes in on Lily. She’s swaying on her feet, so unstable a small breeze could knock her over. Rem leans into her ear, and says something, before all but carrying her toward the car.

Getting out, I run around the car and open the passenger door for him, and together we get her inside the car. She smells like an entire bar full of liquor, but beneath that is her normal tropical scent and, of course, I would smell that, of all the smells that she’s giving off right now.

She mumbles something incoherently, and I look down at her, wondering what the hell happened that made her act out like this? This is Lily. She’s smart, beautiful, she has the world at her feet, and she’s doing stupid shit like this? With a barrage of emotions assaulting me, I close the door behind her and turn to my brother.

“Who was she partying with?”

“Just some guys, I know… some who I’m pretty sure are slinging dope.”

“Did she take anything?”

“I don’t think so. I kept an eye on her. She did outdrink everyone though, so she’ll definitely be feeling it tomorrow.”

Yeah, she will, among other things, once she’s awake and lucid.

“Thanks for calling…”

“I wasn’t sure if I should call you, but then she started saying your name and…” Rem eyes bleed into mine, and I swear it looks like he’s trying to decode something. “I just wasn’t entirely sure since you were acting so fucking weird at Jules’ birthday party.”

Shit. I fucking forgot about that. I was such a moody asshole that night.

“I’m sorry, I was…”

“Don’t worry about that right now,” Rem interrupts. “Take her home and then get some sleep. I’m sorry I woke you. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

I don’t tell him he didn’t wake me, that I had been sitting up for the last fucking hour thinking about the blonde in my passenger seat, who was apparently trying to make herself forget about something.

“Talk to you tomorrow,” I say, walking around the car and getting into the driver’s seat. Lily’s head shifts back and forth against the headrest, as I lean over the center console to buckle her up.

This close up, I look at her, really look at her. Her heart-shaped face is beautiful. Her bright blue eyes are framed by coal-black lashes that are barely open, and her creamy white cheeks are flushed from all the liquor she’s drunk. Her pink pouty lips are parted, and a puff of breath passes through them.

Even in the obliterated state that she’s in, she still maintains her natural beauty.

Fucking Christ, I shouldn’t be staring at her, much less when she’s passed out. Coming to my senses, I finish buckling her in and start the car. Driving off, I head to the dorms, but when I’m about halfway there, doubt starts to slither in, and I wonder if I should take her there.

She’s pretty much blacked out. I would have to carry her in and up the stairs. What if other students see me carrying her unconscious body up to her room?

Yeah, that’s not going to work. Exhaling a frustrated breath, I take the next turn and drive to my house instead. This might be an even worse idea, but it’s the best I’ve got right now.

At least I won’t be seen by any students, and I won’t have to worry about anyone messing with her. The mere thought of some young ass frat guy touching her has me seeing red, and I tighten my hold on the steering wheel out of anger.

By the time I pull into the driveway, I’m still not sure how I’m going to make this work. I’m supposed to be trying to forget her, and instead, I end up bringing her back to my home, my domain? I’m the Dean of the university, bringing a student home with me.