The elevator opened, and I practically lunged for the hallway. Rebecca followed, still snickering.
“Oh my God,” I grumbled.
“Didn’t you hear him? He likes you!”
I wrinkled my nose. “He doesn’t even know me.”
“Okay, he’s attracted to you. You should go.”
I slipped the key into the lock and gave it a jiggle before turning the knob. “Give it up, Bec. Do what you want, but I’m not going.”
I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, closing my eyes.
I wasn’t blind. Hayden was the most attractive guy in Bennett Hall, but he was also a huge jerk. He was from Tonkawa, a tiny town separated from Blackwell by just fifteen minutes of pasture and farmland.
But having even a moment of attraction toward anyone only made me think of Weston, and mostly, I just tried to forget. That was another reason I was sure Sam was coming to Stillwater to get me. My parents were afraid I wouldn’t come home just so I could avoid running into Weston.
I peeled off my jacket, let my backpack slide off my shoulders onto the floor, and trudged over to my chair. Living alone in a suite that size made me feel like I was back at Gina’s even though this was much cleaner.
When the homework was finished, I caught up on all my television shows and social networking with Sam and Julianne. Then, I scrubbed the clean counters until they were cleaner, and I mopped the pristine tiles until they were more pristine.
I reached an all-time low when I wiped down the inside of the refrigerator only because it was losing the smell of the organic cleaner that reminded me of home.
My cell phone chimed, and I tugged on it until it came out of my back pocket. Hailey from Music Appreciation was asking for notes and if I was going to the Animal House.
I typed out a quick, No, set down my cell phone, and sighed when it chimed again. This time, it was a group message with Alex, Anna, and Renee from my Humanities class.
Nope. Not going.
I locked the screen and set the phone on the coffee table, sitting back. It was nice to have friends, but college made it too easy to make too many at a time. That was one more thing I hadn’t anticipated.
My cell phone chimed again, and I groaned. The side button clicked when I slid it to silent mode. “No, I’m not going to the party, whoever you are,” I said aloud.
I glared at my backpack, knowing my study guide was somewhere inside, and I would need to dig it out soon to study.
Just when I stood up, a knock on the door startled me. Fed up, I stomped over, twisted the knob, and swung it open.
“I’m not going to the par…”
Weston Gates stood in my doorway with a hopeful grin on his face.
Chapter Fourteen
“…TY,” I FINISHED.
“What party?” he asked with a smile.
I nearly recoiled and felt my brows pull in. “What are you doing here?”
“I messaged you to let you know I was coming,” he said, deflated by my reaction.
“When?” I asked, turning to look back at my cell phone still lying on the coffee table.
“From the parking lot. So, about two minutes ago.” He waited for me to say something, and when I didn’t, he shrugged. “Can I come in?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
“I have to study. I have a big test tomorrow before my Sam comes to take me home.”
“Yeah. I told him I’d do it.”
“What?”
“Come get you. I’ve been home for a couple of days. I’ve been at your house the whole time…pretty much.”
“Sam said you could pick me up?”
“Yeah. Is that okay?” He paused. “You’re really not going to let me come in?”
“You’re a day early.”
He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets. “I know. I’ll come back. I couldn’t wait even one more day to see you, Erin. I tried.”
His eyes caught the glint off my necklace, and I tucked it beneath the collar of my shirt.
He looked up at me from under his long lashes, a sweet half smile on his face.
It became increasingly difficult to breathe. I’d tried so hard for over three months to forget about his eyes, the hair that had now grown into his eyes, and his soft bronze skin that was now more of an olive. He seemed a bit taller, a bit thicker, and maybe even a little older, more experienced. I wondered what kind of experiences he’d had.
Hayden passed and paused, recognizing Weston.
“Hey, man. You’re going here?” Hayden asked. He then drew his own conclusions. “Oh, Erin, when I said that, I didn’t know y’all were talking.”
Weston’s eyes danced back and forth between Hayden and me before he furrowed his brow and took a step back.
“No,” Hayden said, noticing Weston’s body language. “Something happened in the elevator earlier…”
Weston backed up another step, trying hard not to lose his cool. He began to breathe through his nose, two deep lines forming between his brows. I could guess what he was thinking, but I didn’t correct him. When Weston had something in his head, it would be impossible to change his mind.
Hayden held both of his hands up and then interlaced them on top of his shaggy blond hair. “Shit. That’s not what I meant. Nothing happened in the elevator.”
Weston turned and began to walk away, but Hayden tried to stop him. Weston grabbed him by the collar of his coat and rammed him against the wall. Weston’s expression said everything without him even opening his mouth.
Hayden held up his hands, blinking. “Just…listen. I thought she thought I had asked her to the party tonight. It was a big misunderstanding. We were both embarrassed. We got out of the elevator. It was super awkward. That’s the end of it, I swear.”
Weston looked at me for confirmation.
I nodded.
Weston released his coat, and Hayden took several steps away.
“I’m sorry,” he said to Weston. He looked to me. “Really, very sorry.”
I shook my head to let Hayden know it was okay, but he barely took the time to notice before he was mashing the button for the elevator. The doors opened, and he poked repeatedly on the button for them to close.
Weston was visibly working to calm down. “I’m sorry, Erin. That took me completely off guard. I knew it was possible that you could be seeing someone, but I didn’t expect that reaction. I’m just as surprised as you are.”