Nothing But Trouble (Malibu University 1)

“Alice…Alice…Alice…”

“Stop––stop saying my name.”

“Nope. C’mon, Bailey. Hear me out.”

She stops, exhales a loud exasperated breath, and wipes her sweaty brow with the back of her wrist. “Give it a rest, dude. Haven’t you caused enough trouble already?”

That one stung. I’m man enough to admit it. She’s also proving a little more stubborn than I’d anticipated but whatever. Game on. I’m not known as the best two-meter specialist on the Sharks for nothing.

“I haven’t slept in three nights. You know why? Go ahead, ask me why.”

“I don’t care why.”

“No, really, go ahead and ask me.”

“I don’t care.”

“That’s cold, Alice. But I’ll tell you anyway.”

Her lips quirk. “Please don’t.”

“I feel bad. I do. I feel bad that I crippled you, turned you into a gimp, and it’s keeping me up at night.”

Shaking her head, a full grin cuts across her face and I swear I feel it in my chest. This chick’s smiles are so hard to come by it feels like I’m scoring the championship winning goal whenever I manage to get one out of her.

“It’s not my job to make you feel better, Flipper.”

Flipper? Now I’m smiling. Why am I smiling? I’m tired. That’s all.

Behind me, a car horn blasts. In my rearview mirror, some douche waves his arm for me to move the Jeep. Fuck that. It took me two days sitting outside Bailey’s dorm to find her. I’m not about to let her slip through my fingers now because this guy can’t get his Hummer around my Jeep.

Raising my arm out the roof, I flip him off and tires screaming, he guns it around me, nearly missing a head-on collision with a Lexus coming down the hill.

People drive like shit around here.

Having reached her destination, Alice is standing in front of the communications building. She’s rattled if the color on her cheeks and the way her small fists grip the crutches tightly is any indication. Add that to her dismayed expression and it’s safe to say I won’t be winning her over today.

“You’re insane.” She turns and walks away.

“But only in a good way!” I shout through cupped hands. “Let me at least give you my email address.” There’s no masking the rising desperation in my voice as I watch her retreating back. I need a good night’s rest dammit, and this chick’s obstinacy is standing in the way of that.

“That way we can work around our class schedules.”

Too late. She’s already gone.

Chapter 5

Alice

“You coming over for dinner on Friday, sweetie?” my aunt Peg asks as soon as I answer my cell. She’s my father’s older sister and the only family I have in California. Notwithstanding my cousin Marie on my mother’s side, she’s the only family we have left period.

It’s been four days since the incident and my leg looks as bad as it did the day it happened. Having to navigate the treacherous hills to get to and from class isn’t helping for sure. I’ve got new bruises to show for it too. Under my armpits. And one should never have bruises under one’s armpits.

“Can’t. Sorry, Aunt Peg,” I answer while trying to gingerly descend three measly steps that lead back to my dorm.

My good leg is sore. My arms are throbbing and useless. Three steps take me forever––they may as well be Everest. “The car died and I might have broken my ankle.”

Across the quad, I catch sight of Reagan Reynolds laughing it up with a girl in little more than a scrap of material over her bikini top. He almost caused another accident this morning. What’s his deal with wanting to drive me around anyway? I can’t figure out what he wants from me and it’s making me nervous.

“Broken? Are you sure?”

“No, I didn’t go to the ER. I can’t afford to right now.”

“Order the Uber––I’ll pay for it. That way Wheels can have a look.”

Arthur “Wheels” Webster, my aunt Peg’s live-in boyfriend. Wheels is called Wheels because he’s been in a wheelchair since getting into a car wreck twenty years ago. How do I know this? Because when we met, he shook my hand and said, “The name’s Artie but everyone’s called me Wheels since I got in a car wreck. You should know that I live here with your aunt Peg even though she and I aren’t married. Tried to marry the woman but she won’t let me. I apologize if this causes you discomfort.”

“Why would he take a look at my ankle?” As much as I love Aunt Peg, she’s always been a little “out there.”

“Wheels is a doctor––was a doctor. One of them highfalutin types too. Well, before he got pinched for selling prescription drugs and did time.”

Right.

Picturing the quiet, silver-ponytailed man with gnarled leathery hands that’s often tending the small garden out back when I visit, I can’t keep the disbelief out of my voice. “Wheels? A doctor?” And a drug dealer? I leave that last bit out.