Nothing But Wild (Malibu University 2)

The pleading look she gives me is a fucking dragon slayer. No man with blood in his veins could say no to this woman when she looks at him like that.

“So I thought…” She sighs, her shoulders drop. “Y-you’re my friend. There isn’t anyone––any guy, I mean––that I t-trust more…” She steps forward, and if there was an open window nearby I’d be tempted to jump out of it.

“What d-do you say, Dall. Will you do it? You offered once.”

Somewhere between Barstow and Las Vegas I turned a two-hundred-thousand dollar car into a pile of scrap metal. Nothing like almost dying to help you get clear on how you want to live and this girl…she’s the first person in my life I don’t want to disappoint.

“That was a joke! I was teasing you.”

In my defense, I did not mean to say that so harshly but I’m in panic mode right now. I want to. Fucking A, I do. I want to so badly. But I also know I’m a bad bet and sex changes everything. She doesn’t know it yet, but I do.

Her face goes blank. Her eyes get real big. This is not a good sign. “It’s ok-kay. You d-don’t have to explain. I’m s-s-s-s. Crud. S-sorry…forget I s-said anything.”

It hits me like a thunderbolt that she misunderstood me. She thinks I’m not attracted to her––which couldn’t be farther from the truth. By the time my body kicks into gear, she’s already halfway down the hall and speed walking to the front door.

“Hey, Dora,” I hear Brock say. I come around the corner in time to watch Brock catch her by the shoulders as she almost crashes into him.

“You okay?” he asks, his face flashing genuine concern.

“Hi, B-Brock. Uh-huh, yeah. I gotta go.”

“Dora!” I shout but she doesn’t turn around. Doesn’t look at me. All it does is draw fire from Brock who looks pissed. Typical. I’m immediately identified as the villain. In the meantime, Dora gets past him.

“Don’t let her go! Dora, wait!”

I get to the threshold and the fucker blocks me. The big guy is six foot five and an easy two-thirty. At at six foot one and two hundred pounds, I’m not moving him an inch.

“She seems to want to leave, bro.”

“It’s complicated. Trust me, I have to catch her.” And still, he doesn’t move. “Due process, bro. Aren’t you pre-law?”

By the time, my meddlesome roommate steps aside, Bernadette is pealing out of the driveway. I sprint after her glowing red taillights in bare feet and get only half a block before I lose her.

Chapter Fifteen

Dora

I. Am. Mortified.

I knew there was a good chance he’d turn me down, but that look on his face…if there had been an open window he would’ve jumped out and made a run for it.

I scan The Cantina, the local bar where most Malibu U students hang out, to make sure a certain somebody hasn’t walked in. For the middle of the week, the place is packed with a mix of students and locals. The music coming from the jukebox loud and the conversation louder. When I don’t see Dallas or any of the other guys on the team, I relax a little but the victory is short-lived.

“I did s-something last night…” I mutter around a mouthful of chips. I eat when I’m nervous. What can I say, old habits die hard.

“What are you doing for spring break, Red?” Zoe says, interrupting my self-inflicted punishment.

Spring break starts in a few days and we all have different plans. Blake and Zoe are headed to The Palmilla in Mexico to meet up with Blake’s dad. Alice is going back to Jersey to visit her folks. And I’m launching “Operation Motherload.” I’m driving up to San Francisco to meet Katherine. Whether she’s ready or not.

“Plans, Red?” Zoe checks me out and frowns. “Do you have any? And stop looking around like you’re waiting for your dealer. What is up with you lately? You’re acting weird.”

If she only knew…but the more important point is that nobody heard me. Huh, dilemma. Do I repeat myself? Because it feels like it’s something I need to get off my chest. Or do I hold my tongue?

“I-I’m thinking about…” I take a gulp of my soda––stalling. Meanwhile, three very curious expressions stare back at me. “I’m thinking about going to San F-Fran t-to see my b-birth mother.”

“That bitch that sent you the email?”

Zoe has two speeds: love and hate. There’s nothing in between.

I nod and her perfectly groomed eyebrows climb up her forehead. “You’ve got chutzpah. I’ll give you that.”

“I f-feel like I have to.”

“Then you should,” Blake remarks.

“I would if I were you,” Alice chimes in. “I wish I had the chance to know my mother better before she died…it might not be pleasant but you’ll never wonder.”

“T-That’s why I’m going to do it.”