Cream (Gimme Series 4)

Chapter 3

Lia

I sit in class, thinking about Nick. How the hell can I fall for him so quickly? My heart’s racing from that insane kiss. Who kisses someone they just met like they own them? Nick Williams does. I know he only wants to fuck me and work that lust out of his system, but I want it too. Would a short fling be so bad? It could be, but I still crave Nick. Squirming in my seat, I can barely hear the instructor as he speaks. Time seems to last way too damn long, but my mind goes back to Nick’s kiss. I don’t know why I showed up to class. I can’t repeat anything the teacher said so far.

“Ms. Finley, are you okay?” I see the instructor snapping his fingers in front of my face. He’s looking at me strangely. I shake myself out of this sudden mental fog, and that’s when I see the entire class has left.

“Oh, my goodness. I can’t believe it. I’m sorry.” Completely red-faced, I gather my things and then stand to leave.

“Are you on drugs?” he asks. It’s a rude question, but I can see the concern in his face, so I let it go as just that.

“No. Then again, maybe I should be,” I mutter, walking off into the main hallway without looking back. Nick Williams is already turning me into a crazy chick. I should stay away from him.

He should be coming for me any minute now. My pulse races as I wait impatiently. I want Nick like my next breath, but what happens when he’s had his fill. I don’t even know anything about the man. Letting him take me anywhere is wrong. Suddenly, I’m talking myself out of seeing him again. This is all a mistake.

He’s not outside waiting for me like he said he would. Did he decide to stay away? Maybe he feels it’s a mistake as well. The sound of sirens ring out not too far away. It’s hard to see from where I’m at, but I make out the faint billows of smoke coming from somewhere near the café. Shit. That’s what’s wrong. I start making my way there, walking as quickly as I can. I’m almost down the block from the café when the cashier at the café stops me. “Oh, it’s you,” she scoffs as if I don’t have the right to be here.

“Excuse me. Where’s the fire?” I ask, ignoring her attitude.

“The café. And before you go running to your man, he’s with his wife. Consoling her after losing the café.”

“He’s not my man.” The bitter taste of the words coat my tongue, and I have to ask, “He’s married?”

“Yes. She’s a tall brunette and the other owner of the café. You got played like he does to every female in the place. He runs through them, breaking her heart every time. Sorry, you’re nothing special.” She storms off, and I get the feeling that she sounds bitter. I believe her even though I don’t want to. Could I have been that gullible?

Deciding to see for myself, I end up outside of the major crowd of onlookers and spot him. He has his arms wrapped around the beautiful woman the cashier described.

I can’t believe how naïve I am. He lifts his head and our eyes meet. There is no way in hell that I can confront him in front of his wife. She’s already heartbroken about the café. I turn on my heels and make my way to the bus stop to lick my wounds in the privacy of my dorm room. I hope to all hell my roommate isn’t there. I can’t take her overly happy demeanor at the moment.

I pull out my phone, keeping my head down while I check how long the bus will take. “Shit. Twenty minutes.”

“Trying to get away from me?” He whispers next to my ear.

I whip around, holding my hand to my chest, hoping it doesn’t pop out. “Holy shit. You scared the fuck out of me.”

“Yeah. It seems in more ways than one. I don’t want you to be afraid of me, Lia.” He reaches out to touch me but stops himself.

I take a calming breath, and raise my hand, stopping him from coming any closer. It’s time to let him know I’m not interested. “Stay away. Get back to your wife.”

He jerks his head back like I struck him, but he doesn’t leave. Instead, he moves in closer. He cups my chin, so our eyes meet. “Wife? That woman back there is my little sister.”

“Sister? But I…” I choke back the words as relief floods my vulnerable heart.

“I don’t know where you got that idea, but if you could come back with me, you’ll see. I need to check on Brie.”

“Sister?” I repeat, still confounded.