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Chapter Seventeen

Pagan

Four days of dodging Dank and ignoring Gee when she atte to wear on me This was stupid I’d been on one real date with Dank Walker I’d kissed hioing for hiirl falls for a boy in a band at sometime It happens It’s life You learn from it and move on I was ready to do that Why it had bothered me so deeply was beyond me Except I’d never actually had anyone betray me But was that really betrayal? We weren’t a couple We’d irl outside of a building if he wanted to I wasn’t going to be having sex with hi It was bound to happen My pride had been daed a little but I was ready to bounce back

I had spent the weekend studying alone inand Dank would be in my next class I’d smile and be polite and detached No reason to act like anything happened It wasn’t like he had called all weekend or textedhis sex party outside because Gee knew Unfortunately she’d been there right after I’d heard it so she had seen my immediate reaction I really, really hoped she hadn’t shared that scene with Dank I would have to pretend she hadn’t if I was going to face hiotten a little wrapped up in the romance of it all and that wasthe door to Calculus, I realized that last week Dank had carried ht me to class on the back of his motorcycle I’d walked on the wild side for teeks It was time for me to focus I didn’t scan the room to see if Dank was already there I found an e in it to keepwith this weeks flavor; Iclose attention to the professor

Dropping my books on iven his laptop to Gee and told her to er needed it That was of course untrue but I had been pissed

Then a tingling sensation ran downthat the shadow that had fallen over it

"Can I sit here?" His voice was husky and free of humor

We were surrounded by people and the professor alking to the front of the roo a scene Not tohim that his sex-capade bothereda s on the board

Did he have to sit so close? I could do without having to smell him I was already aware he smelled delicious I didn’t need to be re to look at me?" He asked

No, dammit I didn’t want to look at hiaze He looked sad I hadn’t expected that Why was he sad? I couldn’t ask hio any further I’d drawn my line He would have to stay on his side Which was asmore

"Can we talk about it?" His voice was soft He didn’t want anyone else to hear hi to talk about I need to listen to this if I’onna pass this class," I replied with the saan and I held up a hand to stop hi here then you’ll stop now"

He nodded, "I’m sorry"

I hated the way he flinched when I spoke to hio away I didn’t want to feel anything where he was concerned

Class crept by at a snail’s pace When it was finally over I didn’t look at Dank I’d successfully ignored hi he didn’t say a word I shovedin his chair staring straight ahead with a deep frown on his ridiculously good looking face

I should not care that he was upset I should not care I should not care; I kept chanting to myself as I walked down the aisle and toward the door I would not look back There was no reason to The ache inthere alone like that buggedI had a study group in thirty minutes

I hadn’t expected to see Jay sitting on the steps of my dorm today I wasn’t really in the mood for it either but perhaps he was here to pick up the redhead I still didn’t know her na in the dark

I suy At least he kept it real He didn’t act like he was just interested in you He let you knoasn’t a one-woman kind of man I had to respect that

"Hello, Jay," I said as I reached the steps I didn’t figure I had to stick around for s an, hey"

Okay e’d said our polite greetings I had assignments to work on I started to step around him but his hand reached out and took my hand "Wait I wanted to talk to you"

Well, crap "’Bout what?" I asked looking back up at the entrance so that he got the hint I had other things to get to

"I know I screwed up things last week I was an idiot But you are all I’ve thought about for teeks I can’t get you out of o have coffee with me At least let’s be friends I miss you"

Miranda was busy with Nathan all the ti around I was lonely A friend would be nice With Jay I knehere I stood He was easy for ive ood I need a friend Miranda spends more time on the UT caoofy grin I used to love broke out on Jay’s face "Can we go have coffee now? Or do you have plans with a textbook?"

The books could wait "Let ht back Please feel free to ask out anyone alks by that interests you," I teased

Jay’s frown appeared and I realized he didn’t think it was funny "It was a joke If we’re gonna be friends then you have to relax," I said before opening the door and heading up to my roo stopped ainst the door and I heard Miranda cry out in obvious pleasure Oh,She was actually having sex with this guy Backing away from the door I went over to Gee’s door and knocked softly