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“Kind of gross,” Babs pipes in.
“Yeah, you know, I always thought you were a little weird, to tell you the truth,” Lizzie continues. “This skulking around campus, interfering with sorority business… maybe you should entertain yourself with women your own age, Daniel, don't you think?”
The air chills around us. I feel his breath accelerate, then it slows again to an eerily subdued rate.
“I mean, what are you planning? You can’t just keep her locked up in your warehouse of pervy delights. You know that, right? You think nobody knows she's over there? Do you have a proper dungeon in the basement or something?”
I bite my lips together, trying to keep any words from coming out. Who does she think she is? What is she suggesting? There is absolutely nothing wrong with me staying at Daniel's place. It's a perfectly normal relationship…
Isn't it?
“I think Kita needs be getting to her exam now,” Daniel says slowly, not even acknowledging Lizzie's suggestions. But I want him to. I want him to defend me, to defend us. To explain that I wouldn't have to be hiding out in his house if I felt safe anywhere else. Which is not his fault… it's hers.
But I'm not going to say any of that. And it doesn't seem like Daniel is either.
“Really?” I hear Claudia ask. “So, what about a coffee or something? You never did buy me that drink.” A flame sparks in my chest. Don’t you flirt with…my man.
To my surprise, Daniel shifts to the side, pivoting to face me. His hands slide under my jaw, tipping my chin upward. Then, in full view of everybody he dips down, kissing me tenderly for long seconds, so sweetly that it takes my breath away. I hear my lab book slide from my hand and flutter to the ground, but I couldn't care less.
When he pulls away, he is smiling.
“Dinner tonight?” he says, loud enough for anyone to hear. “Say, seven o'clock? Fish Market on Sullivan?”
I nod tightly, trying not to breathe too hard so I don't burst out giggling by mistake. Well, this is a surprise. Batman just asked me out on a date!
“I'll take that as a yes,” he smiles brilliantly. “Wear something pretty. Now, run along to class.”
I'm not sure I can say anything without giggling or babbling like a dope, so I just stay quiet as Daniel leans over and picks up my lab notebook, handing it back to me politely. Then he pivots again to position himself between me and the sorority girls as I hurry away to my test.
I've only got about two minutes before class, but I practically fly across the quad, lighter than air. I feel so buoyant, not even gravity can stop me from where I'm going. I have to stop myself from doing tumbles across the expanse of grass.
Chapter 17
Daniel
After Kita is out of earshot, it’s time to get serious with these young ladies. I need to make a point.
“Elizabeth Whitmore, I want to be completely clear with you—”
Lizzie holds up one finger, stop. She pulls her cell phone out of her pocket and drags it under her hair. As she turns to take the phone call and walk away from me, Claudia jerks her chin toward Kita’s receding form.
“You really do have a thing for the young ladies, don't you, Daniel? Is that your problem? Did I just get too old for you?”
“Claudia, in all honesty, there will never be an age at which I find you even the remotest bit attractive.”
She narrows her eyes at me, her gaze steely and sharp as a blade. But I suppose it’s for the best. If I had not been completely clear with her before, the message has now gotten through.
I see Elizabeth’s mouth drop open, and she takes a step toward me, shoving the phone back in her handbag. Her sharp heels knock against the concrete sidewalk.
“What did you do??” she hisses at me.
I cross my arms in front of my chest, still unconsciously positioning myself between them and Kita. She's probably already in class by now, but it's just where I feel like I need to be.
“I don't think I know what you are talking about.”
“Our charter… it’s been dissolved!”
Babs looks completely confused, but Claudia just blanches. She gasps and grabs Lizzie by the upper arm.
