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“So, tell me all about the man who has you starry-eyed and completely distracted,” Vanessa smirks at me.
Leaning forward, my eyes sparkle. I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. I’ve never acted this way about anyone before, including Ben, who I thought I was in love with.
And I don’t even know Max yet.
I tell her all about my weekend. Vanessa is shocked and in awe of all that Max has done and how sweet he’s been. Her eyes glow, her head propped on her hand when I tell her about the kisses and the dance we shared last night.
“And then what happened?” She lifts her head from her hands, leaning across the table, her emerald eyes expectantly waiting for me to reveal some juicy details.
I shrug. “Nothing, really. We went downstairs to watch a movie and I fell asleep on him.”
Her brows raise to her hairline and her voice is shrill. "What? What do you mean,you fell asleep?”
Shifting in the booth, my hands clasp together on the table. Swallowing nervously from her reaction, I inhale deeply, then begin talking on the exhale. “I had my head on his lap and I fell asleep as he rubbed my back.” Grabbing my glass of water, I take a long sip, regarding her over it.
“Were you naked?” Her brows are raised as she rubs her hand over her forehead.
“No, I was wearing his t-shirt and a pair of his shorts.” I set my drink on the table, my fingers toying with the cool glass, spinning it around on the table. A coy smile is on my face as I look up at her, my head tilting slightly. “But I think he loved me wearing his clothes.”
“Irelynn Rose, you are driving me crazy with this damned evasiveness. Did you guys make out? Have sex?” She grits her teeth, her hands curling around her drink.
Pausing for dramatic effect, my eyes lower to the table for a few beats before raising back to hers. “Nope. We kissed and held one another.” I prop my head in my hand, a small smile on my face. “Yet somehow, it was the most intimate experience of my life.”
Vanessa shakes her head, trying to come out of her stupor. “I’m just shocked. I mean, this is all romantic as hell, even with the craziness of William’s return. But tonotmake out or have sex?” Her expression is thoughtful. “Do you know how old he is?”
“I haven’t asked him, but I know he’s older than me. He took a couple of years off from school but hasn’t told me what the circumstances were surrounding that.” I pause, taking a drink of my water.
Vanessa laughs. “Well, give it time. You two had a lot going on in two days. Hopefully William will leave you alone and you can continue to get to know Max without all the craziness.”
I nod, my shoulders slumping. Vanessa inadvertently hit on my deepest fears. Max has been around me because of William’s shit.What if everything that happened this weekend was only because he felt obligated since I would have been alone?He mentioned having an aunt who’d been stalked.
I shake my head, letting out a long sigh. But the kisses we exchanged didn’t seem out of obligation. Nor him buying me that stuffed bear, which means more to me than he knows.
“So, when are you seeing Max again?” Vanessa studies me, and I know she sees the worry furrowing my brows.
My hand clutches the necklace hanging from my neck. It’s the last present I received from my brother and has been my source of comfort since he died.
“I’ll see him in class at ten o’clock this morning. Speaking of class, Max asked if I wanted him to come to our apartment when we return and either give me a ride or he will follow me to campus. I haven’t given him an answer—”
Freezing in place, my mouth hangs open as I blink rapidly, unable to trust what I’m seeing. The color drains from my face as the fear courses through my spine.
William has just walked inside the diner with two guys in tow. His ice-blue gaze travels around the restaurant until his eyes lock on me. His lips curl into a smirk, his cold stare wrapping around me possessively. As though I belong to him.
Vanessa takes one look at my wide eyes and pale face and turns toward the door to see what has drawn my attention and elicited such a reaction. Her eyes lock on the three guys standing inside the doorway, then she faces me. “Which one is William?”
“Light blond hair, ice-blue eyes. He’s wearing black trousers, a light blue shirt, and a tie.”
Vanessa turns around, studying him. William’s gaze slides from mine to Vanessa, his expression smug as he studies her with all the arrogance of an entitled prince, preening under her scrutiny, not at all affected by the contempt that I’m positive is all over her face.
Shaking her head, her lip is curled up in a smirk as she faces me. “He looks like an arrogant jackass. I wish I could say he was ugly, but the dude is fucking attractive as hell. Too bad those looks are wasted by him being nuttier than a fucking fruitcake.”
I can’t help the giggle that escapes my mouth. “He certainly is an arrogant, entitled, manipulative, and narcissistic jackass. Don’t forget stalker, too.” I shake my head. “I agree that he is nuttier than a damned fruitcake.” As I say those words, William and his friends head in our direction. Every muscle in my body tenses as William points at a table diagonal from Vanessa and me, and the waitress nods.
Terror courses through me, causing me to tighten my hand around my glass. My mouth is dry as he comes closer.
Before he sits down, he nods at me. “Hello, Irelynn.” His voice drawls over my name, ringing with familiarity and ownership.
My spine stiffens, my shoulders drawing back as my eyes flash with anger, then narrow at him. I’m so sick of his bullshit. I dealt with it in high school, and while there were moments I glimpsed someone almost human beneath his smug veneer, it was so fleeting I could hardly trust it.
