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I was with him this morning. Well, until around five a.m., when he drove me home, his expression full of regret and misery the entire time.
God, the man is exasperating. Frustrating.
“I don’t know the exact time. I was looking for Knox and he answered instead. He was eating breakfast. Eggs with way too much hot sauce on them.” It’s Ruby’s turn to wrinkle her nose. “I can see why you’re into him though.”
“I’m not into him,” I automatically say, as if I’m programmed to do exactly that. Deny, deny, deny.
“Please. You’re so into him. And I get it. That man is fine.” She draws the last word out, sounding silly.
“Keep away from him,” I practically snap. “He’s mine.”
Ruby bursts out laughing, and I sort of hate how much she’s enjoying herself.
“Oh my God, Blair. Calm down. I’m clear across the country, so you have nothing to worry about.” Ruby grins. “You’re cute when you’re jealous though.”
Her comment reminds me of when Cam told me I was cute when I was mad and my heart pangs. I wish I could see him. Fall asleep in his arms again, listening to the steady thump of his heart. That had been so comforting. He’s like a big ol’ teddy bear I can cling to and count on. A teddy bear with an edge.
I want more of that edge. It’s there. He reveals it in bits and pieces, and I want to see all of it. I want him to unleash on me, leaving me a trembling, overwhelmed mess.
A shiver moves through me at just the thought.
“I’m not jealous,” I mumble, flopping back against my pillows. My hair is wet because I just got out of the shower and I’m tired. I didn’t get much sleep last night thanks to Cam, though I’m not complaining. I’d stay up all night with him for days on end, just to spend time with him. “I’m just…”
“Overprotective of your boyfriend?”
My bedroom door pops open in the middle of Ruby’s sentence, Rita peeking her head inside, a frown forming on her face. “Wait a minute. You have a boyfriend?”
I glare at Ruby before I turn my attention to Rita. “My sister is just teasing.”
“I am not! Blair totally has a boyfriend! His name is—”
I end the call, essentially hanging up on her before I deposit my phone on my nightstand. “What’s up?” I ask Rita.
She gives me a strange look but chooses to ignore Ruby’s cutoff outburst, thank God. “Um, there’s a guy here to see you.”
“What? Who?” I sit up straight, running my fingers through my damp hair. I have no makeup on. No bra. I’m in a pair of old shorts that don’t really fit me anymore—they’re too short to go out in public—and an oversized T-shirt that used to belong to my brother. I cut off the hem and it’s cropped. One wrong move and I’ll flash a tit at someone. I don’t even have to be provoked.
“That cute backup quarterback. Ace?”
What?
“I can’t go out there looking like this,” I frantically whisper at her, as I hop off the bed and go over to the mirror that hangs over my dresser, checking my reflection. Oh God, I really do look awful. I have one of those zit patches covering the pimple that decided to make its appearance on the bridge of my nose. Oh, and I’m wearing eye gels under my eyes to soothe the bags that appeared, thanks to my lack of sleep.
“I tried to get him to leave, but he said he had a quick question for you and it couldn’t wait. Come on.” Rita waves her hand at me and with a frustrated sigh I fall into step behind her, letting her lead me to the front door.
It’s partially cracked open and I peek around it hesitantly to find Ace standing on our welcome mat, his gaze fixed on his phone, his fingers flying over the screen.
“Hey,” I say weakly, praying he doesn’t look too closely at my face.
“Oh hey, Blair.” He lifts his head, his gaze zeroing in on me. He doesn’t even bat an eyelash at my less than stellar appearance. “Uh, I have a message for you.”
“A message?” I frown.
“Yeah.” He takes a step closer, his voice shifting lower. “Um, Cam asked me to deliver it. To you.”
Say what? “Cam wants you to give me a message?”
What in the world is going on?
