The Jock by J.L. Beck Page 0,41

audible breath and runs his fingers through his hair. I can see the anguish in his eyes. He doesn’t like confrontation any more than I do. This conversation had to happen though.

“I’m sorry, okay. I shouldn’t have followed you, and I shouldn’t have kissed you like that. I was stupid, and I made assumptions I had no business making. Can we just forget this whole thing and go back to the way we were yesterday?”

“Sure,” I agree, even though I already know there is no way I’m going to simply forget this and definitely not that kiss. “Let’s study for your test.”

He nods, and we both sit down.

For the next hour, we do nothing besides study, no small talk, and no flirting. It feels weird. Off somehow, but I’m not going to be the first to admit it.

“Thanks for taking my bag,” I tell him when we are done for the day.

“No problem. Let me walk you to your dorm. I’ll help you carry some stuff.”

I look down at the full bag and the stack of books I brought. “Ugh, that would be great.”

Reaching for the stack of books in front of me, Cage shakes his head and takes everything, including his own bag.

“I got it.” He simply jerks his head.

Not feeling like arguing anymore today, I let him carry everything as we walk to the dorms. The entire walk, I can only think about one thing… please, let Amanda be gone. I don’t want another fight with her, or for Cage to be a witness to any more of her bullying.

I’ve been doing great avoiding her, and she has even been staying somewhere at night. I really don’t want to run into her, now less than ever since I have Cage with me. That will only give her fire to bother me again.

Of course, I’m not that lucky. As soon as we reach the door, I hear her talking, her nails on a chalkboard voice, making my ears ache. I unlock the door, even though everything inside of me tells me to run the other way.

When I pull the door open, and Amanda spots me walking in, her face tells me she is just as happy to see me as I am her.

“Let me call you back, my nerd roommate just walked in,” she says into the phone before hanging up.

“Do you have to be such a bitch all the time?” Cage snaps as he walks in behind me.

“Do you have to be such a jerk all the time? Oh wait, that’s only after you sleep with a girl.”

“Shut up,” Cage growls, and I notice the way his knuckles are whitening.

Ignoring him completely, Amanda continues, “Before, you’re all nice and charming, but as soon as you get your dick sucked, you turn into an asshole. You might want to take that into consideration, Ice Queen. He’s a real asshole once he gets you on your back.”

“Quit calling her that,” Cage defends me, rage filling his features, but I’ve had enough. This is exactly what I’ve been afraid of, and now she is confirming it. I can’t trust Cage to be any different with me. He might treat me well now, act like he cares, but once he gets what he wants, he’ll treat me like I’m nothing. I’ll be alone, sulking after a man that doesn’t want me.

I’ve seen it too many times. I’m not going to fall for it.

I’m not going to fall for him.

“Thank you, but I’m capable of standing up for myself. I don’t need you to do it for me. Matter of fact, I don’t need you to do anything for me.”

Cage looks at me like I just physically slapped him. Quickly, the hurt and shock in his eyes morph into anger. Good, that makes it easier. All of this will be easier if he sees me as the girl that poured a beer on his head.

Tossing the books onto the floor, he curls his lip at me. “You don’t have to be a bitch to me because of her, but since you are, I guess that gives me the chance to be an asshole. See where not needing anyone leads you. You’ll be alone forever. Maybe you’ll even live up to your nickname after all,” he yells the last bit at me, rage lacing his voice, the sound hitting me straight in the chest.

The door slams shut, rattling me to the core, and all I can do is try my best to hold back