Into the Deep(51)

As soon as we heard the front door shut, Claudia turned to me, her hands braced on her hips. “What the hell was that?”

I opened my mouth to lie and then thought better of it. Instead I groaned and let my head fall between my knees, my hair brushing the ground as I replied, “I think that was Jake telling me he regretted dumping me.”

“WHAT?” My head was suddenly shoved back up, Claudia’s fingers curled in my hair as she stared wide-eyed into my face. “Say again?”

I grabbed her hands, wincing as I uncurled her grip on my hair. “It wasn’t said in so many words.”

“Explain.”

So I did, leaving Claudia convinced that Jake and I were playing with fire. I wasn’t sure she wasn’t wrong. However, I didn’t want to stop hanging out with him. I was afraid I was addicted to him again, and since Melissa obviously didn’t seem to be too bothered by us hanging out, I wasn’t going to feel guilty about it. It wasn’t like I had any intention of making a move on him. Jake might have inadvertently admitted that he regretted leaving me, but that didn’t mean he loved Melissa any less. In fact, I was sure of it.

Sitting in the library I doodled over my lecture notes, willing myself to concentrate.

I didn’t get far, but that wasn’t my fault.

The chair across from me screeched across the floor, the noise jolting me in my seat. Jake slid into it. Seriously, I needed to stop thinking about him. It made him magically appear everywhere!

He beamed at me, dumping his books on the desk. “You found a table? What, did you get here at six o’ clock this morning?”

I blinked. “Where did you come from?”

“Evanston, Illinois.”

I made a face. “Smart-ass.”

“Hey, that’s my line.”

I searched his amused expression for any trace of awkwardness concerning the night before, but nope. Nothing. It was like it had never happened.

Ignoring a prick of anger I settled back in my chair, my demeanor prim. “I hope you haven’t stopped by to bother me. I’m studying.”

Jake pretended to look offended. “Moi? Bother you? As if I would.”

“You’ve been bothering me since the eleventh grade,” I grumbled.

He seemed far too pleased by this, so I thought it necessary to kick him in the shin under the table. “Oww!” he jerked back in shock.

“Ssshh!” the girl sitting at the desk in front of us admonished, glaring.

“Apologies,” Jake raised a hand in placation. “I’m just a victim of violence.”

She glowered harder and then finally looked back down at her books.

“Your charm failed you that time, Caplin.”

“You should know I bruise like a peach,” he sighed, tutting under his breath. “Marring my perfect body with your Uggs … terrible.”

I fought laughter, not wanting to get us kicked out. “Jake, they’re Uggs. How much damage can they do?”

He leaned down to rub his shin. “A f**k of a lot, clearly. That shit hurt.”

“You’re such a baby.”

“What was that?” he cupped his ear toward me playfully. “I’m such a babe?” he winked. “Already know that, sweetcheeks.”

I laughed. “What is with you today? You’re very chipper.”

“You mean for a guy who just got nailed in the shin by a hundred-pound girl?”