that wasn’t ever going to happen again.
Bitchy girls with a hard-on for Declan would not determine my happiness or lack thereof.
Declan took my hand and laced his fingers through mine. His thumb caressed my palm. Did he know I was jonesing to smack her? “You ready to eat, love?” he asked softly.
I speared a last look at Nadia’s face, her eyes locked on our intertwined hands.
The cave woman in me wanted to jump on her and have a tussle right here in the cafeteria. But I was better than that.
I nodded at Declan. “I’m starving.”
“Oh, and by the way, Elizabeth and I are dating, Nadia,” Declan said. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we’re going to eat lunch.”
What? I felt my eyes widen, but I played it cool.
What on earth was he up to? Was he just trying to get rid of her?
She blinked rapidly, her mouth opening and closing, and then she turned and flounced off.
As soon as she was out of earshot, he turned to me. “You know me telling her about your jewelry was completely innocent, right? She twisted that to make it more than it was.” He studied my face. “I don’t want Nadia. I think you know exactly what I want.”
Okay.
I didn’t bring up his comment about us dating as we went through the line, got our pizzas, and found the large table where our friends were already seated.
Because you like the idea.
“Sit here,” Declan said to me, pointing to a seat next to him as he sat down when Blake motioned for me to sit next to him.
I sent Blake an apologetic smile as I sat down next to Declan.
Just then a text came in on my phone, and I pulled it out of my backpack.
I read the text and the air got sucked out of me.
So you’re blackmailing my father now? Not smart, Elizabeth. Call me ASAP. See you real soon, babe …
Emphatic. Sure of himself. Colby Scott.
I wanted to hurl the phone across the room but settled for gripping the edge of the table.
I jerked up from my seat and grabbed my backpack.
“Where’re you going?” Dax and Declan both asked at the same time, the similar timbres of their voices striking.
“Home.”
“But, you still have classes,” Shelley said with a quizzical look. “You’ve never missed a class in your life, even when you had the flu … Crap, you look like death warmed over.” She scowled. “Was that your mom on the phone?”
Deny, deny, deny.
I clutched my phone to my chest. “Just not feeling well. Later guys.”
Blake stood up. “Wait, I’ll walk you to the parking lot.”
“No, I will.” Declan stood.
Everyone looked at each other, uneasy glances going between Blake and Declan.
“I don’t need a babysitter.” I pivoted on my heels and had just cleared the door that lead to the outdoor quad when I felt Declan behind me. He pulled me to a stop and I whipped around.
His eyes searched mine. “Why are you so upset? One minute you were glad to see me, and the next you can’t get away fast enough. What’s going on with you? Was it Nadia?”
I shook my head.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Has Colby been to see you?”
“No. I—I just need to get home. I don’t feel well.” I twirled around, but his voice stopped me.
“You’re running, Elizabeth, but it won’t do you any good. You can’t fight what we have.”
His words went straight to my gut, and I turned back to face him.
His eyes bored into mine. “Can’t you see what’s happening between us? We keep pushing each other away because we’re scared. But that night at the gym—it wasn’t just sex for me, Elizabeth. I want you for real, all the good and bad parts together.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know what you mean.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Stop denying us.”
Us? The colony of butterflies in my tummy went crazy.
He continued. “You have wounds. Deep ones. I see that. You’re living in the past with no hope for the future, but you do have hope. I saw it when you talked about your jewelry. I saw it when I made love to you. Just—open your heart. Let me in.” His words were insistent, his eyes soft. Earnest. I sucked in a sharp breath.
God, he was beautiful.
So was Colby.
Didn’t he see that I couldn’t change for him? Did he really think I would hand him the razors to cut out my heart piece by piece? It wasn’t just a paper thing you could