I Just Need You - J. Nathan Page 0,52

climbed into bed. I felt myself dozing off a short time later, but only after I heard shuffling on the other side of my closed door.

Tristan.

In the hallway.

Following my request to stay out of my room.

***

I didn’t see Tristan for the entire week. Briggs walked me to my classes and was on dinner duty, along with bathroom checks. But, once my door was closed for the night, I always knew Tristan sat out in the hallway.

Not surprising, Chris hadn’t called. I guess I was more trouble than I was worth.

When the girls suggested going to the bar Friday night, I knew Tristan wouldn’t be able to hide any longer. Drawing him out of hiding was the only thing that gave me motivation to go since I really wasn’t in the mood to party. I let Briggs know we were going so he and Tristan could handle the logistics on their side.

I spent way too much time in the mirror, changing numerous times until I knew I looked my best in short black shorts, a silk fuchsia halter top, and the highest black Louboutin heels I owned. I was going to show Tristan what he was missing out on if it was the last thing I did.

We left the dorm at ten with Briggs leading the way outside. My steps faltered when we reached the SUV. The bodyguard who helped Briggs at the bowling alley sat in the driver’s seat. Not Tristan.

Where was he? Was he already at the bar? Or, had he been taken off my assignment?

“Turn it up!” Alice yelled as soon as the bodyguard started the car and a song she liked played on the radio.

“Is Tristan already at the bar?” Elodie leaned forward and asked Briggs in the passenger seat.

I wished I didn’t care. I really wished I didn’t care. But, my ears perked up.

“He’s got the night off,” Briggs said.

My entire body deflated as the words left his mouth. Tristan had made a fool of me. Made me feel something for him only to cast me aside. Now I was dressing up to make him feel bad for not wanting me, and he wasn’t even going to be there. God. I was so pathetic.

We arrived at the bar, and I plastered on a smile, not wanting to show anyone my disappointment.

Briggs led the way inside while his partner followed us from behind. Briggs made his way through the crowd to a table on the far side of the bar that had a Reserved sign on it.

“We’ll be nearby,” Briggs informed me over the music. “Just signal one of us over if you need anything.”

I nodded, before the girls and I settled on stools at the round high-top. We ordered shots and spent a good hour at our table laughing and talking before heading to the dance floor. Regardless of my initial disappointment, I needed to have fun with the girls. So, I let the thought of Tristan flee my brain and I let loose, dancing until we were drunk and sweaty and didn’t care who was watching us.

“Tristan’s here!” Alice shouted over a song.

My head whipped around, checking the corners of the room. I didn’t see him. I spotted Briggs who watched the crowd intently. I looked back to Alice. “Where?”

She pointed toward the bar.

I searched the bar area which was two people deep all the way around, finally spotting him at a corner seat. I stilled. A blonde scantily clad girl sat beside him, leaning into his side and whispering in his ear.

Heat pulsed in my cheeks and my stomach roiled. Without a word to Elodie or Alice, I pushed my way off the dance floor. I needed to get to the bathroom. I needed to catch my breath. He’d done this on purpose. He knew I was jealous of other girls and purposely brought one with him.

There was a long line for the girl’s bathroom, so I stormed right into the men’s room. The guys standing at the urinals didn’t seem to mind, laughing when they spotted me over their shoulders.

I pushed my way into the only stall and braced my hands on the walls, gasping for air.

I needed to breathe.

I needed to think.

I needed to erase the vision of Tristan and that girl from my mind.

“You all right in there?” one of the guys asked.

“I’m fine,” I lied.

“You sure?” came another voice.

I dragged in one last breath and opened the door to the stall. “That girl’s line is just way too long,” I