Page 51 of False Assumptions

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Hey, man. Haven’t seen you around in a while.”

Sitting in the library again a week after he’d dragged Layla upstairs, Evan looked up from his laptop to see Romero standing across the table. Evan stood and held out a hand. “Hey, man. Slumming it in the library, huh?”

Romero laughed, clasping Evan’s hand briefly. “Something like that. Needed some references for a paper. You?” Romero leaned against the table as Evan sat back down.

“Yeah. Working on a paper, too. Needed a change of scenery from the tiny desk in my room, y’know?” It helped that the scenery in the library included Layla, since she was working tonight. His eyes flicked toward the circulation desk, where she stood sorting books again.

Romero followed his gaze, a grin breaking out on his face. “Yeah, man. There’s some nice scenery here.”

“Shut up, man.” Evan’s smile turned into a scowl. He didn’t need his former teammate scamming on his girl.

Romero chuckled. “Yeah, okay. I see how it is.” His eyes didn’t leave Layla, though, who was now pushing her cart full of books across the library into the shelves not far from Evan’s table. He itched to get up and go “help” her, but didn’t want to be an ass to his friend.

But Romero could read him well enough to know he wanted to go after her, and his grin didn’t dim at all as he sat back in his chair, glancing between Evan and the row of shelves where Layla had disappeared. Shaking his head, he ran his hands through his hair. “So that’s why you haven’t been at any parties lately, huh?”

Evan’s brows rose. He hadn’t actually noticed he’d given up parties since he’d started spending time with Layla. It hadn’t been a conscious decision. He’d been focused on her and spending time with her. They had enough fun together, both in and out of the bedroom, that he didn’t feel the lack. “I guess you could say that.”

Romero nodded, the picture of understanding. Evan waited for him to give him shit, but he just stood and said, “Alright. I was going to invite you to a party tonight over at Thompkin’s place, but I can see you have better things to do.” His eyebrows bounced suggestively. “Have fun.”

Chuckling, Evan raised his hand. “Thanks, man. You too.”

He waited until Romero had turned the corner before getting up to find Layla. She wasn’t as far away as he’d expected, a couple of rows over and halfway down.

Looking up at his approach, she had her lower lip caught between her teeth and her brows furrowed.

He pulled her in for a kiss, and she relaxed a little, but not as much as normal. Pulling back, he looked her over. “What’s wrong? Confused about the shelving?” He nodded to where her hand rested on the spine of a book.

“Why? You planning on offering another tutoring session?”

He grinned as he remembered their first exchange in the library. How different things were now. “Mmm. No. You don’t need that kind of tutoring anymore. However, I’m happy to offer my services for general relaxation purposes.”

She practically purred as she settled her head against his chest. “You are very good at relaxing me.”

“I know. And you love it.” He moved her back enough that he could look down at her. “But seriously, what’s with the face? What’s wrong?”

She stepped away and pulled a book from the cart, giving him her profile as she placed it on the shelf. “I overheard your friend inviting you to a party. Have you really not been going because of me?”

When her eyes met his, her gaze was troubled. He hesitated, and she took that as confirmation, nodding and dropping her gaze to the cart again. “You should go.”

“What?”

“To the party. You should go. Hang out with your friends.”

He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, evidently having picked that up from spending so much time with her. “Layla.”

She didn’t look at him, just moved the cart a foot down and put another book away.

Following her progress, he hated how he chased after her like a lost puppy. “Stop shelving the damn books, and look at me.”

That got her attention. She stopped and turned to face him. In two steps, he had her trapped against the books, her face cradled in his hands. He kissed her. He hadn’t planned to, but with her at his mercy like this, he couldn’t help himself. But he pulled back before he got carried away. She was at work, and they were in the middle of the first floor of the library, not in the back corner upstairs. Anyone could walk in on them.

“It’s true that I haven’t been going to parties because I’ve been spending time with you. But it’s not like it’s a sacrifice. I haven’t even thought about going to a party. I want to hang out with you, even if it’s just doing homework or having dinner or watching a movie on my laptop. I’d much rather do that than go to a stupid party and watch a bunch of people drink, get high, and feel each other up in front of everyone.”

Her eyes widened, and she searched his face. “Really?”

He nodded, and the worried, guarded look left her face. Thank fuck. In the beginning he’d had to work hard to convince her of anything. Now all it took was a kiss and some focus and she believed him the first time. He liked this stage of things much better.

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