Page 74 of Obligation
“Did you just accuse me of cheating?” she whispered.
He fell into step beside her as they made their way to the copy room at the back of the library. “Just want to protect my interests,” he said.
Carissa strode to the biggest copier in the room, loaded the papers into it, then pressed several buttons. As soon as the machine whirred to life, she turned, leaned against it, and crossed her arms over her chest.
“So, how are we going to do this?” He set his backpack on the long table pushed against the far wall, then hopped up to sit on the table. “I don’t know where you keep your most treasured possessions, so I have no way of knowing if you’re truly hiding the shirt somewhere safe.”
“First, that shirt is not one of my most treasured possessions. And second, I’ll give you unbiased information.” She eased her phone from her back pocket, and then she held the phone out, screen up.
A second later, Tiffany’s voice rang out from the speaker. “Please don’t tell me you can’t figure out how to use the copier. Is that what’s taking you so long?”
Carissa laughed. “No. I got, um, sidetracked. I’m making copies right now and will be back soon. Promise. But I need your help with something.”
“What?” Tiffany asked.
“Can you verify where I keep my box of memories that I don’t want to get rid of?” Carissa glanced up at Bradley.
He tilted his head, waiting for Tiffany’s answer. He gripped the edge of the table and leaned forward so he could hear better.
“That is probably the strangest question you have ever asked me,” Tiffany said around a laugh. “You know where you keep your own stuff. Did you fall and hit your head or something? Do you have amnesia?”
Bradley covered his laugh with a fake cough, and Carissa narrowed her eyes in his direction.
“I’m trying to prove something to someone. Can you please just answer the question?” Impatience filled her voice.
“In a clear tote that you hide under your bed. You bought it and decorated it with stickers and glitter the summer before our freshmen year of high school.” Tiffany paused. “Now want to tell me what this is all about?”
“Later,” Carissa said, dropping her gaze back to her phone. “Thanks, Tiff.” She ended the call abruptly and shoved her phone back into her pocket. “Happy now?”
Bradley nodded.
“Good. If I’m right—and I am—that shirt won’t be in the tote.”
“Fair enough.” He straightened and studied her for a moment.
He couldn’t put his finger on what was different about her, but she’d changed since the last time he’d seen her. She appeared happier, more confident. Freer, somehow.
Bradley crooked his finger at her. “Come here.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Carissa’s heart slammed against her ribcage, and then banged around in her chest like an out of control ping pong ball. Why did he want her to go over there? Better yet, why was she holding herself back from doing so? She no longer had a boyfriend; she was free to do whatever she wanted. Granted, she’d told Danny she would be around for him, that he could rely on her for support. But that didn’t mean she had to sit around and wait for him to fix himself.
Still, getting too close to Bradley would undoubtedly end with them lip-locked and her insides on fire. And knowing she was on an official TOP errand had her hesitating. She needed to make copies and get them back to the sorority house so the rest of the pledges could finish their part of this project. Yet, her curiosity got the better of her.
With a deep breath, she pushed away from the copy machine and slowly walked toward Bradley. She stopped directly in front of him. “You beckoned, my lord?” she teased.
“My lord?” His lips twitched into a grin. “I could get used to that.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, well, don’t. I’m not calling you that.”
He laughed, then reached for her, his hands clutching her hips. His touch sent an electric spark through her body, and she fought back the urge to shudder with delight. The fact that she could do this now, that she could let him touch her without fear of Danny finding out that she was doing something wrong, was empowering.
Gently, he tugged her closer, and she didn’t resist. “What’s going on with you?” he asked, his expression matching his concerned tone.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re different today. What I can’t figure out is why.” He tilted his head, his brow furrowed in concentration. “You disappear for days, don’t return any of my calls or texts, and now you’re acting like a different person.”
