Page 79 of Wicked Minds
“Pretty sure I fucked up any chance of that happening when we left him hanging on Sunday. Besides, I don’t know if he’d sit down with Riley now. His hatred toward Riley has only gotten worse.” I’ve seen how he glares at her on campus. He’s a walking disaster waiting to happen.
“Yeah, 'cause he’s jealous,” Logan scoffs. When I give him a quizzical look, he explains, “Have you seen the way that dickbag looks at our girl when he sees us on campus?”
I shake my head, not having noticed him watching us at all, but then I mostly only spend time with Riley in the food court, and I make a point of not memorizing the faces of the people watching us in there.
“He’s got it bad for her. Pretty sure he wanted to stab me when I kissed her in front of him the other day.” I arch a brow and he shrugs. “I was testing a theory… which was proven right, by the way.”
I just shake my head, struggling to wrap my mind around that revelation. I was so convinced he hated her guts, but perhaps it’s not as simple as that…
Sensing that my mind is elsewhere, Logan shoves the controller into my hand and starts a new game before I can argue. The mindlessness helps me work through everything he just told me before my thoughts shift to the cryptic post I saw on Lydia’s laptop. I barely notice when Logan wins.
“Another round?” he suggests with a triumphant grin.
Checking the time on my phone, I agree. Before I put my phone away, I flick to Riley’s messages and not stopping to overthink it, I type out:Goodnight.
A moment later, her response comes through:Goodnight, Royce. X
On Friday, I’m sitting outside Riley’s apartment waiting for her to appear. My fingers tap absently against the leather steering wheel as I stare unblinkingly at her door.
I’ve been eating lunch with her and Logan every day, and we’ve been talking on and off since I worked up the nerve to text her on Wednesday night. Riley usually messages to say goodnight before she goes to bed, which results in a few texts exchanged back and forth before she falls asleep.
Since she came to my fight last weekend, there’s this calmness that I can’t quite explain. Braving the food court on Monday… after everything went down at the end of last year, I swore to myself I would never set foot in there again, but knowing she was there, I couldn’t find it in me to stay away. Not like I ever can when it comes to her.
Didn’t mean I wasn’t shitting a brick when I walked in and all eyes turned to me, but I just focused on her, and it was enough.Shewas enough, and every day has been a little easier to bear with her sitting beside me. Hearing her laugh when Logan jokes around, listening to her enthusiastically talk about her classes…
For the first time inmonths, I feel alive.
And it’s all because that stunning girl in thereseesme.
Of course, she doesn’t know the baggage I carry. The dark and twisted past that has permanently scarred my soul.
I should tell her. I know I should, but I also just want to sit in this moment where Riley is mine, and she looks at me like I’m someone worthy of her affection before I burst her bubble. I know once I do, she’ll never look at me the same. She might not look at me the way everyone else does. Something tells me Rileywill believe me when I explain the truth to her, but there’s no way she’ll look at me the same way. How could she?
Given her history, she’d be right to slap me across the face before telling me she never wants to see me again, but Riley is too good. Too pure. She has this capacity to empathize with people, which makes her soft-hearted. This does not mean she is a pushover—she’s perfectly capable of standing up for herself, as evidenced by how she stood up to each of us last semester.
Despite her trauma, she still has this marvelous ability to sympathize. Her compassion is her greatest strength, a shining beacon to the dark shadows of my soul.
And I’m not yet ready to give it up. To giveherup.
While I wait, I slide my phone from my pocket, navigating to the webpage I’ve repeatedly stared at for the past few days. Clicking refresh, there’s still no response to Lydia’s nonsensical message. I don’t know why I keep checking. I still haven’t figured out what it means, but something about it keeps me coming back.
Before I can decide what to do, movement from the corner of my eye catches my attention, and I lift my head as Riley steps out of her building.
She’s dressed simply in leggings and an oversized hoodie. Still, the lycra material clings to her long, toned legs and tight ass, and her hoodie only sends my mind spiraling, thinking about the curves hidden underneath, the way her perky breasts would feel in my hands.
Groaning, I swipe a hand down my face as I mentally talk down the semi I’m now sporting. I might be so fucking gone for this girl, but I have no intention of sticking my dick anywhere near her. Not anytime soon. Not until she knows every dark secret I harbor.
Her gaze latches on to my truck and she pauses before making her way over. I lower the window.
“What are you doing here?”
“Driving you to work,” I retort.
“Why?”
I fight the smirk trying to let loose.This girl.
“Just get in the truck, James.”
