Page 53 of Mostly My Boss
“Jules and I, we’re more than just…” A college relationship. Something that, by its nature, was temporary.
“I know that, too.” Daniel laughed. “You two are weird, but you’re glue. So if you’re banging her roommate, then she gets to have Malcolm.”
Yeah. She did. For a time. Not forever.
* * *
A week later
“Jules,” I called out even as I knocked on her dorm room door. It was Monday and usually she was waiting downstairs by the time I showed up. “Come on, we’re going to be late to class. I can’t believe you made me haul my ass up here.”
The door opened, only it wasn’t Jules on the other side of the door. It was the guy from the Quad.
The computer science guy. Malcolm.
Fuck me.A rush of pure anger swept over me and, again, I used shallow breaths to control it. I’d been off the mood-controlling meds for now for almost eight months. Doing so well, I’d started to believe there wasn’t as much wrong with me as my father thought.
Until times like this happened and all I wanted to do was punch this guy in his smug, nerdy face. He’d been with her. I could practically smell her on him.
“I don’t think she’s going to class. She’s a little messed up right now. Won’t come out of the bathroom.”
That was easy. Now my anger had someplace to go. I reached for the collar of his T-shirt and tugged him, so my face was up in his. “What the fuck did you do to her?”
“Chill out, man, we had some beers last night. I didn’t know she was that drunk.”
“I find out you took advantage of her, you’re a dead man.”
“Hey, it was her idea. I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Get the fuck out of my sight.” I pulled on his shirt until he was past the door then stepped inside and slammed it behind me. I walked over to bathroom door and turned the knob without knocking.
She was on her knees getting sick in the toilet, holding the seat up with one hand. I got behind her and held her forehead even as I pulled her hair back from her face. A few more heaves and she was done. I flushed the toilet and found a cup on the sink and filled it with water.
“Sip slowly,” I told her as she took the cup from my hands, hers shaking.
“Go away.”
“No.”
“I don’t want you to see me like this,” she said, turning her head away from me, leaning on the toilet as she did.
“Tough. I’m the person whocansee you like this.” I sat on the floor so we were at eye level.
“Is he gone?” she asked quietly.
“Lover Boy? Yes. He give you something? Do something you didn’t want? Tell me and I swear to Christ, I will have him murdered.”
She shook her head. Then I watched her suck in air and swallow like she could will herself to not cry.
“Ah fuck, Jules.” I reached over and pulled her toward me, tucking her against my chest. “It was your first time, wasn’t it?”
That only made her cry harder.
“I know. It can be scary, but it’s just sex, Jules. It’s not going to kill you.”
“It sucked!” she said, even as she wiped her nose on my T-shirt.
“Then he’s a fucker, although I can’t imagine the first time is ever easy for a girl.”
