Page 64 of The Assist
Joel and Z are in the living room watching television.
“She okay?” Joel asks when I plop down onto the couch.
I nod. “Yeah, I think so. Guy was a total ass to her. Never expected her to react like that, though,” I admit. “She’s sleeping now.”
“What the hell happened in there to make you haul off and hit the guy?” Joel asks.
“I didn’t hit him, just shoved a tiny bit.” Okay a lot, whatever. I fill them in the best I remember and include the bits that Blair has told me about the way her relationship ended with David. At least the parts I don’t think she’ll mind my sharing.
“She was really shaken. It doesn’t add up. You know the guy?” I ask Joel.
“Know of him. Not any more than what you told me, though. He’s a Sigma, and he’s a tool.”
“I’m gonna text Mario. Let Vanessa know what happened and see if she knows anything.”
“I’ll text Mario,” Joel interjects. “You need to chill out before you do something stupid.”
24
Blair
I wake in the darkness,but voices carry from downstairs. My head aches from the bawl fest, and I’m filled with humiliation as I wonder what Wes must think. Or what he’ll think if I tell him everything. I’ve played out this scenario a hundred times, how I’d tell Wes if it ever came down to it. Admittedly, I never planned on it unless my hand was forced.
Fucking David. I spent two hours waiting for him to show up at the library so I could give him the latest assignments and he blows me off then has the gall to show up at The Hideout.
What’s worse than being blackmailed by your ex-boyfriend? Your new boy-whatever finding out exactly why you’re being blackmailed in the first place. I have no idea how I’m going to explain myself. Wes deserves the truth, but oh God, the truth is horrifying.
I force myself out of his bed, inhaling his scent and praying it isn’t the last time I’m allowed in said bed, and then I head downstairs. I know there will be questions about what went down and why I reacted the way I did, and I’m having a hard time finding the words even as I try to sort them in my mind.
“What are you doing here?” Fresh tears fall down my face as I run toward Vanessa.
She offers me a sad smile as she stands from her spot on the couch next to Mario and embraces me. “Checking on my best girl. Come sit, tell me what happened.”
Wes, Mario, Joel, and Z watch us carefully. It’s clear whatever I have to say, they want to hear it too. “I ran into David at The Hideout. He was an asshole, per the usual.”
“Blair, honey, you need to stop giving him face time. No more letting him pull you aside. The douche canoe knows he screwed up royally, and he’s trying to get you back.”
“That isn’t it.” I look at my hands as I say the words. “He doesn’t want me back.”
“No guy corners a girl in a bar unless he’s trying to get in her pants.” As Joel speaks, I look to Wes. His expression is guarded, and I wonder how much he’s already guessed. It seems laughably obvious at this point, and Wes is a smart jock.
“He cornered me tonight because we were supposed to meet up.”
Wes’s eyes widen slightly and then he slips the cool and collected mask back into place. I look to Vanessa, unable to watch him while I finish explaining. Vanessa raises her brows, prompting me to continue.
“I’ve been helping him with his classes. No, not helping. I’ve been doing his class work.”
“Why would you do that? You hate him.” V’s shocked voice makes me regret the months of keeping it from her.
“Because he has pictures of me. Naked pictures. He threatened to post them online, around campus, basically ruin me.” I exhale once I get it all out.
The hand that V rests on my leg squeezes. “That rat bastard.”
I peek up at Wes, who has placed his head between his legs. Shame and humiliation force me to look away.
“Baby doll, every girl on campus has nude photos.” Joel sits forward in his chair. “Check this out, these are just from tonight.”
I cover my eyes as Joel pushes his phone in front of my face and I get an eye full of boobs.
