Page 96 of Bad Crush
“No, he won’t. It was a shitty situation without a good outcome.”
But she didn’t see his face. I think he was happy when I said I was leaving. Who could blame him? It was supposed to be a fun night for him. Instead, he got a dose of my crazy family drama, and I probably put his scholarship in jeopardy. Again.
I look down at my lap. “I’ve gotta get out of this dress. It’s mocking me.”
“It’s going to be okay,” she promises.
In my room, I take off my dress and sit on the floor. Oh, how I wish I could climb under the covers and fall right to sleep, but I know I’m in for a long, restless night, so I don’t even bother getting into bed.
Long after the apartment complex has quieted, Adam still hasn’t called or stopped by. I pad over to the guys’ apartment and peek in.
Mav’s on the couch with his phone in hand.
“Hey, Rea.” He straightens.
“Is he here?” I ask.
Maverick nods toward the deck.
I mumble my thanks and head out back. My heart races as he comes into view. I see him before he sees me. Kicked back, beer dangling from his fingertips, staring out into the dark night.
He looks over as the deck creaks under my footsteps.
“Hey.” He tries to hide the despair on his face, covering it with a smile like he’s happy to see me. “I was just about to come check on you.”
He holds an arm out, and I sit on his lap.
“How’d the rest of the banquet go?”
He runs a hand down the back of my head, and I melt into his touch. “Eh. My speech was crap, but at least it’s over. We won’t know which one of us got the scholarship until next week.”
“I’m sure your speech wasn’t that bad.”
“I totally deviated from what I wrote. I’m not even sure it made sense.” He makes a rough sound in his throat. “You doing okay?”
“I have had better nights.” A shallow laugh escapes my lips. “My mother managed to ruin yet another school function. I’m really sorry.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“I cannot believe she showed up there tonight.”
“Yeah, I guess our fake engagement really made the rounds. I told you, you were a good actress.”
“She told me she wanted to come to our wedding. Can you imagine? The happiest day of my life, and she thinks I’d want her there?”
“But we’re not really having a wedding so…”
I swallow, taking in his words. Right. “Speaking of, why didn’t you tell Dr. Salco the truth before tonight?”
“I…” He stares back out in front of him and then shrugs. “I’m sorry. I should have. I started to, but I guess I was afraid of how it might impact the decision of the scholarship.”
“Well, she definitely knows now. Did she say anything?”
“No, I left as soon as my speech was done. I’ll talk to her and explain.”
If he left as soon as he finished his speech, that means he’s been home for a while. Home and avoiding me.
“Is that why you didn’t invite your parents? You were afraid they’d find out we were together or think we were engaged?”
