“Oh yeah? What pose is that?”
“The one where you get naked and lie on top of some guy. I was looking forward to trying that one.”
I freeze in place as Nate’s thin lips curve into a sneer.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I mutter in a low voice, looking around to make sure no one else heard us. The only way Nate could possibly know about that photo is if he’s been following my blog.
“Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.” He steps closer to me. Every inch of my body is screaming at me to recoil, but I stand my ground. “Come on, Skyler. If you needed a volunteer, all you had to do was ask.”
My skin prickles as Nate’s gaze trespasses down my body. I ball my hands into fists. The first time Crystal’s douchebag boyfriend tried hitting on me, I got whiplash. My mind couldn’t reconcile the terrible things he said to me with his desire to cheat on his girlfriend with her fat friend. I thought he was fucking with me. Then I realized he really did want to fuck me. He just didn’t want to own his attraction to girls like me in public.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I snap, professionalism be damned. “I told you before, I have zero interest in sharing so much as an appetizer with you. Are you so thick-headed that you don’t remember the last time I turned you down?”
He has the gall to look annoyed, as if I should be honored that someone conventionally attractive would deign to leer in my direction. “I remember you being a frigid, cock-teasing bitch —”
“Is there a problem here?”
Relief floods me at the sound of Ben’s barking voice. He strides over to us with his arms tensed and his mouth set in a hard, intimidating line.
“No problem here,” Nate says, giving Ben a once-over. “We were just talking about the class.”
“Class is over, so you can take off now.” Ben crosses his arms over his chest in a way that accentuates his large biceps. “I’d be happy to escort you out if you’ve forgotten the way.”
Nate looks like he wants to argue, but Ben’s tone leaves no room for debate.
“Thanks for the workout, Skyler,” Nate says, flashing me one last smirk. He exits the studio with his head bowed and his hands tucked inside his pockets.
Ben watches him go and then continues staring at the closed door, probably to make sure Nate doesn’t intend to slip back into the room.
“What the hell was that about?” Ben asks.
My jaw aches from clenching my teeth.
“Nothing,” I say quickly. “Just a guy from school.”
I hike my bag higher onto my shoulder and turn to leave. I don’t want Ben to see how much Nate’s presence in class affected me. I’ve been dealing with assholes like him my whole life, and if I’ve learned anything from my experiences dealing with them, it’s that they don’t deserve so much as a second thought.
“Skye, wait...” Ben cups my chin, urging me to meet his troubled gaze. “Baby Bird, that didn’t seem like nothing.”
My resolve melts at his touch and the warmth in his voice.
“Not here,” I whisper.
I follow Ben to his office. He closes the door behind us, then takes my bag from me, and motions for me to sit in his office chair. I’m genuinely surprised when he takes a knee on the floor in front of me instead of grabbing a chair for himself.
He grasps both my hands, squeezing gently.
“Tell Daddy what happened.”
I swallow to loosen my throat muscles. “That was Crystal’s boyfriend, Nate. He showed up late to my class, after I’d already started teaching. I think he was trying to rile me up.”
Ben exhales sharply, but the fingers caressing the backs of my palms remain gentle. “Why would he want to do that?”
“I told you I know Crystal, but that’s not the whole story.” Tears flood my eyes as I realize the actual reason behind my reluctance to tell Ben how my friendship with Crystal ended: I’m afraid he won’t believe me.
After telling him how Crystal and I came to be friends and roommates, how Crystal and Nate met and what an awful person he turned out to be, I finally reach the part I’ve been dreading...
“We were at a frat party,” I say. “Crystal and I were both drunk. She went outside to get some air, and I went upstairs to use the bathroom. When I opened the door, Nate was waiting for me. He put his hands on my hips, said I was looking hot tonight, and tried to kiss me. I shoved him off and said I was going to tell Crystal what he’d done. He called me a ‘frigid bitch’ and a ‘fat slut,’ you know, super creative stuff.”