Chapter Twenty-three
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ItwasrarethatI didn't know my own mind. My mom used to tell me I left the womb with so much confidence, the doctor barely had to guide me out. I knew where I was going and how to get there. Always had.
Until Elena Sanderson.
She sent me spinning. It wasn’t something she did on purpose. The person she was took all I knew for certain and turned it on its head.
Leaving her alone yesterday wasn’t me, but I couldn’t get myself to understand and reconcile my hurt girl shrugging it off like it was nothing. So, I took some time—time that wasn’t mine to take—and got lost in my head.
I messed up.
Elena walked down her porch steps, eyeing me warily when she spotted me waiting for her on the sidewalk. My mouth went dry at her long legs in her short skirt. There was a small bandage on the underside of her chin, but otherwise, she looked none the worse for wear. She looked stunning. Maybe even more so than usual.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Dandy,” she chirped, halting in front of me. “You?”
“Pissed off.”
“Oh? At me?”
“Myself.” I shoved her iced coffee into her hand. “The ice hasn't melted yet.”
She brought the cup up and gave the liquid inside a swirl. “Thanks. Did it take you all night to fetch this for me?”
I winced. “It took me all night to get over myself.”
Her head tipped to the side. “What does that mean?”
Unable to stand the foot of distance between us, I hooked her around the waist and pulled her against me. She placed a hand on my chest, keeping herself upright instead of sinking into me like she normally did. I guessed I wasn’t the only one pissed off.
“It means I’m a protector. It comes as naturally to me as breathing. When I found you hurt yesterday, my instincts roared to life. I wanted to care for you, to soothe you, to solve your problems for you, but you didn’t need that, and I didn’t know how to handle it.”
“I won’t apologize for not being like the other women in your life.” She met my gaze with her crystalline eyes. They weren’t hard like I’d had been expecting. Underneath the impassiveness of her expression was a hint of vulnerability in the pretty depths. “I don’t know if I needed you yesterday, but I certainly wanted you.”
“Ellie…” That had to have cost her something to admit, but she’d done it without flinching. “You don’t need to apologize, I do. There’s no way in hell I should have left you. I’m sorry I let you down and allowed my ego to get in the way of taking care of you. It won’t happen again.”
“’Kay.” She turned her head, staring down the sidewalk. I hadn’t won her over yet.
“Come on. Let me drive you to class.”
“I’ll walk.”
“Then I’ll walk with you.”
Taking her hand in mine, I wove our fingers together and started toward campus. She didn’t resist, drinking her coffee in silence while we walked.
“Did you hear from your professor?” I asked.
“Yes. She wasn’t really allowed to tell me anything officially, but she did mention the names of two guys, who, coincidentally, are no longer enrolled in her class. She doesn’t know what will happen as far as punishment, but she’ll pull for them to be expelled.”
It took all my willpower to keep my hold on her loose and gentle.
“Do you know the guys?”
“Not really. They were in Pi Sig, so there’s a grudge there. I’m glad they’re gone, and I’m crossing my fingers this puts an end to their campaign of terror, since I’d like to be able to fully enjoy that class without keeping my guard up constantly.”