He drops his arm from around my shoulders. “Deal.” As we keep walking, the only sound is our boots moving through the snow and the distant chatter of students ahead, until Jagger asks, “Does Crew know you’re meeting this guy?”
“No, he doesn’t. Crew doesn’t need to know everything I do.” It’s not that I’m trying to purposely keep secrets from Crew, but apparently, he threatened Elias and told him to stay away from me. Crew and I had a big argument over it and he said he didn’t trust the guy. I told him Elias is my friend, who is also dating Riley, and I can hang out with whoever I want to. In the end, we had a screaming match that ended in makeup sex, and we both forgot why we were even fighting in the first place. Doesn’t matter, though. I stand true to my words: I can and will choose my own friends.
“Come on now, Scar. You know I can’t keep shit from him.”
“Never asked you to do that. You can tell him if you want, but all it’ll do is piss him off.”
“Did you ever stop to think about why it might piss him off?”
I laugh. “Umm. How about because Elias has a dick and Crew’s a very jealous guy.”
“I have a dick.”
My lips roll together, pinching back a smile as I look at Jagger. “Yes, I’m well aware.”
“Well. Crew lets you hang out with me.”
We reach the library, and I stop at the bottom of the wide cement staircase in front of the building. “Because you’re his best friend. Crew trusts you and Neo—well, you, anyways. He doesn’t trust many other people.”
When I look at Jagger, I see the softness in his eyes when he asks, “Doyoutrust me, Scar?”
That’s a tough question to answer because I, too, don’t trust many people. It wasn’t until very recently that I realized I could even trust Crew, and sometimes, I still have to pinch myself to know it’s real. Jagger, on the other hand, has been the least cruel to me and has tried the hardest to get back in my good graces; yet, I still don’t know where my trust lies with him. “Should I?”
His fingers brush my cheek, his eyes boring into mine. Goosebumps cascade down my arms and I find myself shivering at his touch. “Probably not in the ways you should.”
I choke out the words, “How come?”
“Because I don’t trust myself with you.”
There’s no need to press on that because I know what he means without even hearing the words. He doesn’t trust himself with me, in the same way I don’t trust myself with him. Temptation is getting stronger and I’m not sure how long either of us will be able to resist.
The physical attraction is real, and lately, my feelings have been brewing for Jagger. I try to ignore them and maintain whatever friendship we have, but it’s getting harder and harder.
My mouth opens to speak, but before I can say the words, his hand drops from my face, and he walks around me.
One glance over my shoulder shows a group of cheerleaders heading toward him, one being Riley. When she spots me, she throws her arm in the air waving. “Scarlett!”
With a subtle wave, I begin toward her. “Hey, Ry. Is Elias inside already?”
“I haven’t seen him. We’re heading inside the athletic center for practice, but tell him I’ll meet him at the dining hall for dinner tonight. Are you joining us?”
“Wish I could, but I told Crew I’d eat at the house tonight. Tomorrow?"
“Tomorrow it is. And you can also give me all the deets about you two. I know there’s a story to tell.”
I bite my lip, grinning. “No story.”
“Liar,” she accuses, and rightfully so. Crew and I haven’t made our relationship public knowledge yet, especially since Neo is still up his ass about even socializing with me. It’s so strange. Neo lets me live in their house, but he expects Crew and Jagger to still treat me as if I’m their menial little toy.
“I’ll see you at school tomorrow, Ry,” I tell her before she waves goodbye and jogs back over to her team.
I give Jagger one last look, and I wish I hadn’t because I’m forced to watch some slut put her hand on his chest while giggling. Before I can turn away, though, he peels her hand off him. Something snaps in his eyes and he lifts her arm, twisting her wrist while she tries to pull away. But he doesn’t let go. I listen intently as he raises his voice and shouts, “Unless your hand is around my cock, don’t touch me again or I’ll break your goddamn hand.”
I can’t help the smile that creeps on my face. Jagger is an asshole, through and through, but lately, for some reason, I get the sweet stuff.
I pull open the large wooden door and step inside the library, inhaling the stale scent of old books and coffee. Best smells in the world.
My eyes immediately land onmy table, the one I sit at every time I come here, but it’s empty. Elias said he’d be here at four. I glance at my wristwatch and see that it’s ten after.