“What’s the matter, baby? Did something happen?” We sat in my idling truck outside her building, and the hug I’d given her had turned into her clinging onto me like a vine. Her heartbeat wasn’t the same, and the look in her eyes was unsettled. “Tell me! What the hell, Lisa?”
I caught the first tear that fell and felt my guts twist themselves into knots. “What’s going on? What happened?” Now I was the one hugging her hard enough to bruise her. My mind raced with every thought imaginable until I reminded myself that if something had happened to her, one of the guys I had watching her would’ve told me, or I would’ve heard something.
There’d been a lot of talk about Susie and me today, but that’s nothing new; it had only settled down once everyone realized that Lisa and I were an item, and though I don’t necessarily want her hearing that shit, action speaks louder than words in my book. She should know that she has nothing to worry about since we’re never away from each other outside of class or when I’m playing the game. When would I have time for anyone else?
If it was something to do with her family, she would’ve told me by now, so what could it be? I waited for her to tell me after drying her tears, but she just shook her head and held on to my hand. “Take me back to your dorm with you. We’ll do our homework together.” I didn’t question her, but it was her idea to stop studying together because we were both too distracted by each other to get any real work done.
“Okay, let’s go.” Now I’ll have to wait even longer to find out what the hell is going on with her, but anything that gives me more time with her is welcomed. I did send Steve a text from the bathroom where I’d disappeared as soon as we got to my room. She wasn’t acting like my Lisa, and the sooner I knew why the sooner I could deal with whatever was bothering her.
Susie came to mind again, but if she’d been around her, I would’ve heard something. Had she sent another picture? No, Jess had promised to tell me if anything like that happened again, and so had Alexis. I thought of contacting one or both of them but gave up that idea. I want Lisa to tell me herself. I don’t need anyone else to tell me what’s wrong with my woman. But if she thinks that I’ll get into trouble, she won’t tell me if someone messed with her, so I’m back to square one.
Instead of pushing her to give up her secrets, I tried to prove to her that we could study together without me pawing at her. This way, we can go back to spending every waking moment together, and neither of us would flunk out.
It amazes me those moments when I stop to think about it, how easy it was for her to disrupt my well-ordered life. How easily she’d become the most important thing in my life. Not that I was willing to destroy the plans that I’d made for my life, but now, even more than before, I want to make it, to succeed, for her. I want to give her everything, to share all those dreams I’ve held onto with her.
I pulled her to my side on the couch we shared and kissed her lips. Still not the deep passionate kiss I’m longing to share, but it packed enough heat to make her wilt against me. “What was that for?”
“I couldn’t help myself; you’re gorgeous.” I get a kick out of the way those words make her light up as if no one else had ever told her that before as if I were the first and only.
And always, it fills my mind with thoughts of our future together, what it would look like. To have this special girl in my life for always. I’ll do whatever it takes to make that happen, to make sure that no one and nothing ever comes between us.
My phone dinged with an incoming text, but it wasn’t from Steve but Chad. ‘Your girl’s been asking around about Susie; something’s up.’ I put the phone away, words burning a hole in my tongue. I wanted to ask but wanted more for her to come to me. Why was she asking about Susie? As far as I know, she’d only seen her once that day in the dining hall, and I’d played it off as nothing.
Had Susie approached her after all? Maybe it’s time I faced her once and for all. I’ve put it off all these years because it didn’t seem necessary. Even after she drugged me, I’d talked myself out of doing anything with the excuse that I had no evidence, even though I knew down to the bone that she’d done it. But now Lisa was involved, and that sick bitch was more than my little innocent could handle.