“Daisy, what has gotten into you? Are you seeing someone? Is he poisoning you with ridiculous nonsense? Let me tell you something and listen carefully. College boys only want one thing. Women bowing down to them. And if you give the milk away for free, you won’t ever keep one. You’ll become known as cheap and easy. And if you find a man who wants to marry you, he’s going to want you knocked up and at home.”
“That’s….” Never mind. He doesn’t want to hear that he listed three things rather than one thing. “I’m not seeing anyone. Everything is fine. I’m tired and stressed about calculus.” That’s as good of an answer as anything. And I’m not seeing anyone. I can’t see anyone because the one person I want to see is off-limits.
“Okay. I’m just worried about you. You don’t normally snap at me, but I realize this is important for you. Study hard. Why don’t you come over Sunday for dinner?”
“Sure.” I toss my phone into my purse. Not that I don’t love my dad, but the pressure he puts on me is intense.
Tennis shoes. I tip my head upward. Blue jeans. T-shirt. Tripp. Great. He’s less than a foot away from me.
“Hey.” He grins and shifts his weight forward until there’s no space between us. “It’s good to see you.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, causing goosebumps on my arms. And not the good kind of goosebumps. “You know it’s hard to catch up with you. You’re always with Zoe.”
“We’re good friends.” I step backward to put some space between us. And anytime I see you, I shove her in front of me to keep a barrier between us. Or pretend we’re in a life-or-death conversation so you won’t interrupt.
“Well….” His thigh brushes against me. “I’m glad to see you alone.” He lowers his head toward my shoulder and inhales. “You smell nice. Like vanilla and coconut.”
Why is it that if Alexander did that, it would turn my insides to mush, but when Tripp does it, I feel like throwing up?
“Thank you.” I glance around the room. Several of the tables are full. There are couples on the dance floor. The bar area is two deep, with customers motioning for drinks and laughing while slapping each other on the backs. How am I getting out the door without making a scene?
He sniffs loudly as he brushes his nose along the shell of my ear. “And rum. I love rum.”
“That’s nice.”
I pull back, trying to put space between us, when he grabs my chin and jerks my head around to meet his. “Don’t.”
“Ouch.” I glare at him and drop back on my heels. But he doesn’t let me go. Instead, he pulls me closer until I can smell the beer on his breath along, with a faint hint of mint. How much has he had to drink? I study him for signs of intoxication.
“Don’t play hard to get. I saw how you looked at me the other day.” His tongue flicks and swipes over my earlobe.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t look at you in any kind of way the other day.” My body is tense as I prepare to run, even if I haven’t discovered an exit strategy.
“Yes, you did. I was standing by Professor Taylor going over my assignment, and you kept sneaking a peek at me when no one was looking. But I noticed.”
“Listen.” I place my hands on his chest.
“Ah, baby girl. That feels so good. I’ve wanted your hands on me since the day outside of class. I don’t know why I never noticed you before then.”
“Tripp.” I stiffen my arms and shove, but he doesn’t budge. “I don’t know what you saw or felt, but I’m not interested in dating. I’m too busy with my studies.”
“That’s okay. I’ll settle for a night between your thighs. For now.” His eyes are glassy as he sways toward me. Okay. We’ll identify that as shitfaced.
“I’m not interested.” Anger surges through me. I’m not above kneeing him in the junk, but he’s over a hundred pounds heavier than me, and I don’t know anyone else who’s here. He’s got me at an unfair advantage. He’s here with his friends, and I’m alone now that my sister has left.
I glance over at the table he vacated. His friends are huddled together, laughing and punching each other in the arms. Perfect. They all have the maturity of thirteen-year-old boys, only they’re drunk. I’m stuck in a bad situation, and without making a scene, I’m not getting out of it.
“Come on, baby. I’ll let you suck my dick for–”
“Stop.” I shove him with all my strength causing him to stumble on his boots, shifting from one side to the other and steadying himself. His face is red as he lunges toward me.
“The lady said, ‘Stop,’” Alexander’s deep voice growls from behind me.Thank God.My body sags, suddenly feeling like I’m holding 100-pound weights in my arms.
“What’s it to you, Professor Taylor?” Tripp’s chest puffs out as his hands ball into fists at his sides. His three friends shove their chairs backward, causing them to skid across the floor. They stand shoulder to shoulder like an impenetrable wall.
“I wouldn’t if I were you.” Alexander never takes his eyes off Tripp. “You need to be careful. A sexual assault charge can ruin your future and end your football career before it even gets started. And these friends of yours are all on the football team. They don’t want to get involved in your situation and lose their scholarships. The last thing any of you need is law enforcement getting involved.”
“Fuck you. It’s none of your business. Daisy and I were–”
“Doing nothing.” I fold my arms together over my chest. “I told you I wasn’t interested.”