“Girl thing?”
“Silent treatment. Evil glares. Whatever it is.”
“You’re a dork.”
He laughed then grunted.
“Drey. Seriously. You need to go home and rest.”
“And let young punks grope you?”
“They grope me all the time.”
His jaw ticked, and I swore I heard a grumble.
“And what’s that about? You’ve watched me wait tables for a year. You know how it works.”
He coughed into his hand. “It’s different now.”
I crossed my arms. “Different?”
“I know you said no to the kissing thing, and that’s fine. I’m patient.”
“No you’re not.”
“When it comes to you…I am.” He pinned me with a stare. “I’ll wait for you, Sarah.”
The conviction in his eyes nearly busted through my guards. Like his hug earlier. But I had to stand firm. For his protection and mine. No, my heart’s protection.
Men lied. They hurt. They…they couldn’t be trusted. Even Drey.
“Don’t waste your time, Drey.” I turned to walk away, but his firm grip on my elbow stopped me. I didn’t look back, though. Couldn’t.
“You’re never a waste.Ever. You hear me?”
Tears stung my eyelids. I was a waste. A waste of DNA. A waste of space. Nothing could change that. And noonecould change that.
Chapter Seven
Drey
“Idon’tgetit,man.” I tossed my sweaty shirt in the locker and slammed it shut. Oh wait, I’d need to wash that. I went to spin the combination again, but my aching shoulder protested with a nice stab of pain.
“Dude, younevershould have come into work,” Sam said. “Your bandage is bloody. And what don’t you get?”
“Chicks.”
“Join the club, mate. I stopped trying and just went with it about three years ago.”
I huffed and peeled off my bandage. Damn thing was bleeding a little.
“Hope you’re getting some sweet meds out of the deal anyway. So, what dontcha get? I’ll explain it.”
“Says the twenty-something college kid. What do you have for experience?”
“Then why’d you ask?” He grunted and shoved his hand through his wavy brown hair. “And I’m a junior at the university. I’ve seen plenty. It’s Sarah, isn’t it?”
I patted the fresh gauze on my side.