Page 91 of For Crosby

“Over here.”

She spun in the opposite direction, searching the darkness until she finally spotted me. She froze, staring wide-eyed at me tied to the big tree in front of her dorm. “Are you okay?” she called.

I smiled, which clearly alleviated any concern she might’ve had that I got myself tied to a tree for a second time. “You gonna help me or what?”

Her movements were slow, her steps almost strategic in their poise. “I’m having a strange case of déjà vu.”

“Tell me about it.”

“What did you do?” she asked, finally stepping in front of me and assessing the ropes.

“What did you do?”

She shrugged, though she had to realize the magnitude of what she’d done for me.

“I don’t even know how to thank you.”

“So, you tied yourself to a tree?” she asked.

“I wanted us to start over. Thought it was a good place to start.”

Her eyes dropped to the ground, and she remained silent for a long time, so long I wondered if she’d leave me there. Her eyes finally lifted to mine. “I’m so sorry.”

“You’re sorry? For what?”

“For avoiding you. For getting mad about you not putting up a fight. For not trusting that you knew what you were doing.”

“There was a video,” I admitted.

“I know.”

“You know?”

She nodded solemnly.

“I’m so damn sorry you were brought into my mess.”

Anger flashed in her eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry about. I hate Jeremy for what he did to you. What he did to us.”

“I thought I could stop him from sharing it so you never even had to know about it. I thought I could handle it alone.”

A sad smile graced her lips. “You did handle it alone. Now you’ve got me.”

Her honesty nearly did me in. “Do I?”

She crossed her arms and laid on the sass. “Well, do you plan on making it to the pros or are you gonna let some other psychopath get in your way?”

I stifled a smile. “You saying you only want me if I’m gonna be rich some day?”

She smirked. “It certainly doesn’t hurt.” She circled the tree to see the situation I’d put myself in. “These are some big knots,” she called from behind the tree. “Who’d you piss off to get yourself in this situation?”

“This girl who meant a lot to me.”

“She meant a lot? She doesn’t anymore?”

“No. She means everything,” I admitted.

She was quiet for a moment, and I would’ve given anything to see her reaction to my words. “You should be naked,” she finally said. “Seems only right.”

---