Page 86 of Candygrams

God damn it! I need to get to my sister and talk through this shit before I drive myself crazy. Before that man drives me crazy…crazier.

Chapter Ten

Rip

Somehow, I talked Tandy into seeing me again and even talked her into studying with me. One last time…ten times ago. It might have started out as guilt over her feeling bad about her brother-in-law asking me all sorts of questions and calling my ass out on some shit.

At first, I didn’t know who the guy was, but I wasn’t tickled about him asking questions about my Tandy. He started out by asking me how I liked my tutor and if she was worth the money. He told me he had a son who needed tutoring. I told him she wasn't available and he should find someone else. Then he started asking me what she looked like and I wasn’t having any of that shit.

We damn near come to blows when he said he heard she was a ‘nice-looking girl’. He finally admitted he was her brother-in-law and wanted to find out what my intentions were. I told him to mind his own business and let me take care of Tandy since I was with her more than he was. He was about to get an attitude when fucking Aaron came over and started telling me about where the fucker who hurt Tandy was. Turns out he is close enough I can beat his ass more than once.

His ears perked up and he started listening too. Once he found out what I was doing he paid for his coffee - and mine and Aaron’s - and left. When I told her an abbreviated version that left out everything about hunting down the douchebag, she turned red and apologized profusely. It eventually led to her agreeing to help me again. She even apologized for losing her shit on me the morning after she got drunk but I told her not to apologize for that. I realize it would be scary if it happened to me and it was wrong for me to do it. I should have just taken her back to her place and camped outside her door until I could be she was alright. The probationary period she set for us quickly came and went and I even talked her into coming to another party with me but this time I made sure she only had water or virgin drinks.

We’re walking back to the library so we can finish up a study session we started on the field when she stops walking beside me and goes pale.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! OH MY GOD!”

“What? What is it? What’s wrong, baby?”

I realize it’s bad when she doesn’t call me out on calling her baby. I’m ready to dismantle someone or something for making her look like she’s scared shitless. She turns her back, so she is standing right in front of me, but she won’t meet my eyes and I don’t like that at all.

She finally gives me those melted chocolate eyes that have me falling further into her every time. “You know how I told you about Roger Young.”

I give her a nod and stay quiet so she can finish, but I’m pretty sure I know where this is going.

“That’s him! Walking this way! Quick, um…hide!”

“Hide?” The disbelief leaks into my word. “Baby, I’m six-six. I’m a little too big to be hidden.”

“Shit!”

She leans her forehead against my chest and my arms come up around her. I might be too big but I’m the perfect size to help her hide…right up against me.

“Rip?! Ripley ‘Rip’ Bowman?!” The guy comes rushing over to me and all but drags a built blonde who hangs off his arm with him.

“Uh, hey, man. Do I know you?”

I pretend like I’ve never seen him before, and it wasn’t me and the boys who moved his car under the tree all the birds perch above when he was at a restaurant. Or the person who got him kicked out of the gym he liked to go to. Or the person who got him pulled over and cavity searched the other night because an anonymous tip said someone was smuggling meth onto the campus by shoving it up their ass and driving the car he was driving.

I hate the fuck out of this guy and his stupid face. And he hasn’t even noticed Tandy standing in front of me yet. How could you not notice Tandy? How can you look over her beauty? Fuck head!

“I’m Roger Young, I was going to play for the university but I…Tandy?!”

She groans in my arms and I tuck my knuckle under her chin to raise her head and give her a devilish wink.

“You know my Taffy?”

She turns around but I keep my arms around her, one around her waist and one crossed over her chest so he can’t cop looks at her fucking tits. She actually pushes back further into me.

“Taffy?”

“Roger, imagine meeting you here.”

“Wait…are you two…? You’re dating Rip Bowman?” He looks at me over her head. “You’re dating Taffy?”

Taffy opens her mouth but I tickle her causing her to laugh and squirm against me.

“Yep! Look man, I would love to stay and chat but I got to get my girl back to our house. She’s tired.”

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