Page 27 of Get Even

I blinked at Ryan in confusion, did he think that I was somehow magically un-busy just because we’d had sex? Or did he really think that I’d made up an excuse last time he’d asked?

“Ry, I’m really sorry but I wasn’t lying before. I really am busy Wednesday.”

“Oh,” he said, his smile dimmed slightly but he nodded. “Yeah sure I get it. What about Thursday night?”

“I just got out of a relationship,” I said carefully, “and I like you, things are fun. But I don’t think I’m ready to date again yet. It’s too soon.”

“I don’t think you can really call what you and Aaron had a relationship,” Ryan said with a roll of his eyes, “At best you seemed like fuck buddies who sometimes hung out.”

“Great, thanks for mansplaining my own relationship to me,” I said sharply and pushed past him to get to the stairs, walking down them without a word as I heard him sigh heavily.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that he didn’t treat you right and–”

“And what? You think you’ll do better?” Well, maybe he was right, but that still didn’t mean I was looking for a relationship. “Look, you’re fun Ry and under different circumstances well, things would be different.” He chuckled and I rolled my eyes, “I just mean that now is not the time okay?”

“So, to be clear, you want me to act like we’re a couple for the sake of your professor and maybe even fool around when it suits you – but you don’t want to be official?” His jaw was tight and he ran his hand over it as he watched me.

“Yeah that pretty much sums it up,” I said, a brief flare of guilt making me wince a little as I said it. But I’d told him what I needed up front before I’d slept with him. He didn’t get to act like I’d somehow tricked him. “And if you remember, I specifically said this arrangement didn’t mean I’d sleep with you. You’re the one who initiated that.”

“Oh, I guess I imagined the public blowjob then.”

Okay. Point.

“I’m not ready to date, Ry. If you want out, then fine. Just say so.”

He said nothing, blue eyes burning with some emotion I couldn’t name, and he didn’t stop me as I walked out the door.

* * *

“Please tell me you’re joking,” I said to Nick on Wednesday afternoon after our lecture. I’d filled him in on everything that had gone down since the party, feeling a little bad that I hadn’t checked in with him recently, and he’d laughed himself breathless when I’d told him about the beer I’d dumped on Aaron’s head.

Things had been radio silent from Ryan since he’d wildly fucked me against Aaron’s bedroom door and I didn’t know if that was because he was pissed at me or if he was giving me space. If it was the former then I was screwed.

“I can’t believe he didn’t include you in the email,” Nick said, leaning against the wall outside of the classroom. “Well, actually I kind of can because that’s why I thought I'd mention it to you. That guy is such a snake.”

A department mixer.This Friday.And I needed my goody-goody date at my side to help me look wholesome and domesticated. Worse, Professor Dick was clearly done messing around because the mixer was attendance mandatory and if I had missed it as he’d intended then it would have been a big mark against me. Maybe even enough to get me suspended seeing as I was already on probation.

“Will you forward me the email please?” I turned towards the double doors that would lead us back outside and stopped. Taylor stood there, smiling at me with big, red, overlined lips. She squealed and hurried forward, throwing her arms around me and I choked on the overly floral scent of her perfume until she released me. What the fuck? How messed up had she been yesterday? Did she seriously not remember threatening me?

“Jay-Jay! I can’t believe I’ve run into you, I’ve missed you,” her blue eyes were heavily lined, like she’d been out the night before and hadn’t bothered to take off her make-up and had instead filled in the gaps.

“I’m sure you’ve missed Aaron more,” I stepped back from her, wrinkling my nose in distaste. “Wow, seriously? It’s barely one in the afternoon and you’re wasted?” Did she even attempt to be sober anymore?

Nick let out a low whistle but didn’t intervene and Taylor looked him up and down openly sneering. “Found yourself another new boy toy already? You and Ry not working out?”

“She wishes,” Nick rumbled, purposefully pulling me closer and I fought off a wave of irritation at the sound of Ryan’s name in her mouth.

“You know I couldn’t handle you, baby,” I said and Nick’s lips twitched as he fought off a laugh.

“God, you’resick. First that girl from the bar and now him? What is it, like, a fetish?” Taylor’s hands were balled at her side and I was in too much shock to respond straight away. Who were these people I’d been associating with?

“You’re vile,” I said at last when my voice finally recovered. My hands balled into fists at my side but Nick gave me a minute shake of his head. He was right, Taylor wasn’t worth getting kicked out. “Don’t come anywhere near me, or Nick or Liv, or I’ll report your racist-ass to the school board.”

Taylor snorted and rolled her eyes, flouncing away on a cloud of dead flowers and floaty blonde hair. I turned to Nick, taking in the tight set to his jaw as he attempted to smile.

“Are you alright?”

Nick’s smile dropped, “You really know how to pick ‘em, Jamie.”

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