Page 10 of Get Even

“Okay,” he said easily and I stared at him. I’d been expecting a little backlash about how much effort this was going to cost him but he seemed to genuinely not mind.

“Okay?”

“Yes?” Ryan drank some more of his coffee, eying me over the rim. “It’s not exactly a hardship for me to be seen with a beautiful girl.”

“A beautiful girl who recently had a sex scandal and dated your co-captain?”

He shrugged, “We both know you don’t care about the scandal beyond getting your professor off your back and as far as Aaron is concerned… Well, don’t be.”

“He thinks we’re going to get back together.”

“Then let’s show him how wrong he is,” Ryan said in a low voice that had something tightening in my stomach and I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“Then we’re agreed,” he said as he set his mug down. “Public appearances, no kissing or touching in private, no sex…” he let the words hang there as if hoping I might suddenly change my mind before finishing, “...and Aaron is a dick.”

I smiled, “Sounds about right.”

“Then I think we need to seal the deal in the traditional way,” Ry said, standing up and offering me his hand. I raised a brow but took it as I stood, grateful I’d opted to wear jeans and didn’t have a skirt to smooth back into place. He stepped forward and cupped my jaw in one large hand, the warmth making my skin tingle as he lowered his mouth to mine. It was nothing more than an extended peck really but it made me wonder what arealkiss from Ryan might feel like. His mouth was soft but firm and he nipped lightly at my bottom lip before he pulled away and I gasped, not expecting him to take the kiss in that direction.

“How is that the traditional way?” I said quietly and I knew to outsiders we probably looked every part the couple, murmuring sweet nothings to each other, and I wanted to laugh.

“Huh,” Ry said as he pulled back but kept a firm grip on my hand. “I guess I was just thinking about the way they do it onSupernatural.”

I snorted as he walked with me to the door and stepped out into the sunshine, shielding his eyes with a squint and affording me the chance to watch him without him seeing. I didn’t understand how someone who seemed so…nicecould be friends with Aaron.

“Let me walk you home?” Ryan said and I nodded, expecting him to drop my hand as we walked but he kept it firmly clasped between us and the sensation was new. Other than sex, Aaron and I hadn’t been hugely touchy-feely. Neither of us tended to cuddle after sex and we definitely hadn’t walked around holding hands, hadn’t really needed to. If you were seen with Aaron it was pretty clear that you werewithhim, but Ry just seemed to want to hold my hand because he liked it.

“Has Aaron pissed you off recently or something?” I asked and Ryan gave a short laugh as we walked through the trees.

“When hasn’t he pissed me off?”

“I just meant…”

“I know what you meant. I’m happy to make your ex jealous, Jamie.” He pulled us to a stop as his eyes met mine and then dropped to my mouth. “More than happy.”

“Because you hate him?” I said, ignoring the way my heart thudded a little harder than usual.

“Because he was an asshole to you and deserves everything that’s coming to him.”

“I didn’t realize you cared,” I laughed, intending to only tease him but Ry shot me a look I couldn’t work out, murmuring something too low for me to hear.

We walked in silence for a while, taking in the trees that were becoming green again and letting the birdsong fill the air between us. It was surprisingly comfortable, the fresh air, the warmth of his hand in mine, thelightnessof it all. I hadn’t even realized I’d been feeling so heavy.

I nudged us in the direction of my apartment and Ry let me lead without question. It was only a short walk fromCocoa & Rumto mine and I found myself wishing I lived just a little further away. I stopped outside and nodded to the metal door that would let me into the apartments above the street and Ryan smiled ruefully.

“Text me your schedule and I’ll meet you after class when I can,” Ry said and I smiled, glad he had been the one to breach the quiet.

I nodded and took his phone from his hand, inputting my number quickly and handing it back. Something about holding other people’s phones freaked me out. I wasn’t a germaphobe but it just felt icky.

“Sounds good,” I said and turned away to head inside when he said my name and I found my lips suddenly on his again. This time it felt more like a real kiss, devouring and hungry and breathless as Ry’s tongue swept over mine and my hands tightened instinctively on his shoulders. He pulled away and I stared at him with wide eyes.

“We’re still in public,” he reminded me and then grinned as he walked away, leaving me outside trying to calm the racing of my heart.

CHAPTERSIX

DRAMATIC - CAT & CALMELL

I’d spentthe past two weeks working on this presentation for Davis’ class and I knew now more than ever I needed to nail it. My specialism was women throughout history, it was always my focus and historical lens that I chose to use for my assignments, so I’d thought I’d choose something apt for both the college and my own interests for the project –Radclyffe Hall. Specifically, her novelThe Well of Lonelinessseeing as we were currently dissecting the war and its ripples in class. It was a great book andhellothe college was named after her, what better way for me to show my school spirit? At what point my desire for college pep dissolved into a shouting match in the middle of class, I wasn’t sure. Possibly around the time that Davis interrupted me mid-way through my speech to call my topic ‘an embarrassment’ and to further lecture me on banned books, which of course,The Well of Lonelinesshad been because it featured lesbians. Happy lesbians, specifically. If what Nick had told me the other day was anything to go by, then maybe Davis really did have an issue with anything sapphic.

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