Page 30 of Steeling Her
“Why, what’s wrong?” I ask him, worried that something has happened. His brows, and also his face, relax into a small smile. He was messing with me.
“I didn’t get a hug.” I roll my eyes at him making me worry that something was seriously wrong or I did something to annoy him. “So, do I get one?” I laugh shaking my head at him. “No? Why not? TJ got one.” he moans at me.
“I mean, yes, you can have a hug if you want? I didn’t know it was bothering you.” I laugh at him and he steps over to me with open arms. I allow him to wrap me up in a hug and I feel his muscles protect me; the smell of his cologne lightly kisses my nose and feel the softness of the material on my cheek. I wrap my arm around his waist hugging him back. He pulls me tighter to his body, to my surprise, and I feel myself pulling back before I overthink this. Stepping away from him, I immediately miss his touch.
“Happy?” I shyly ask him. He nods his head rapidly with a huge smile on his face.
“Very. I know TJ told you he gives the best hugs but that’s not true. I do.” He walks back out with me to everyone else. I laugh at him and slide into my seat next to TJ.
“What took you guys so long?” Haley groaned, wanting to go and lay down in her bed. She’s badly hungover and the food isn’t sitting well in her stomach.
“I wanted my hug. If TJ got one, I want one.” He smirked at his sister who looks heavenward.
“Whatever, can we go now? I want to crawl back into my safe zone! Also, I think I should get shotgun, because I might puke!” We all stand up and saunter over to the car. I get thrown in the middle between Nick and Danielle, who is staring out of the window. I rub my eyes and yawn while covering my mouth.
“Tired?” Nick asks me. I nod and just stare back at him. His shoulder brushes against mine at every bump, turn, and stop. But it’s his leg that is burning my skin. His entire leg is touching mine, and he moves it closer so there’s more pressure on it. I don’t move. I don’t want to. “You can sleep on my shoulder if you want?” Seeing his eyes pierce through me, I feel a small pulse in my body shocking me a little.
“Oh no, it’s fine. I—”
“I honestly don’t mind. Haley and Ellie does it all the time.”Ellie? Who’s Ellie?I feel something in my stomach that I’m not liking. “My other sister, she’s five.” My eyes light up at the fact they have a little sister. I love kids. I turn into such a big kid when I’m with them.
“You have another sister?”
“Yeah? Did Haley not tell you?” I shake my head at him. Maybe she did mention it but I wasn’t paying attention? Or maybe she never mentioned it? “Here, look I’ll show you.” He whips out his phone and scrolls through some pictures. I see nothing but naked girls posing for him on his phone and immediately look away. “Shit! Sorry, I keep meaning to delete them.” I hear him mumble curse words under his breath as I look straight ahead.
I take his hand to stop him and I say, “Maybe you can show me another time.” When he looks at me, I turn away instantly with a fake smile. The ride back was silent, as I predicted, and equally just as awkward. I just sat there thinking about how many naked girls’ pictures he had on his phone. He’sthattype of guy. He’s the type that gets sent naked picture after naked picture. But worst of all, he keeps them. He actually keeps them.
Later in the hour, TJ pulls up to our dorm building. Haley successfully didn’t puke in the car. Nick steps out of the car to let me out before Danielle, so I instinctively hop out his side. Before I did, I say bye to TJ. I step outside and mumble “Bye” to him before I walk around the back of the car to get inside. I follow behind Haley and Danielle as they trudge up the steps of the building. I didn’t look back. I didn’t want to.
Instead, I see their reflection looking at us in the window of the doors. Nick’s in particular. He is staring at my back, rubbing his hands down his face as he talks to TJ. He is very animated, by the looks of it. Once they drive off, I walk inside the building and hop in the elevators with the two girls. We see where the annoying drilling is coming from. It happens from nine in the morning everyday. One of the rooms is getting renovated. It looks like the offices for the accommodation staff.
Either way, it’s making me sleep deprived.
Once we make it back to our room, we all lay on my bed and mindlessly watch the TV, allowing some to give in to sleep. We’re watching a very old episode of “The Hills” on MTV. We talk about my family as I fill Haley in on it, pleading for her to not tell anyone. She’s skeptical at first about not telling her brother. I get that, but I will tell him. Sometime. Maybe not. Maybe I can get away with not telling him?
Either way, the odds are not in my favor. It’s not something I like telling people—football fans and players in particular.
This is something that is best kept quiet.
Chapter Eight
And What’s The Opposite of Ugly
Nick
I’m such an idiot.
It’s the day before the gala and it has only just now hit me. I’m a total fucking idiot.
I keep messing it up with her. She hasn’t said a word to me since Saturday. I’ve seen her when I went over to see Haley. Secretly, I go over to see her but all I’m getting is the silent treatment. She doesn’t even look at me. Yes, it bothers me. Yes, I’m annoyed at myself. I was so stupid. Why didn’t I delete those pictures? I don’t even look at them anymore. I’m sitting at my desk, trying to study, but it’s not going well at all.
Buzz. Buzz.
I jump across my room, praying it’s her. I frown when I see Haley’s name on the screen. But the message has her name in it.
Haley: Will you drop Carter off to collect her car? Pleeeease
I chuckle at my sister trying to beg me. But I will one hundred percent do it for her in a heartbeat.
