Page 49 of Steeling Her
As soon as we leave the study room and go into the library itself, he’s hounded by people greeting him. I shift my bag awkwardly up along my shoulder. Seeing a group of girls I recognize from my class stalk over to him as we slowly reach my dorm area, I feel out of place next to him, so I decide to leave him to it.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Kevin. Thanks for walking me home.” I smile and was about to walk ahead when his voice stops me.
“Wait—” But before he could say what he wanted to say, he was interrupted by the gorgeous brunette making her way over to him.
“Kevin! Hey, what’s up! What are you doing outside our dorm?” she asks, striking up a conversation with him with relative ease. How do girls do that? I would stand there and stare at the person, hoping they say something to me. Usually something along the lines of “Can I help you?” or “Are you okay?” because they don’t understand why I’m talking to them.
“Hey, Rachel, just finished off a study session with Carter. I’m just walking her back to her dorm.” He smiles at me and I fidget with my top.
“You’re such a gentleman, Kevin,” she says with a purr over to him. She takes one step into his personal space and I know that’s my cue to leave. I walk ahead, waving him off and he once again bellows a “Wait!” over at me, making me turn back around.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell . . .” He laughs awkwardly while rubbing the back of his neck. “We still on for tomorrow? I was thinking nine? Before class? We could grab a bite to eat and get going on the report.” Before I speak up, the girl who had been talking to him before me got there first.
“I would love to! I need to get this report done, it’s been hanging over my head for a while.” She batts her eyelashes at him and he smiles at her before turning back to me.
“Well, actually, I was asking Carter . . . I promised I’d help her out tomorrow.” I see her cheeks heat up with embarrassment from what he said.This so awkward.Before anything registered with me, I blurt out, “You can join us if you want? The more the merrier, right?” I bite my lip as I watch Kevin clear his throat and widen his eyes. I don’t know if that’s what he was implying? This is why I avoid people, because I say stupid things that I know I will regret.
“Yeah, sure . . .” he mumbles. The girls are delighted to join us. I honestly don’t mind, and I hope Kevin doesn’t either. If he does, I would be doing some serious making up. I just can’t read him. “Um, I’m just going to walk Carter to her room . . . I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow?” He sends her a smile and she returns it. He meanders around them to walk in step with me. He puts his hand on my back, guiding me through the bodies outside the building. While going through the lobby, he gets a few stares yet continues to bring me to my room. We take the stairs to the fourth floor. By the time we reach it, both of us are struggling to breathe.
“Next time, we’ll take the elevator,” he pants out with a small laugh and I laugh along with him. I nod in agreement. Those stairs are only made for when you’re going down them. We walk to my door. I know Danielle is the only one in there because Haley is in the library cramming for a test for tomorrow. She’s like a demon at the moment, so we’re steering clear of her, advice courtesy of Nick.
I smile at the thought of that day he told us to stay away from Haley when she studies. “She’s like an angry troll.” I remember him saying. Reaching my door, I put the key in and unlock it.
“You want to come in?” I ask him before I hear a crash and an angry grunt followed by someone yelling, “NICK!” My eyes widen as I witness Nick running by me then stop and trail back turning his head to face me. His eyes dart from me to Kevin behind me, narrowing his eyes to slits.
“Who the hell are you?” he asks, and a pillow flies at the back of his head. I turn my eyes to see Haley being pinned down by TJ on the floor and her screaming for him to get off. I thought she was studying? I know she’s thoroughly enjoying him on her. She informed Danielle and me on their little date and make out session.
“NICK! You’re such a dick wad!” Haley screams at his direction and TJ breaks out in laughter, lying back on the floor and allowing her to get up and lunge for her brother.
“What the fuck?” Kevin whispers out while we see Haley run towards Nick and jump on him. I place my hand over my mouth, trying not to laugh. It’s very hard not to, seeing a five-foot-three girl slapping her six-foot-two older brother on the face and sitting on top of him.
“Shit, Haley! Jesus, will you chill!” He laughs at her and tries to cover his face with his arms.
“Chill? CHILL?! I’ll give you fucking chill, you dick head!” He continues to laugh. TJ hasn’t stopped laughing either. He’s rolling around on the wooden floor, laughing at the girl he likes beating her older brother.
“I’m sorry! Look—OW! Fuck! HALEY, get off me! NOW!” She continues to find an opening to get to his face. “Not the money maker! Come on!” he says with a laugh, and she grunts in response, trying to get the perfect connection.
“You ate my fucking slice, Nick!” she screams. “You’re the worst!” she yells right in his face.
“Fucking hell! You’d swear you’re on your period, Haley!” he teases her and I release my laugh, leaning on the door.
“Nick!” I walk over to her to take her off him, seeing as TJ is not going to help one bit. I hear Kevin snort behind me and it sets me off on a small giggling session of my own. I grip onto Haley’s waist, trying to drag her off and I slip on something and land right on my back. Silence deafens the room instantly.
“Shit! Carter, are you alright?” Nick pushes Haley off and crouches over me and I start to laugh, bringing my knees up to my chest. Why am I such an embarrassing person?
“I’m fine.” I sit up on my arms and stare at Kevin, who is still next to the door, then over to Haley, who is biting her tongue and trying not to say anything. Then once she snaps out of it, she whacks Nick on the back. I almost felt that thump.
“OW! Haley! What was that for?!” He spins around at his flustered sister sitting on her butt on the rug.
“She slipped because of you, you dipshit! That was your fault!” She narrows her eyes at him and he shakes his head, trying to bite back a smile.
“Are you alright? I’m sorry, the gremlin is out today.” He gestures his head to Haley, and I snort at the face she’s making at his head. Kevin steps inside and holds his hand out for me. I take it and he pulls me up off the floor, pressing his lips together to not laugh.
“Go on, laugh. I know you’re dying to.” I shake my head, and he lets it rip along with everyone else in the room. I walk over to the kitchen to wash my hands. I giggle at myself and my clumsiness. I wipe my hands on the towel and see that everyone has calmed down. I meet Nick’s eyes and they pulse through me like no tomorrow.
I haven’t seen him in a couple of days, but those eyes give me the same reaction no matter how often I see him. He gets more handsome every time I see him.
He clears his throat and looks away from me. I focus my attention back to Kevin, still standing by the door. I walk back and close it behind him and invite him inside. “Kevin, this is Nick and TJ. You know Haley. This is Kevin.” I point to him to introduce him to everyone. Nick shakes his hand but I don’t miss the wince from Kevin. Then TJ shakes his hand and almost does the same. I roll my eyes at how alpha male they’ve gone.
