Chapter 70
Nicole POV
My roommate, Brie, barged in late at night cursing boys in general. “Fucking lunatics!” she spat as she removed her clothes and headed to the bathroom, When you come to college, there’s nothing called privacy. It sheds like a snake’s skin.
1 was still reeling under the “Eric” effect, thinking about how he collected me in his lap and kept me there until I had settled. It was warm and unnerving at the same time. A pale blush crept on my cheeks thinking of his muscular arms wrapped around me.
“Why are you blushing?” Brie asked, frowning at me as she wore her nighty.
“It’s nothing!” I said. Was it so evident?
She shrugged and jumped in her bed. “Hey, tomorrow there’s a frat party. I heard that the entire football team would be there. Matt invited me, and so! am inviting you. You better be ready. The party starts at 9.”
I jerked my head back. “No, I am not going anywhere,” I said, clenching my teeth. I hated parties. Avoided them like the plague.
“Yes, you are.” She said, folding her arms over her chest. “The midterm is over. You got a great grade and your GPA is beautiful. So you will come with
me.”
I turned my face away as a familiar sensation washed over me. Like phantom ants crawled all over me at the memory.
“Helloooo!” Brie snapped her fingers. “Earth to moon calling.”
I chuckled. “No Brie. I can’t. I’m too busy.”
“Shut up!” she hissed and jumped out of her bed to jump in my bed. She slid in beside me and curled her arm around my waist in a sisterly hug. “I know how Ethan cheated on you, Nic, but you have to move on. And the best way to do that is to show him you are having tons of fun without him.” She lifted her head to look at me. “You barely attend any parties. Please come this time.”
How could I tell Brie the real reason I didn’t attend the parties? I was molested at one of the parties at home by one of my father’s friends. Gods above. Molest. I hated that word. The sound of it jarred me to my bones. It was like someone had dumped hot water all over my skin and left me burning, scalding, rotting… I had tried very hard to control myself after it, but there were some things that left you scarred for life. Like I couldn’t trust people fast. It took me a year to trust in Ethan, and when I was ready to give him my virginity, I saw him cheating on me. I felt like I was trapped in a walking
nightmare.
“Nic,” Brie said in a soft voice. “You need to get out over there. I’ll be with you all the time.”
I swallowed because I didn’t want to be like a toddler hanging onto mommy.
“And guess what?”
“What?” I asked, raising my eyebrow.
“Ethan will be there with Lexi. What better way to put them down?”
Oh. My pulse raced.
Seeing my face, Brie giggled, “So I guess it’s a yes She glared at me when I didn’t reply. “Capiche?”
I laughed. “Yes.”
“Cool. Now I am going to sleep happily.”
Just as I was about to go to sleep, my phone howled. Yes, that was the ringtone I had set for Eric’s messages. He reminded me of a wild, untamed, dangerous wolf.
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Chapter 70
Hi, Eric here. How about teaching me from tomorrow? I’m free after 9PM.
My brows furrowed. Wasn’t he supposed to be at the frat party with the rest of his teammates? I shot him a quick text, hoping that would quiet him. Moreover, what if he went to the party and ditched me? Brie was going to blow her lid off.
-I’m busy tomorrow.
Another message howled on my phone.
Busy with what? Anger emoji.
This guy really didn’t know boundaries. With my irritation rising, I was about to type the message when his message came through again.
Please say yes for tomorrow. I’ll pay you. What do you want?
Gritting my teeth, I shot a message back.
Nothing. And no.
I saw the three gray dots dancing on the screen.
So you’ll do it for free? Wonderful! Grinning emoji.
I groaned. Why was he sacrificing the party for me?
– Not happening tomorrow. I am going to a party.
The next message widened my eyes. He sent a photo of his torso with his half face. Those beautiful abs, tanned skin and a die for smile. I couldn’t help myself staring at the dusty line of dark hair that trailed down his chest all the way to the navel and disappeared below his pants. I suppressed my laugh.
– What the hell, Wolfe?
His answer is a call. “Did you like it?” he asked cheekily.
“I might just puke.”
“Nah. I know you loved it.”
“Stop it, Eric,” I rasped in a low voice so as not to wake Brie.
“Then I take it you will teach me tomorrow after 9.”
“No,” I replied. “I’m going to the frat party.”
swear I heard his growl before he answered. “I’ll be there at the party. For you.”
His words sounded so possessive that I was taken aback for a moment. I didn’t know how to reply to him, so I disconnected the call and tossed the phone somewhere on the bed. What did he mean by saying, “for you“?
The next evening, I got ready in a black skirt and a long–sleeved black blouse. When Brie looked at me, she actually blew her lid. “You look like Mary Jane, for fuck’s sake!” She pulled out my shirt and gave the one of her pink ones, which had no sleeves and a low neckline.
I panicked. “No,” I whispered. “I can’t wear that. It was something else to wear my cut–off shorts when I was on the university campus, but at a party? Hell no. It was a closed affair, and I knew that boys and girls made out all the time. It was like all depravity descended on the earth.
She must have seen how pale I got, so she threw that shirt away and brought another olive green, which was more conservative.
Matt was waiting for us in the car outside/He smiled and nodded at me as I sat in the passenger seat. “It’s good to see you, Nicole,” he said, as it encouraging me. Brie and Matt were an on and off couple. They both liked and hated each other, but made up within two to three days.
12:11 Wed, 18 Jun GA
Chapter 70
“Hi Matt!” I said in a clipped voice, already getting nervous.
When we reached the frat house, I saw that the place was already teeming with people. And right at the front door was Eric. When I stepped out of the car, his gaze came straight to me, pinning me with something dark lurking beneath his persona. A shudder ran down my body. He strode to us, taking Brie by surprise.
“Hi!” she exclaimed.
But he didn’t acknowledge her or Matt. He just wrapped his arm around my waist, possessively tugging me closer to him.
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