Death of a Waterfall (The Hayden Falls Saga) (16 page)

"I'd sure as hell hope so considering we're friends."

He stared at her. She knew damn well what he meant. Why was she trying to avoid the topic? "You know, before I asked Teghan out, I'd considered asking you."

"Okay." Annabelle stood up. "I've heard enough. I told you that night and I'm going to tell you again. I'm not going to be
that
girl."

"And what girl is that exactly?" He stood.

"The one you use to get over Teghan. Or rather, get even with her."

"Why would I have to get even with her, Annie?" Alex crossed his arms over his chest. "She's seeing Donnie isn't she?" He waited for an answer that never came. Not that he needed one. The answer was written all over her face. Annabelle had never been a good liar. "I knew it," he said sitting back in the booth. For some reason, it didn't piss him off nearly as much as he'd expected it would. The fact that Donnie hadn't kept up his end of the bet pissed him off. The fact that everyone was lying to him pissed him off. But the actual fact that Donnie and Teghan really were seeing each other didn't bother him. And he had a feeling he knew why it was an easy truth to swallow. He watched as Annabelle sat across from him again. What if he had chosen her over Teghan? Alex couldn't help but wonder how much differently his life would be right now if he was with Annabelle.

"I would've said yes," she said.

"What?"

"If you had asked me out. I would've said yes."

"And what if I ask you now? Would you still say yes?"

"No," she whispered. "I'm sorry. Regardless of what Teghan may or may not be doing, she still cares about you and I won't do this to her. Besides, I don't want to throw our friendship away like that."

Alex nodded. Sensible straight-laced Annabelle. Did she ever stop thinking and just feel? "I'd be lost without your friendship, Annie."

She smiled. "What can I say? I'm a hot commodity."

He laughed.

"Are you going to be okay?" Annabelle's tone was serious.

"Yes, actually I think I am," he said. "Let's order. I'm starving."

~ * ~

By the time he left, three hours later, he felt so much better about everything. And he had a new purpose. He was going to get Donnie to admit that he'd been seeing Teghan. A small part of him still held onto the hope that maybe he was wrong and that Donnie wasn't seeing Teghan. Annabelle hadn't confirmed it one way or the other. But if he was right, well, he'd cross that bridge when he got to it. In the meantime, he was going to do whatever he could to get Annabelle out of his head. She'd made it very clear she'd never go out with him, and he had to respect her wishes. No matter how much he didn't agree with them.

Chapter Fourteen

"Where are you going?" Alex asked.

"Uh..." Donnie cleared his throat. He'd been secretly seeing Teghan for a little over a month now, and he was running out of lies to tell Alex. "I'm going for a run."

"In jeans and a polo shirt?"

"No. I'm gonna change," Donnie said, toeing off his shoes. He wondered what was with all the questions. Alex had never cared before where Donnie went or what he was doing. Normally, Donnie would simply say he was leaving and that would be it. But lately Alex acted suspicious.

"Want some company?"

Not really.
"Sure."
Fuck!
He was going to be late now. "Let me hit the bathroom first." Donnie walked to the bathroom and dug out his cell phone.

"Hey there, sexy," Teghan answered.

Man, he really loved the sound of her voice. "I got bad news," he whispered. "Alex is giving me a hard time tonight. I'm gonna be late."

"Oh. Well, that's okay." She sighed heavily. "I promised some friends I'd hang out with them one of these nights anyway. Text me as soon as you can get away."

The tone of her voice clutched at this heart. She sounded sad. "I'm sorry, Teghan."

"Don't be. It's really okay."

"You don't sound like it's okay," he said. "I think we should just tell Alex. I'm tired of sneaking around."

"No!" Teghan said. "You can't tell him. Promise me, Donnie." Her voice bordered on frantic.

He really didn't understand why she still wasn't willing to tell Alex the truth. Donnie had hinted at it a few times, but she always found a way to distract him from it. He sighed, but promised. A knot formed in his stomach. It'd been five days since he'd last seen her, and he missed her like crazy. Not to mention he'd been having nightmares that she was seeing someone else behind his back. "I
will
see you tonight," Donnie said before saying goodbye and hanging up.

"That was one long ass piss," Alex said when Donnie came back into the room.

"I had to take a shit." Donnie was fed up with the whole damn situation. He hadn't expected the first girl he dated in college would turn out to be in secrecy.

"My buddy, Nate just called. The Tri-Gams are having a wet tee shirt party tonight. I told him we'd come check it out."

"Why'd you do that?" It was no secret Donnie didn't like the guy. Nate was the president of the fraternity where Alex wanted to pledge, and Nate was a crude, arrogant, sleezeball.

"What's up with you lately, man?"

"Nothing. I just don't feel like watching Nate chase ass all night," Donnie said.

"That explains your attitude tonight, but what about the past month? You're always disappearing and you never want to hang anymore."

Christ, he sounded like a nagging wife. Donnie ignored him and put his sneakers on. "What the hell are you talking about? I'm here every night." He yanked off his polo shirt and turned away from Alex. He silently prayed Alex wouldn't figure it out, but he wasn't hopeful. Maybe it was time to come clean, to tell Alex that he was in love with Teghan. Okay, maybe not be that honest. Teghan had made him promise, repeatedly, to keep it a secret. He pulled a tee shirt over his head. "We gonna run or what?"

"Yeah," Alex said.

They jogged to the track, picking up speed as they ran. Alex and Donnie didn't speak. Donnie was too focused on Teghan. He silently debated if he should tell her that he loved her. Would she say it back? Would she be willing to commit to him? Was it too soon? The last thing he wanted to do was to tell her something like that and have her freak out on him. It was probably the quickest way to lose her, he knew that, yet he wanted to be honest with her. They sure as hell were lying to everyone else. There was no reason for them to lie to each other. "I'm done," Donnie said after four laps.

"Me too," Alex said in between breaths. "So, are you gonna check out this party with me or what?"

"I can't. I have plans."

"Doing what?"

"Hanging with a friend."

"Who?"

"For Christ's sake, Alex. You sound like my mother." Donnie wiped his forehead and took off toward the dorm.

"What the fuck, dude?" Alex shouted. "You into something illegal?" He caught up to Donnie.

"No. Look, if you wanna hang tomorrow night, then I'm cool with that."

"It's a chick, isn't it?" Alex asked.

Donnie stopped walking, put his hands on his hips, and looked at Alex. "Yes."

"Who? Is it that hot blonde who's always checking you out at the gym?"

"No." Donnie started back toward the dorm, his steps firm and purposeful. Why the fuck couldn't Alex just drop it? Donnie didn't want to fight him, again, but he would if he had to. And with the way Alex kept pushing the issue, that's exactly where things were headed.

"The redhead," Alex said his voice full of excitement. "Is she a true reddie?"

"No," Donnie said through clenched teeth.

"Figures."

"No, I meant it's not the redhead."

"There's another one? Who?"

Donnie considered jabbing Alex in the throat. "Just drop it, Alex." Donnie swung open the door to their building and went inside.

Alex followed him up the stairs. "C'mon, just tell me."

"I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone. She's got a crazy ex." Donnie fought back a smile.

"Oh, now I get it." Alex smiled.

"Get what?"

"Your 'girlfriend,' wink, wink. Let me guess, she doesn't go to school here and she probably lives in a different state too."

"Dude, you're being a real dick." Donnie continued to walk ahead of Alex.

"Is she made of plastic and full of hot air?" Alex laughed.

Donnie stopped then spun around, grabbed Alex by the shirt, and slammed him up against the wall. "You're really starting to piss me off. Shut the fuck up, and drop it." Donnie's face was hot with anger, his jaw was taut, and his whole body was tense.

"Get your fucking hands off me." Alex shoved Donnie hard enough to knock him into the opposite wall.

"You don't want to know, man. Trust me." Donnie walked to their room and unlocked the door. He gathered some clothes and was headed for the shower when Alex appeared in the doorway. His arms were crossed over his chest, his face was red with anger, and he was scowling. "Get out of the way," Donnie said.

"No," Alex said. "I've kept my mouth shut long enough, but your mood swings this past month are worse than a chick with PMS. So, you're going to tell me what the fuck is going on, or you can find yourself a new roommate."

"I told you. You don't want to know."

Alex walked into the room and slammed the door. "I already know. Now stop being a fucking pussy and just tell me."

Donnie paused for the briefest moment, his hands balled into fists. He was caught. There was no way out of it. He took a deep breath and said, "I've been seeing Teghan."

"You son of a bitch!" Alex punched Donnie in the mouth.

Donnie stumbled back slightly and brought his hand to his lips. Blood. It could be worse. God knows he deserved worse. "I told you to drop it. I warned you that you wouldn't like it."

"It's been going on this entire time?" Alex dug his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed.

"What're you doing?"

"Calling Teghan."

"Put the phone away, Alex." His voice was calm despite the rising fear he felt. It was bad enough Donnie just told Alex the truth after Donnie had promised Teghan he wouldn't. There was no way Donnie could let Alex be the one to break it to Teghan. Alex brought the phone to his ear. Donnie snatched it out of Alex's hand and threw it on the bed. "I promised her I wouldn't tell you."

"Right. Because I'm the crazy ex. Well, too damn bad. I'm not going to keep my mouth shut just so she doesn't get pissed at you."

"If you care about her, you will."

"Don't you dare use my feelings for Teghan against me." He pointed his finger inches from Donnie's face. "You're a piece of shit, you know that?"

"I'm outta here," Donnie said, shoving his way around Alex.

"You're wrong for her, Donnie, and you know it. Hell, even her father knows it."

Donnie put his fist in Alex's cheek. "Fuck you!" He walked out of the room.

~ * ~

Donnie checked his watch. Again. It was closing in on two a.m. and there was still no sign of Teghan. He'd been sitting outside of her dorm since midnight. He'd texted her, but she hadn't responded. Donnie hoped to hell he was able to talk to Teghan before Alex got to her. His patience finally paid off. Teghan walked toward him, her arm draped around some guy's waist. The guy had his arm around Teghan's shoulders, his mouth inches from her ear. Donnie felt his heart rate quicken and his face turn red.
Who the hell was that guy and why did he have his hands on my girlfriend?
He heard Teghan giggle then say, "Stop." She tried to use her free hand to push the guy's face away from her, but she missed and stumbled in front of him. The guy grabbed her and steadied her. They both laughed.

"Teghan." Donnie's voice was low and even.

She snapped her head in his direction. "Donnie? What the hell are you doing here?" She looked genuinely surprised to see him.

"Waiting for you," he said, his arms crossed over his chest, his voice tight with anger.

"Why?" She started to walk toward him then stopped. "Thanks for walking me home, Logan."

Logan nodded. "I'll be in my room if you need me."

Donnie glared at Logan as he passed by. Images of beating the jerk bloody flashed through Donnie's mind. No one touched Teghan. She was off limits.

"If you're here to act like a jealous boyfriend, that role has already been filled. By Alex." Teghan fumbled with her key until she got the door open.

"He called you?" Donnie followed her into her dorm and up to her room.

"Sure did. Got a very nice voicemail from him. Would you like to hear it?"

"Teghan, please let me explain." Donnie closed the door behind him. He had a feeling that things were not going to go well for him tonight. He realized it was only the second time he'd been in her room. It had changed since the last time. There were paintings and posters on the walls that hadn't been there before, and she had a new comforter on her bed. The television was new too. The room had a real homey feel to it.