"Adam."
"You're going to hate me even more now. I thought you knew."
I couldn't ignore how he kept looking at the door. "Adam. Speak now."
He groaned and messed up his hair. "Oh—fine. I might've mentioned something about if he was dropping off his whore…or something like that. I'm not sure what word exactly I used, but it wasn't a nice one."
I swallowed a lump of coal down my throat. "And what'd he say in return?"
"Besides the punch?
He might've said something like I looked pathetic, I'm not sure. That whole day was jumbled up to me. I was stupid that day, real stupid. I deserved what happened to me."
"You deserve to get hit again, if you ask me."
He grimaced. "I know and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. My dad asked me what I said to piss off Mason
Kade
. When I told him, he said the same thing. He said I was being stupid and then my mom told me I was acting like a spoiled brat."
"Why were you? I never told you I was going to date you."
"See, that's the thing." He sat on another couch and cursed when a bunch of cords obstructed his way. He shoved them aside. "I thought maybe you didn't want to date me because you weren't over
Sallaway
. I thought you needed time and I was going to try and give that to you. I wanted to give that to you, but then I saw how
Kade
handled you. Literally handled you at their party and I went crazy. I couldn't believe that ass—" He stopped as he saw my face. "I'm just real sorry. I am, Sam. And I'd really like for you and me to be okay. I know Becky's been hammering at my ass since day one with you. She won't let it go."
"So are you here for me or for her?"
"Both," he groaned. A grin slipped past his lips. "Miranda is livid with me. She wanted to upstage you, but the whole thing between me and Mason made it impossible for her to do what she wanted. I kept telling her it wouldn't work. You wouldn't care."
"What was she going to do?"
"I'm not sure what it was, but she was sure you were going to get mad."
"How would you know I wouldn't care?"
He threw me a look.
"Because you don't care about anything.
It's your ammo. You don't give a damn and no one can touch you because of it."
I folded my arms over my chest.
"Really?"
"Yeah.
I think that's why you go on those long runs, so you don't feel anything."
My foot twitched as he said that. Since Mark told me about the party, I was planning on going for a run as soon as I got home after school. Being numb got me through every day. Why mess up a good thing?
"So…are you still pissed at me?"
I started laughing and once I started, I found that I couldn't stop. I bent over and continued to laugh into my knees. My shoulders were shaking so much. Then sobs started to come and I couldn't stop them either.
"Sam?"
I couldn't respond. Tears flowed freely down my face, but I kept laughing. They started to blend in a form of hiccups that my body kept bursting out with.
"I'm really confused. Are you okay?" He sat beside me and I felt his hand touch my back. He jerked it up right away, and then touched between my shoulder blades again. "Are you okay?"
I wasn't. My word, I wasn't.
The laughter subsided and I kept crying. I couldn't stop the tears. Each sob wracked its way through my body and then Adam turned me into him. I couldn't help it. I knew I shouldn't have, but I burrowed into him and more and more sobs kept wreaking havoc over me. He patted my shoulder and then held me against him. He lowered his head so his chin rested on my shoulder and he murmured against my neck, "Let it all go. Let it out. It's the only way. Let it all out, Sam." His hand started to rub circles on my back.
"Oh my god.
I'm sorry." I pulled away and wiped at my cheeks. I couldn't believe I'd done this. "I've been a mess lately."
He frowned and his lip twitched. I knew he had something to say, but he held it back. Whatever it was, I didn't want to hear it. I couldn't handle it so I stood and backed away.
"Sam, you can cry, you know. I'm here for you.
Anytime.
Call
me and I'll come get you. I promise."
He seemed so sincere. Something dark filled me and I shook my head. "And when you see me with Mason again? What are you going to do then?"
His hands pressed against his side and his shoulders straightened. He kept his voice neutral.
"Nothing.
I promise. I won't do a thing anymore." Each word seemed to bring him pain. "If you want to be with him, then so be it. I wish you…happiness…"
He looked away and his jaw clenched.
It wasn't over. "You might mean your apology now, but nothing's really changed. You hate that I'm with him—"
"If you're with him then why are you crying on my shoulder?" he bit out. "He's not here for you. Have you ever cried on his shoulder?"
"This was good timing for you."
"Like hell it was! You broke down in front of me. I rather doubt there are a lot of people that you've broken down in front of. You're always so in control of your emotions, but not now. You let me in. That's what happened here. You trust me, even if you don't know it, you trust me. I know you do."
"Stop."
The word slipped from me. My voice was shaky.
"Sam, think about that." He held a hand out to me and I couldn't bear the sight of his pleading.
I shouldered away his hand and slipped from the room. As soon as I had collected my bag, I bolted from school. The week had started with a bang and it ended with one. As soon as I got home, I went on a run and three and a half hours later I limped my way home.
I'd been running too much. It was starting to become unhealthy, but it did its job. I collapsed in my bed as soon as I left the shower. When I woke it was dark out and I grimaced in confusion. My phone peeled through the cool night air and it lit up my desk.
I groaned, but pulled myself up and stumbled to it.
Logan's name flashed across the screen.
I snapped it open, not sure if I was ready for this. I mumbled out, "
ello
?"
"You didn't come to the game?"
"Huh?" I squinted at the clock. It was after nine? I should still be in bed. "Logan," I groaned. "I was sleeping."
"Our biggest game this season and you weren't here!"
"Oh god."
I pressed a hand to my head. "You're not going away, are you?"
"No, look, I'm pissed. You should've been here tonight."
My insides started to stir awake. "Are you kidding me? How was I supposed to know? I haven't talked to either of you all week."
There was silence for a second. "You haven't?"
"No," I snapped out. "I had to hear from Mark
Decraw
that you guys are having a party tomorrow night."
"Oh…I'm sorry, Sam. I really am. I thought we told you about that."
"How would you? You'd have to communicate with me to do that."
"No, I thought, oh man, I thought Mason must've been talking to you since the two of you are…"
"Stop right there. We're not dating. We're not anything. For me to know what we are there'd have to be a conversation about it and I haven't heard a word from him so there's definitely been no conversation about that." My chest was heaving up and down. I patted at it. I needed to calm down.
My phone beeped in my ear and I cursed as I pulled it away. Mason had sent me a text.
'Want to eat? I'm hungry.'
I groaned into the phone. "Is he there with you?"
"Who?"
"You know who."
"No," he sighed. "I was calling to chew you out, but that didn't turn out how I thought it would—"
"Where's Mason?"
"I don't know. I'm being honest. Some of the guys are headed out for pizza and then there's a party. I was going to see if you wanted to come with, but now I'm scared to ask you. Why? Did he call you now?"
"Yeah."
"Call him back. I'll see you tonight." His voice got cheery and the dial tone blared in my ear next.
I cursed as I glared at the phone. It beeped again and it was another text from Mason.
'Are you home?'
Then I heard his voice in the hallway. "Sam?"
It wasn't long before my door was pushed open and he flicked my light on. I was blinded for a moment.
"Hey, did you get my texts?"
I snapped my phone shut and drew my robe tighter around me. "Yes."
He grinned and ran a hand through his wet hair. He looked like he'd showered. "You pissed at me because I haven't called all week?"
"Nope.
Not at all.
I cried on Adam's shoulder today."
His eyes narrowed and lingered on my face. "Did you?"
"Yep.
I did."
"Okay. I don't know what to do with that. You want to get some food with me? There's a party tonight."
"Is there?" I cringed at the jealousy in my voice. It wasn't like me. "I'm sorry. I'm acting stupid."
His eyes took on a darker look and he shut the door behind him. He turned the light off and it wasn't long before his hand was on my knee. He murmured against my skin as he tenderly nudged me back down on the bed. "I'm sorry I haven't called this week. I am."
My neck arched when his lips found it. His hand swept from my cheek, down my arm, to my waist, and swept back up to cup my breast. I groaned when I felt his hand work its way past my robe and his thumb grazed over my nipple. His mouth replaced his thumb and I felt his tongue sweeping around it next.
He whispered against my breast, "It won't mean much, but I thought about you.
All week.
I wanted to do this and I knew if I called you, I'd come over and do this."
"Just…" I braided my hands through his hair and pulled his head up. "Shut up."
He chuckled before his mouth slammed onto mine.
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
He thrust in me a last time. My legs were wrapped around his waist and one of his hands held them up as the other braced himself on the bed above my head. My entire body lifted off the bed as my climax ripped through me. Waves of pleasure rode through me and I trembled as he held me in his arms. He trembled with me and then tucked me in front of him to curl around me. He tucked his chin into the crook of my neck.
When he yawned, his whole body yawned with him.
Something fluttered in my stomach at that feel of that and I laced my fingers through his. "No party for us tonight?"
He chuckled and his breath caressed my skin. "It's three in the morning. It's a bit late for that."
As he tightened his hold on my waist, my eyelids started to close, but my whole body felt renewed and invigorated. "Are you going to stay the night?"
He cursed and reached over me. "I need to set the alarm."
When he was done, I turned and slid one of my legs through his, the other was on top of his and I snuggled against him. He pressed a kiss to my forehead and my body tingled as he brushed back some of my hair.
"Your mom's not expecting you?"
"Nah.
She knows we're out. She's not stupid. Logan probably won't go to the hotel either." He chuckled and skimmed a hand down my side. "He dropped that girl. Did you hear about that?"
"Tanya, the one Adam liked?"
He smirked. "The
other
one he liked, yeah. He dropped her after the game and went off with some other girl."
"He called me after your game. He was pissed I wasn't there."
He smoothed back some of my hair and ran a thumb over my cheek to my lips. "I wasn't sure if you'd come. I figured if you came, I'd want to bend you over." He grinned. "No offense, but you get in my head."
"Do I?" I grinned as I caressed up his arms. His muscles twitched under my touch.
He groaned and wrapped his arms around me to hold me tighter. He rolled to his back and pulled me on top. I laughed huskily as he ran his hands over my body. When he hardened between my legs, I closed my eyes to enjoy it. The heat was gathering again. As he smoothed circles on my back, I laid my head on his chest.
I was intoxicated with him and I murmured against his skin, "When do you have to get up?"
"In three hours."
His hands started to explore some more and when he dipped a finger inside of me, I was helpless. Desire coursed through me and I was soon throbbing again. It wasn't long before I had enough and sunk onto him. He responded quickly, but after he had thrust deep, he gasped and shoved me off.
"What?" The need for him was making me blind. I only wanted him.
"Condom," he rasped out. He rolled over and reached for one. As soon as I heard that wrapper, I reached for him again. When it was slid on, I raised my hips and sunk down again. I pushed him deep and he fell back with a groan. Then I rolled my hips and started a rhythm. His hands grasped onto my thighs and he pushed and pulled me until we were both gasping for breath. As my climax was nearing, I dipped my head and touched his lips with mine. His tongue swept against mine and took control of the kiss. A primal emotion took root. I was helpless against it. Our hips slammed against each other and we hurdled over the edge together. Waves exploded in me and I trembled as each rushed through me.