Never Let Go (2 page)

I step back, hoping to get away without notice. The floor dips beneath my foot. A long, slow creak sounds.

The guy’s head jerks up, and our eyes meet. I gasp.

He slows down. For some reason, he doesn’t seem startled, or surprised, or even fazed to find me there.

“Spencer, what the hell?” the girl below him complains. “Why’d you stop?”

“It looks like we’ve got company,” he says slowly, never taking his eyes from me. His irises are a pale gray, framed by long, dark lashes.

It’s funny the things you notice when all the blood has drained from your head.

“Company?” the girl asks. “What…?” She starts to twist over…

I break from my stupor. Before she can see me, I turn and slam the door shut, then steady myself against it.

My heart is racing. I feel too hot. The way that guy—Spencer?—looked at me… there was something very primal in his stare. The memory of it is enough to trigger a full body flush.

I need a drink. I need some air.

I push myself off the door and make a beeline for the bathroom. I turn on the tap and splash cold water over my face. Again, and again, and again.

The way the guy looked at me… the low rumble of his voice… his half-lidded eyes… it did things to me. Unusual, unexpected things.
Bad things
.

I straighten—and jump again. The guy with the long hair is leaning against the doorframe. Watching me. I’m immediately conscious of just how little room there is in the bathroom for the two of us.

I meet his gaze for a second. Then I drop my eyes to the floor. I can’t look at him after what I just walked in on.

I try my hardest not to notice his body, either. He’s only wearing a pair of sweats, hastily pulled up. The hard lines of his abs and chest beg to be looked at.

I force myself to keep my eyes on the ground.

“Hello,” he says. His voice is gravelly, yet smooth. It’s a contradiction. Everything about him screams, SEX! “Do I make you nervous?”

“Ner—nervous? No.” I shake my head vigorously, glad for the curtain of hair that has fallen in front of my face. I think I’m trying to convince myself more than anything. “No. Not nervous. No.”

“Are you sure?” His speech is slow and controlled. Almost lazy. “I’m afraid if I touch you, you’ll jump like you’ve been scalded.”

“I…scalded? No.” I try to step past him. “Excuse me.”

He doesn’t move. He just stands there, arms crossed under his chest, watching me. The stance makes his muscles pop. “Who are you?”

“I live here, that’s who!” I exclaim. I flinch as soon as the words are out of my mouth. I know they don’t make any sense.

But it’s not my fault that my brain is so garbled! How is it fair that this guy can make me feel so fluttery and uncertain of myself?

“You live here,” he repeats. I dare a peek up. The bastard is smirking at me! “That’s how you define yourself as a person?”

Out of nowhere, I feel my temper rising. I don’t know if I’m more angry with myself for acting like such a dolt, or with him for standing there, egging me on.

“Yes, that’s how I
define myself as a person
,” I mimic, making a face. I brush by him into the hall. Our shoulders touch, and I feel a little spark of electricity run through me.
That’s weird.
“I’m sorry for not expecting to walk in on some random guy screwing his girlfriend my first night
in my dorm
! And I’m even more sorry for not feeling like I have to explain myself any more to you!”

The guy looks at me like I’m insane. Then understanding dawns on his face. He barks a laugh. “Is that what this is all about? You walking in on us?” He shakes his head. “That’s no big deal, I swear.”

“Maybe not to you,” I grumble under my breath. I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. I don’t like that knowing smirk on his face. Most of all, I don’t like the way his presence turns my brain to mush.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” he adds, eyes sparkling. He taps his lips then curves his finger toward me with a wink. “My guess is that she’s your
roommate
.”

The door at the end of the hall opens. The girl comes out. She’d tied her golden hair back, and is wearing a pink t-shirt that falls to her knees. A blue
LMFAO
logo is emblazoned on the front.

She comes up to the guy and looks me over. “Is she one of yours?” she asks him.

“Not yet.” His words are quiet, but there’s an edge to them. I can
feel
his eyes on me. It’s almost like a physical thing.

I’ve had enough. “No, I’m not one of
his
,” I snap. “Apparently, I’m your roommate, except I didn’t think there would be anybody else here today.” I point an accusing finger at the girl. “You’re not supposed to move in until tomorrow, so
excuse me
for not expecting to find you in there busy with a guy. Maybe it’s my fault that I didn’t knock, but I spent all day driving from Utah to North Dakota in the sweltering heat in a tiny car with a broken A.C. I’m tired, exhausted, cranky, and probably a little overwhelmed at walking in on my roommate having sex with her freaking boyfriend!”

My chest is heaving by the end of the tirade.

Two things happen next.

First, the guy starts to laugh. Apparently something I said is supremely humorous.

Second, the girl’s eyes widen a little. Then they narrow, taking me in. Then she smiles and steps toward me.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” the guy says again, still laughing.

The girl comes right up to me. “I didn’t know you were my roommate.” She offers her hand. “I’m Katy. He’s Spencer.”

I manage a weak smile back. I’ve made a complete fool of myself with the outburst. “Paige.”

“Hey, what the hell?” Spencer jumps. “There’s a cat in here!”

I look up to see Pickles walk toward me through the guys legs, as proud as if he owns the place. “Pickles!” I cry out. The cat trots up to me.

“Pickles?” Spencer smirks. “
That’s
the cat’s name?”

The remark makes my cheeks grow warm. Unlike with Andrew, I feel like Spencer’s is judging me for the name.

“He was my grandma’s,” I mumble under my breath.

“Well, I’m not a fan of cats,” he announces. “If I stick around too long they make my eyes water.” He pushes off the wall and starts for the door. He slaps Katy’s ass as he passes by. “Thanks for the good time, babe.”

“Do you want your shirt back?” she asks uncertainly.

“Keep it,” he winks from the door. “Think of it as a souvenir.”

He walks out the door, wearing nothing but those loose sweat pants.

Chapter Two

“So, who was that again?” I ask Katy once we’re alone.

She looks at the door and sighs wistfully. “Spencer Ashford. Also known as Laurier’s
walking one-night stand.”

“Seems like sort of an asshole to me,” I note.

Katy grins. “That’s part of his charm.”

“I don’t see what can be all that charming about it,” I sniff.

“You’ll learn soon enough. He’s got his eye on you. I can tell.”

That’s so ridiculous I have to laugh. “Me? Nuh-uh. I don’t think so. I’m not his type. Besides, aren’t the two of you…” I trail off, searching for the right word while circling my hand in the air, “…
together
?”

Katy laughs this time. “I wish. There’s no way I can be the one to tame Spencer Ashford. Many girls have tried. Many have failed.”

I cock my head to the side. “So that’s it, then? You’re not going to see him again?”

Katy raises her eyebrows. She’s really pretty no matter what her expression is. “Hey, it’s not my fault, is it? I’m just lucky I got to spend one night with him.” She looks at me. “Despite being cut off early.”

I clear my throat and shift my shoulders. “Yeah, um, sorry… about all that.”

Katy laughs and embraces me in a hug. “I’m
teasing
! I’d rather meet my new roommate any day.”

That makes me smile. I feel better right away. “Thanks.”

“Sure. Do you need any help unpacking?”

“No, no, you don’t need to do that,” I say. “I’ll take care of it tomorrow morning.”

Katy rolls her eyes and takes my hand. “Come on. If that story you told about driving all day is true, I doubt you want to wake up early to unpack. And I’m here anyway. I
want
to help and get to know my roomie.”

***

It takes half an hour to lug all my suitcases to the bedroom and get them unpacked. But having Katy around energizes me. It’s good to make a new friend. Since we get along, we decide to bunk together. I mention my idea of a walk-through bedroom to her. She says the other girls can set that up between them if they want.

Katy is from Canada. Despite that, I haven’t heard her say “eh” even once. She grins mischievously, and promises it’ll pop out sooner or later.

Once everything is unpacked, and just before I head to the shower, Katy turns the conversation to Spencer again.

I shake my head. “I really don’t see what is so special about the guy.”

Katy laughs. “You say that now. Just be sure not to say it in his presence. It will only make him more interested.”

“I don’t know why you think he’d be interested,” I say, digging a towel out of my bag. “I think he wanted absolutely nothing to do with me. Besides, doesn’t it feel kind of strange, knowing that you two…
you know
?”

“I’m nothing to him anymore,” Katy explains. “He’s had me once, and already he’s probably thinking about his next conquest. Hell, he probably has his dick between some other girl’s legs right now.”

“Katy!”

“What?” she laughs. “I’m a realist. I’m not degrading myself, if that’s your worry. I’m able to accept things for what they are. I know I’m never going to be anything more than another notch on Spencer’s proverbial belt.”

I stare at her. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

She grins. “I like sex. I’m not ashamed of it. Spencer’s good at it. Plus, I’d rather be me than one of those sorry girls who start to cry when they get left behind in the morning.” She scoffs. “Talk about a lack of self-respect.”

“But if they know he’s going to leave, why would they even…” I trail off again. “…
You know
.”

“Sleep with him? Fuck him? Come on, girl, you can say it! This is college, not grade school. If you’re going to start blushing every time I have a guy over, maybe you
should
bunk with one of our other roomies.”

I stop, unsure of what to say…

Katy nudges my shoulder. “I’m
teasing
, Paige! It doesn’t happen that often, I swear. You’ve got to loosen up a bit.”

“Sorry,” I say. “I’m not usually like this. Just pooped from the road, I guess.”

“All right, that makes sense. Still, you want to know why? Hell, I don’t know. Maybe each of them thinks she’s going to be that special little flower that changes Spencer’s ways. If you ask me,” she concludes, “it’s a lost cause.”

“Well,
I’m
not going to be like that,” I pronounce.

Katy looks at me for a long time without saying anything. Then she beams. “You know what, I think I believe you. You and I are going to be great friends.”

Chapter Three

I wake up with the sun the next morning. I’ve always been an early riser.

Katy is still asleep in the bunk above mine, so I tiptoe out of the room and close the door. Officially, freshman move-in begins at noon today. I’ve still got a few hours before campus becomes a beehive.

I shower, change, and head out to look for breakfast. The dining halls aren’t open for another week, but maybe I find some food at one of the small cafés dotting campus.

“Paige!”

I turn around, surprised to hear my name called out. I find Andrew jogging up to me. He’s decked out in workout gear.

“Hey,” I wave. “What are you doing up so early?”

“It’s the best time to hit the gym,” he smiles. I like seeing that smile. “I should ask you the same thing, though. If I remember correctly, you were pretty exhausted when I left you last night.”

“Yeah,” I shrug. “I don’t need much sleep. A few hours and I’m good to go. I’m like the Energizer bunny that way.”

I cringe as soon as the words leave my mouth. That was a horrible joke.

Andrew doesn’t seem to think so, though. He laughs. “Is that so? I don’t see any long, pink ears sticking out of your head.” He takes me by the shoulders and gently turns me from side to side. “Those,” he announces as he makes a point to touch either of my ears, “definitely belong to a human.”

I laugh and nudge him away. He’s sweet.

Andrew smiles and sticks his hands in his pockets. “So, how’d move in go?”

“I met my roommate,” I tell him.

He raises an eyebrow in surprise. “Did you? When?”

“Turns out she was in the other room while we were bringing our stuff up.”

“She didn’t hear us?” Andrew asks.

“She was, um,
sleeping
,” I say.

“Did she like Pickles?”

“Of course she liked Pickles!” I say, hitting him on the arm playfully. “I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t.”
Except for one…

“Good,” Andrew grins. “Otherwise, I’d worry that we have a homeless cat on our hands. With a name like that, all the other animals would make fun of him.”

“He’s tough,” I defend, squaring my shoulders. I can’t help the warm feeling from growing in my chest. Are we flirting? “The name serves as a decoy. It makes all the other animals
underestimate
him.”

“I hope you’re not like that,” Andrew teases.

I show him all my teeth. “Oh, I’ve got some bite in me.”

“Noted,” he laughs. “Remind me not to piss you off.”

“No way,” I shake my head. “That’s up to you to remember.”

“I’ll do my best.” Andrew nods at my Beetle parked on the street. “You going for a drive?”

“I wanted to find some place to eat,” I explain. “Do you have any suggestions?”

Andrew nods. “Hell, yeah! Come on. I’ll show you.” He walks around the car and gets in. I blink, then try to force down the smile that wants to form on my lips. He never actually
asked
.