Southern Seduction (94 page)

When Wyatt finally comes back out, he's wearing a pair of dark jeans, a grey hoodie and a pair of black Converse sneakers with his backpack slung over one shoulder. "Ready to go?" he asks as he reaches down to grab my bag before holding out a hand to help me down from the bleachers.

"Yeah, I guess so. Where are we going?" After seeing him practice, the last thing I want is to be alone with him somewhere, and I definitely don't want him in my dorm room. There won't be any way to keep my distance if we go there.

"I figured we'd just go to the library since it's only a few buildings down from here. Then you won't have to move your car. We can just walk down."

I sigh in relief, causing Wyatt to shoot me a quick, confused look before shaking his head. He slows his walk so that he can stay beside me while he asks me questions about my day. He always does this, wants to know everything that happened since he last saw me, and it warms me just as much as it disturbs me. I've been trying so hard to keep him at arms length, but he just won't give up, no matter how hateful I am towards him. Now that he's tutoring me, I really can't be mean to him either, because he could tell me the wrong thing and make things even harder on me. Not that I think he would really do that, but the option is there.

It takes only a few minutes to reach the library, and I've never been so grateful to walk inside as I am right now. Once we enter all his focus will be on Math instead of on me, which is definitely a good thing. He reaches the door first, and opening it he places his hand on my lower back to lead me in. My jacket isn't very thick and the warmth from his hand warms my entire body. God, I'm turning into such a
girl
!

He continues to make small talk as we walk up the stairs to the main library floor. Downstairs is mostly meeting rooms and small study cubicles, which are meant for one person only. He always chooses a table that's far away from everyone else, like he's afraid my attention is going to be anywhere but on him. Like that's even possible, especially when he pulls off his hoodie. He pulls it off by doing theta very
guy
thing of grasping the back and pulling it up and over his head causing his royal blue t-shirt to ride up exposing his abs. Holy six-pack! He's perfectly toned thanks to basketball and I'm pretty sure I'm drooling at seeing the sight again so soon after the gym.

After he removes his hoodie, he grins at me knowingly as he pulls his shirt back down and sits beside me. "If you want a closer look, I'd be glad to arrange it," he murmurs in my ear, distracting me momentarily with thoughts of getting very close to those abs. His quiet chuckle brings me out of my fantasies and I know my face is flaming. "I'd really
love
to know what you were thinking just now."

Oh shit. There's
no
way I'm telling him what I was thinking. No way in hell! "Nothing!" I squeak. "Can we please just concentrate on Algebra?"
Let him say yes. Please, please let him say yes.
Otherwise, I might die of mortification. What in the world is wrong with me? This is absolutely insane.

"Sure babe," Wyatt says with a laugh, "I'll let you concentrate on Algebra, but don't think I'm letting you off the hook. I'll get you to tell me eventually." Flashing me a smug grin, he pulls my book over so that it's lying between us as he lays his other arm along the back of my chair. I sit ramrod straight for the remainder of the tutoring session, unable to concentrate on anything but the smell of Wyatt's cologne, his minty breath and the arm that brushes my back every time I start to relax.

Wyatt collapses onto the couch beside me at his apartment, and stretches his arms up behind his head before they land spread out on either side of him. Of course, that means one arm is behind me, so I sit up a little straighter, trying to keep from touching him.

"What are you doing for spring break?" he asks, turning to look at me intently.

Our eyes meet and the intensity in his makes me squirm. "Nothing. My choices are here at school or at my parents, so I'm staying in my dorm."

He sits up quickly, his arm narrowly missing my head when he moves it to grasp my hand. "You can't stay in the dorm by yourself for a week."

"Why not?" I don't know why he sounds so alarmed. Staying in the dorm is a much better option than going home.

Wyatt sighs exasperatedly, "It's not safe Peyton. It's spring break week, which means almost everyone will be gone. Bad shit happens, just look at Annabelle."

I don't want to discuss Annabelle with him, I don't know how he even knows about that. It happened before college, and it's not something she volunteers to anyone, and neither does Scarlett. I don't think Kat even knows, so she wasn't the person who told.

"I'm
not
Annabelle," I say with a scoff.

Alright, even I know that's a stupid thing to say. But, it bugs me that he's trying to protect me. It bugs me, but it's also nice that he cares enough to
want
to protect me. Jeez, I'm even beginning to confuse myself.

Of course, Wyatt isn't privy to my inner monologue, so he doesn't know I'm already kicking myself for thinking that. He opens his mouth to say what I'm sure will be a reprimand, so I throw up a hand in my own defense, stopping him before he even starts. "I know okay? That was completely uncalled for. I get it, you don't have to yell at me."

His eyes soften immediately, "I wasn't going to yell at you."

"That's probably worse." I can't stop the small grin that appears with my words. I don't know what it is about him, but no matter how shitty I'm feeling, Wyatt always makes me feel better. He's a lot like Scarlett, he doesn't let me push him away, and he doesn't let me get away with my shit. I intimidate most guys and I like it. I never have to worry about anyone getting too close, the problem with Wyatt is I want him to get closer. I don't know why I feel such a pull towards him, but I like spending time with him, I like just being around him. Their apartment is full of people tonight, celebrating the fact that spring break starts tomorrow after class, but it's almost like we're the only two people here.

Since I haven't been paying attention, I've missed whatever Wyatt's said in the past few minutes, so when he brushes his knuckles along my cheek, I startle. "What the hell, Wyatt?"

Leaning back against the couch, Wyatt laughs, "Holy shit it's funny when you space out. You haven't heard a thing I've said have you?" Most guys would be pissed that they didn't keep my attention, but not him. He thinks it's hilarious that he just scared the crap out of me.

Scowling, I reach over and shove him, "You're such an ass. For the record, I didn't space out, you're just boring me into a trance." That only makes him laugh harder, which just makes me more irritated. Pushing up from the couch, I head off to find Scarlett and Kat. The apartment isn't that big, so finding them shouldn't be difficult.

Turns out, finding my roommate and my friend wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Their apartment opens into the room Wyatt and I were sitting in. A room that normally would be used as a living room, but it's rather small. There's a couch, a huge TV and every game system available. To the right is a small kitchen that currently has more people crammed inside than the fire code probably allows, with cabinets on each side. The room the guys use as a gaming space, connects to a huge open area that has another couch, a couple of chairs and another big screen TV. All the furniture is currently pushed against the wall so the space looks even bigger, and there's more room for people to talk and dance. The three bedrooms are around the living area, and there's a sliding glass door that opens to a packed patio. They live on the second floor, and I'm sure the people directly below aren't happy with the amount of stomping that's going on tonight, but so far no one's complained.

Scarlett and Kat aren't in the kitchen, or the living room, nor do I see them out on the deck when I peer out the sliding doors. That only leaves the bedrooms or bathrooms to check, not that I want to snoop around the guys' bedrooms. I understand keeping private things private more than most. Heaving a deep sigh, I cringe when I open the first bedroom door. This is my first time in their apartment, and I'm a little scared at what I'll find in their rooms. The thought of three guys living alone makes me shudder. For all I know, I'm going to find stashes of porn and blow up dolls in each room. But, then again, Emmett has a girlfriend, and Clay and Wyatt are both attractive guys, even if they are extremely irritating. Focusing on the room I'm just walked into, all I see is a fairly clean, but definitely male room. Based on the business books lying around, and the lack of anything personal, this must be Clay's room. He's about as close-mouthed as I am, so the fact that his bedroom is pretty barren isn't a shock. It's also empty. No Scarlett or Kat in here.

The second room is Emmett's and it's obvious. Not only is it extremely messy, but his girlfriend and the blonde from the bar a few weeks ago are sitting on the bed deep in conversation. They are so deep in conversation that they don't immediately notice I'm in the room until I clear my throat. "Um, hey."

Both girls jump before turning guiltily towards me. "Hey...." Olivia starts, questioningly. "Can we help you?" She doesn't look mad, but she does look like she's wondering what part of her conversation I heard.

"Uh, yeah, sorry. I'm just trying to find Kat. Have you guys seen her or Scarlett?"

The blonde, who everyone calls by her initials, that I can't remember at the moment, is staring at me so hard it's making me uncomfortable. Finally, she shakes her head, "I haven't seen them for awhile, but the last time I saw them, they were heading out the front door with Max." She smiles apologetically, before turning back to Olivia and effectively dismissing me. Well, okay then. Maybe she's worried about the time I spend with Wyatt. He says they're just friends, but maybe that's not the way she sees it.

"They left? Great. Well.... thanks. I'll leave y'all alone now." Hurrying out of the room, before I break down and ask her about her and Wyatt, I shut the door and lean back against it.

"What were you doing in Emmett's room?" an amused voice asks, making me jump.

Turning my head towards Wyatt, I reply, "I was looking for Scarlett and Kat. Olivia and her friend said they left with Max earlier."

He nods, grinning, "Ahh. You should have asked me before searching the apartment. I would've told you they ran to the store for more snacks. We weren't expecting this many people." Of course they weren't, but it's the night before the last day of class. Everyone wants to party, especially if it's off campus. Crossing my arms, I turn away from him and study the crowd mingling in the living room. For the first time, I'm actually a little jealous of all the people here having fun. These people are mingling, hanging out with friends, and seem to have absolutely no concerns about parents or family, and no insecurities. It has been a long time since I've envied people for feeling that way.

Wyatt notices the melancholy shift of my thoughts, because he comes closer before grasping my chin and turning my face to meet his concerned gaze. "What's wrong Pey?"

"Nothing," I say with a shrug, trying to move away from his fingers but he doesn't let me.

He raises an eyebrow, "I call bullshit." Letting go of my chin, he grabs my hand instead, intertwining our fingers. "In all your snooping, did you find my room?"

I shake my head, "No, I only made it to Clay and Emmett's rooms." Wyatt grins before tugging me across the room to the other bedroom.