The Winning Side Page 9

  “Thank you.” I extended a shaky hand and took the water. My moist hands made it difficult to grip the small lid so I used the edge of my sweater to crack the seal. After several small sips, my racing heart calmed.

  Mrs. Sheffield hesitated for a moment, as if trying to gauge the needle on my freak-o-meter before finally speaking. “I’m sorry if I said something that alarmed you. I know there are a lot of people that took the shooting at Pine Elementary really hard. If you knew anyone there, I’m terribly sorry for your loss.”

  At first, I had no idea what the lady was talking about. Then I recalled the incident. Right before Thanksgiving break, a shooting had occurred at a local elementary school. One of the teachers killed had graduated from PHU two years prior. I didn’t know her, but it had left a somber mood over the campus. Since I was in my own world during that time, I hadn’t joined in any candlelight vigils or prayer sessions. My tears over Collin were enough for me at the time, but my heart did cry for all the children and teachers who lost their lives in the shooting.

  “Oh, um, well I didn’t know anyone and my decision not to be a teacher has nothing to do with the shooting. It’s something personal.”

  “I understand. If you want to drop your minor in education, that’s perfectly fine.” She turned to her computer. Her fingers typed at a much quicker speed than before and she clicked her mouse repeatedly. “We can drop you from those two classes and you will still have enough credit hours to graduate. In fact, you’ll have enough hours for a minor in creative writing with the class you’re registered for currently.” She smiled, continuing to type and click away.

  “Perfect. I’d prefer that.” Relief settled my wacked-out nerves. “Can you make that change?”

  “Yes. I’m doing that now. You’ll be enrolled in fifteen hours, which will keep you at full-time student status.”

  Her printer started and it startled me. “Great.”

  “This should be an easy semester for you.” She grabbed the paper from the printer and placed it in front of me. “Please review your degree plan with the hours earned and sign at the bottom.”

  I definitely need easy.

  I reviewed the information and then signed the paper. “Thank you, Mrs. Sheffield.”

  “You’re welcome, Lexi. If you need anything, call me.” She handed me her business card and opened the door for me.

  “I appreciate that.” I thanked her and then walked out of her office.

  My phone chimed and I retrieved it from my pocket as I hurried to the main area. I wondered if Raven was waiting for me. Before checking my messages, I saw that it was almost noon and I knew his appointment was only an hour long.

  Raven: I’m headed to the gym. Need some time to myself.

  Darn. I thought he would wait for me.

  Me: Is everything okay?

  I flew down the stairs and out the front door wondering if I could still catch him. While I respected his request for some space, I wanted to make sure he was mentally in check. I scanned the area, but he was nowhere in sight. I headed toward the parking lot behind the building, hoping I could meet up with him. As I cornered the building, I had full view of the parked cars, but the Charger wasn’t there.

  Damn.

  Raven: I’ll be fine. I just need some time to process a few things.

  Me: Okay.

  I hated to point out that I didn’t have a car and while I didn’t mind walking, the weather was quickly turning into a drizzly day with temperatures dropping. The cold air slapped me in the face and I zipped up my coat. Raven’s apartment was a good mile away and having forgotten my hat and gloves, I wasn’t prepared to walk. I thought about calling Delaney when I remembered there was something I had to do. I hooked my backpack on my shoulder and headed to the one place I kind of dreaded going, but knew I had to — the University Health Center.

  Σ

  Chapter 9

  “Is he okay with you coming back to the dorm?” Delaney asked after Raven shut the door behind him.

  “No, not really.” I trudged to my room and looked at my duffle bags on the bed. I didn’t feel like unpacking; mainly because a part of me wanted to stay with Raven, but the other part wanted a little space. Raven’s counseling sessions wore not only on him, but me as well. His dramatic shifts in attitude gave me whiplash and to keep to my promise¸ I knew I had to do something. “He didn’t want me to leave, but I told him it’s just easier if I stay here on Monday and Wednesday nights since I have class at eight in the morning.”

  Delaney sat on my desk chair and swiveled around. “You might as well just move in with him.”

  “I can’t do that.” I unzipped one of my bags and pulled out a pile of folded clothes.

  “Why not?” She popped her gum and then sucked it back into her mouth. “You’ve been staying there the past three weeks.”

  I looked over my shoulder. “It’s too soon.”

  “But you said it yourself, he needs you. And I’m not just talking sexually, but for moral support.”

  Sighing, I said, “I know, but I realized he needs some space to himself. It’s been kind of tough on both of us after he’s had an intense counseling session. Knowing that I can come here, gives me back my sanity.”

  “It’s been that rough?”

  “It hasn’t been a walk in the park.” I stacked some shirts in my dresser and shut the drawer.

  “Well, I’m glad you’ll be staying here a few times a week. I’ve been totally binge watching Pretty Little Liars on Netflix since Luke has been at baseball practice around the clock. You’ll have to catch up so you can watch the next season with me.” Delaney continued turning around and around in the chair.

  “If I have time. I’ve been tutoring again.”

  Delaney grabbed the desk, stopping her make-shift Spinnaker ride. “You have?”

  “Yeah. I needed the experience and the extra money.” I removed another pile of clothes from my bag and then placed them in another drawer.

  “I thought your dad was depositing money into your account.”

  I had told Delaney about Dad and me making up and she was really happy for me. She didn’t blame me for not calling my mom as my dad had wanted. I told him that she was the one that needed to apologize first, and until she did, I wasn’t going to budge.

  “He is, but editing papers is preparing me for an editing job. Besides, it’s not fair that Raven pays for everything.” I flipped through a mile-high pile of clothes on hangers and folded them over my arm.

  “Wait a minute. You’re not actually going to wear those are you?” She pointed to the clothes and darted toward me.

  “Some of them are a couple of years old, but they’re still in style.”

  “Uh, no. Maybe for Suzy Homemaker, but not for the new Lexi Thompson.” Delaney gathered the stack of clothes from my arms and tossed them on the bed. She immediately rummaged through them while giving her diva-stamp-of-approval. “So, you really think you want to be an editor?”

  “Yeah.” I shrugged. “I really enjoy reading papers and correcting them. And you know how much I enjoy reading.”

  “Better you than me.” She held up a plaid dress with ruffles around the neck. “Oh. My. God. Please tell me you didn’t wear this!”

  I snatched the dress from her hands. “It’s really old. Like… ancient eighth grade old.”

  She laughed. “I bet you wore it for your pictures.”

  Pressing my lips together, I shoved it in a bag to return to my parent’s house. I had worn it, but she didn’t need to know that.

  “Shit, you did.” Delaney covered her mouth and shook her head.

  “So what if I did. It was in style back then.”

  “Why the hell did you bring it here?”

  “I didn’t. I told you my dad brought me my entire closet, which apparently included all of my old stuff.”

  “Obviously.” Delaney huffed. “Hey, did ya know that Raven has been working out with Luke?”

  “Yes, they both told me.”
I smiled. It was a relief to see that Luke didn’t have anything against Raven. I wasn’t positive if Raven was doing it for approval or to get in shape, but I was glad they were spending time together. “He has to get ready for that scouting camp in a few weeks. Aside from that, he really needs the stress release.”

  “Aren’t you supposed to be helping him with that?” Delaney arched a brow as she used her tongue to form a bubble in a sexual manner.

  I threw a pair of socks at her. “Stop it!”

  She blew air in the bubble until it popped and then cast me a wicked grin. “What? Just sayin’. I know you’ve been having mind blowing sex with him.”

  “Laney! What the hell? Are you reading my text messages or snooping through the trash at his apartment?”

  “Gross.” Her face twisted in disgust. “No. I just see it in the way you two act around each other. It’s obvious. That’s all.”

  My eyes went wide. “It’s that obvious that we’re having sex?”

  “Yes and lots of it,” Delaney deadpanned.

  “What?” I leaned forward and tugged at the pants in her hand. “How do you know that?” Were Raven and I showing too much PDA? I always hated when couples sucked face in front of everyone. Or worse, had she heard something?

  “Relax.” She laughed. “I swear, you can be too serious at times.”

  I shrugged. “Sorry. I just don’t want to be the talk of the school.” Her lips twitched to the side and the look in her eyes told me she knew something that I didn’t. “Laney, is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “No.” She continued on her task of freeing me from my good girl clothes. “This really isn’t any of my business, but…”

  “But what?”

  She hesitated for a few seconds. “I care about you, Lexi, so don’t get mad when I say this.”

  “Just say it.” I crossed my arms, feeling the tightness through my muscles. I braced myself for the worst. Delaney, unlike me, always seemed to be in the know. “Laney?”

  “Are you using any protection?”

  “Are you serious?” I dropped my arms to my side. “That’s what you want to know?”

  She cringed and her body pulled inward. “Sorry. I just don’t want you to end up pregnant.”

  “Um, that won’t happen.” I hung a stack of Delaney-approved-clothes in my closet. “I went to the health center and got an IUD.”

  “Good, but why didn’t you just get on the pill?”

  “I thought about it, but since I’m not used to taking pills on a regular basis, I didn’t want to forget and then screw myself.” I grabbed a stack of clothes from her. “Do you ever forget to take them?”

  “Every once in a while, so I just double up the next day.” Her eyes wandered off and I sensed there was a story behind that faux pas. “But I try not to let that happen, because it’s risky.”

  “And that’s my point. With the IUD, I don’t have to worry about it and the best thing is that it was immediately effective and will last for five years.”

  “Really? Damn. I should have done that.”

  “Look into it.” I shoved more clothes into my closet, unsure how I’d ever fit everything into the tiny space.

  “Maybe I will.” She handed me another stack of clothes. “Because you know I can’t resist that hot, sexy brother of yours.”

  I rolled my eyes and smiled. “I know. You remind me all the time.”

  “Do you think the counseling is helping Raven?”

  “I’ve seen a little progress, but I think it’s too soon to tell. After his first session, I didn’t know if I’d be able to handle it. He pretty much ignored me the entire night and the next day, which is understandable, but it did make me feel out of place.”

  “How so?” She unzipped one of my bags and dumped everything onto my bed.

  I sighed, but didn’t have the heart to tell her that I wasn’t planning on going through all my bags. “I mean that it’s not my apartment.”

  “Oh, yeah. I see what you mean. Why don’t you just hang out with Josh and Shelby when he’s going through his issues?”

  “I do, when they’re there. But most of the time, they’re locked in Josh’s bedroom.”

  “Ha-ha. I bet.” Delaney held up a light pink sweater to her chest. “This is hideous. You have to trash this thing.” She flung it behind her.

  “Hey, I like that sweater.” I dashed after it and then gave it a once over. She was right. It was ugly. I shoved it in the return-home bag. “I think coming back to the dorm will be good for both of us. When Raven is having a bad day, I’ll come back here so he can have some time to himself. Time to process whatever he’s going through.”

  And time to fight his demons.

  “And you trust that he’ll be okay?” She threw one of my skirts over her head. “He won’t plunge off the edge and go back to where he was, will he?”

  “I’ll check on him. It’s not like I won’t see him. And, if needed, you can take me to his apartment, right?”

  “Yeah, of course.”

  “Who’s apartment?” Raven stood in the doorway, carrying my bags.

  “Your apartment, silly.” I smiled at him, trying to displace any unnecessary fear or jealously. Although Raven hadn’t shown any jealousy, I wanted to keep it that way. That was one less thing I didn’t have to worry about in our relationship.

  “Hey, what’s this?” Delaney held up a pink and silver Victoria Secret’s gift card.

  “Where did you get that?” I asked, taking it from her hand.

  “It was buried in your clothes.” She pointed to the mound on my bed.

  Raven looked over my shoulder as I opened the flap.

  Have fun shopping with Raven. Love, Dad.

  “Holy shit. Is he serious?” I looked at Raven and a huge grin spread across his face. Was my dad trying to make up for my mom going bat shit crazy and burning all the lingerie Raven had bought me?

  Sweet!

  “Damn!” Raven covered his mouth with his fist. “Five hundred bucks. We can buy you a lot of sexy stuff.” Raven cocked a brow. “When are we going?”

  “Whenever you want.” I eyed him with a hungry stare. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to get enough of him.

  His taste.

  His touch.

  His scent.

  I was permanently caught in The Raven’s trap. I shook my head, trying to calm my raging hormones.

  “Is that it?” I looked at the two bags by the door.

  “What do you mean is that it?” he huffed, gripping his waist. “I brought up like five bags. And there’s still more at my apartment.”

  “I’m sorry.” I walked past him and headed for the closet. “I didn’t ask my dad to bring all of my clothes.”

  “I know.” He grabbed my hand and spun me around. I slammed against his body and rested my hands against his broad chest. “If you’d just stay with me, we wouldn’t have to haul all of your stuff back and forth.”

  His scent laced around me, making it difficult to stand my ground. “I am going to stay with you.”

  “Yeah, but not every night.” He pressed his lips to the sensitive part of my neck and my mind quickly forgot why I’d talked myself into coming back to the dorm. “I need a little bit of this every night.” He popped me on the butt and I squealed.

  “Okay, I’m outta of here.” Delaney dropped the clothes in her hand.

  “No. I need your advice.” I tried to wiggle out of Raven’s arms, but he only held me tighter. “I need you to help me pick out clothes that will make me look sexy.” I glanced up at Raven and he let out a low growl as he continued to nibble on my neck, not paying any attention to Delaney. I leaned to the side, trying to break free, even though I really didn’t want to. “Raven, stop,” I pleaded, but my tone betrayed any actual conviction.

  “Looks like you’re about to get undressed, so I’ll help you later.” Delaney headed for the door.

  “Thanks, Delaney,” Raven said as he kicked off his shoes and
started to pull his shirt off. His stomach tensed and I caught a nice view of his chiseled abs.

  “Shit, I almost forgot.” Delaney turned around before pulling the door shut. “Whoa! Can you wait until I get out? I don’t need a glimpse of the freak show.”

  “Hurry.” Raven tossed his shirt on the chair. “I don’t have all day.”

  Delaney’s eyes landed directly on Raven’s midsection for a full count of three before she finally tore them away and looked at me. “Do y’all want to grab a pizza with Luke and me later?”

  Raven looked at me, waiting for a response. “I’m game if you are,” I said, feeling the hunger pains bubble up in my stomach.

  His lips spread into a full smile. “Sure, but I’m game for something else first.” Raven encircled his arms around me and pressed his lips against my ear as his hands wandered up and down my backside.

  “What time, Delaney?” I grabbed his arms, trying to stop him from feeling me up in front of my roommate. He stretched his neck, trying to kiss me. I laughed, unable to resist his tempting offer. After all, I was already in his trap and I was there to stay.

  “Is an hour long enough?” Delaney appraised Raven from head to toe and then gave me a wide-eyed warning.

  “No, but we’ll make it work,” he said, undressing me with his eyes.

  I giggled as Raven picked me up and tossed me on the bed, landing on top of my clothes.

  “I warned you, Lexi,” Delaney said in a sing-song voice as she shut the door.

  “I know. But I can’t resist The Raven’s trap.”

  ***

  There was definitely a change in the air and it wasn’t just the signs of spring. Raven was acting like a different person, shifting his entire demeanor from a cup half-empty to a cup half-full. He was slowly releasing his demons that were determined to destroy him — destroy us — and I couldn’t be happier.