Lowe looked suddenly panicked. “Charley, that’s not what’s happening here. Just talk to Jake—”
“No, I’m done. I don’t want to talk about him anymore.” I took a shuddering breath, trying to calm my throbbing pulse. “Let’s just go enjoy the party.”
He didn’t look so sure.
“C’mon.” I started heading to the door with my beer. “You can introduce me to people I won’t remember in the morning.”
6
Edinburgh March 2013
It was the first day of March and spring was technically a few weeks away. Could’ve fooled me.
As I stepped out of Old College onto South Bridge, an icy wind blew through me. I shuddered, hurrying to button my coat while trying to juggle my bag and notes.
That morning I’d woken up with the same concerns that I’d been waking up with for the past few weeks. I worried about my family. I hadn’t spoken to Andie since that fateful phone call and once my dad found out about it, he also refused to talk to me until I apologized to my sister. Since I wouldn’t apologize, it was turning into a long and very silent stalemate that weighed on me more and more each day. The only one talking to me was Mom and even then it was strained.
After catching a glimpse of Melissa in Old College for the first time in weeks, I found myself feeling guilty for not worrying more about her. I wondered if she was doing okay these days.
“Need a hand?”
I glanced up at the familiar voice and straight into Beck’s striking light gray eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“I just finished class. I was heading back to the apartment.” He took my bag and notes while I finished fastening my coat. As he slipped my notes into my bag, he smiled. “Walk with me?”
When Beck wasn’t winning Brooding Hero of the Year and messing with my best friend’s heart, he was actually the most laid-back, nonjudgmental person I had ever met. He was soothing and funny and kind, and I loved hanging out with him. Unfortunately, I was actually heading in the opposite direction. “I’m meeting Claudia at the Library Bar for coffee.”
His expression lightened at the mention of Claud. “I’ll come with. I haven’t seen her in a few days. She’s been busy with school.”
I nodded but didn’t say anything. The truth was Claudia was taking my advice and trying to wean herself off Beck in the hopes of getting over him.
“You and Jake seem good?” Beck looked down at me, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, the fabric of his T-shirt flapping in the wind. He wore a long-sleeved thermal under it, but still…
“Aren’t you freezing?”
“It wasn’t this cold yesterday.” He shrugged. “I’ve stopped guessing how to dress for the weather here.”
“True.” It was a perpetual guessing game. One second it was chilly but the sun was out; the next second brought torrential rain and winds.
“So you and Jake?”
I so did not want to discuss my relationship with Jake’s best friend. “We’re good.”
He nudged me. “You’re not going to break his heart, are you?” His voice was teasing but I knew better.
“Are you going to break Claudia’s?”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Fair enough.”
“Hey, here’s a question that won’t get either of us punched: do you know how Melissa is doing these days?”
Beck raised an eyebrow. “Melissa?”
“Melissa. You know, dark hair, legs forever, one hundred percent drop-dead gorgeous and one hundred percent nicer than me.”
He grinned. “She may be nicer, but she is way less fun.”
I smirked at him. “As much as I enjoy getting my ego stroked, I’m serious. Do you know if she’s doing okay?”
“Melissa’s a nice girl but we’re not close. We never were. She’s one of the few people who doesn’t understand that underneath this roguish charm is a heart of 80 percent gold.”
“Come on, don’t undervalue yourself. It’s at least 82 percent.”
Laughing, Beck wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side. “This is why I was rooting for you.”
“Well, I appreciate that.” I hugged him back but frowned up into his gorgeous face. “So you really wouldn’t know if she’s okay?”
Beck pulled out his phone, fingers flying over the keys. “I texted Maggie. She should know. They’re friends.”
“Maggie, my roommate Maggie?”
Catching my hesitant tone, Beck gave a reassuring smile. “I wouldn’t go there. I do have some control over who I sleep with.”
“That’s good to know, I guess,” I said, sounding a little doubtful. The last thing I wanted was Claudia returning to the apartment one night to find Beck stumbling out of Maggie’s room. I think that might just be the straw that would break the camel’s back. About to stick my nose in and ruin our pleasant camaraderie, Beck’s next question halted me.
“So, why do you want to know if Melissa is okay?”
I shrugged, feeling that familiar gnawing guilt. “I’d think that was obvious.”
As we climbed the steps to the student union, Beck fell silent. Once inside, he turned to me, a small smile playing on his lips. “Jake is right. You and Claudia are not like other women.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I’m taking that as a compliment since I happen to know for a fact that Claudia and I are freaking awesome.”
Something sad flashed in Beck’s eyes as he smirked back at me. “I’m not to going to argue with that.”
I wish I had a magic potion to shove down his throat and make him see that whatever was stopping him from taking a chance on Claudia didn’t compare to how bad the regret would be later. I sighed inwardly and followed his tall body upstairs to the Library Bar.
I almost slammed into him when he drew to an abrupt halt just inside the doorway. I peered around him. “What’s up?” I followed his confused gaze across the room.
Claudia was cozied up in a booth with Lowe. Her laptop was open in front of her but they were sitting turned into one another, laughing about something.
The muscle under my hand tensed and I glanced down to see Beck’s fists tightening.
“They’re just friends,” I assured him.
Sure, the way they were sitting suggested otherwise but I had assurances not only from Lowe that he wouldn’t go there, but from Claudia also. Only yesterday she told me how much fun it was to hang out with a guy and not have to worry about any sexual tension.
The chemistry wasn’t there for them, which was a little disappointing, but the whole point was for Claud to have someone who would distract her from Beck, and Lowe was doing the job.
“I didn’t say a word.” Beck glowered down at me.
And just like that, I had Broody Hero of the Year on my hands. “You need to work on your poker face. It sucks.” I strode away before he could reply.
“Hey there, hot stuff,” I said as I slid into the booth.
Lowe grinned. “Hey, yourself.”
“Oh, as pretty as you are, babe, I was talking to Claudia.”
Claudia smiled and opened her mouth to reply only to freeze at the sight of Beck with me. “Oh. Hey.”
He nodded as he slid in beside me.
“Hey, man,” Lowe said, something akin to excitement in his eyes. “Guess what Claud’s doing for us?”
“I have no idea,” he replied in a tone that suggested he couldn’t give a shit.
I kicked him in the shin, eliciting a grunt.
Claudia narrowed her eyes. “Who spit in your bean curd?”